Frequently Asked Questions
General
1. What is this "Base folder"?
2. I don't see "xyz" app when I select share/send?
3. The app's icon show up when I open my image viewer app.
4. Can I revert back to a pre-v0.3.2 release?
5. In addition to OI File Manager, can you support another file manager?
6. What are system apps?
7. I restarted the app after I changed the "Display language" settings, but the language did not change.
8. Can I change the APK name format of the "Export apk" function?
9. What is a frozen app?
10. What does the different filter mean?
11. How to exclude system apps from "Backed up", "Not backup" and "No backup" filter?
12. I can't browse the exported APK.
Backup & Restore
1. Are there folders where backed up files should not be kept?
2. Where to keep the backed up files?
3. Does it backup data of apps?
4. What are "Protected" apps?
5. Why can't I restore apps?
6. What is the different between package Delete and Purge?
7. Why uses Package Name and Version Code as backup name?
8. Why not use App Name and Version Name as backup name?
9. I want to move my backup folder to a new location.
10. Can I prevent a version backup from being purge?
11. How do I restore all my apps on my new phone?
12. I can't find the backup files after inserting my SD card from my old phone to my new phone?
13. How can I migrate my existing apk files to AppWererabbit?
14. Why some apps does not show the "Backed Up" indicator after I performed a batch Backup?
15. I want to cleanup my backup and only keep x number of version. How do I do this?
16. What does the coloured version name in the Installed Apps screen mean?
17. I wish to maintain backup for my installed apps only, can I config AppWererabbit to delete the corresponding backup if I uninstall the app?
18. I wish to maintain backup of a selection of my installed apps only, can I config AppWererabbit to automate this?
19. After enabled "Auto backup", my device's storage dropped significantly.
Move Apps (App2SD)
1. What is App2SD?
2. Do I needs a rooted device for App2SD?
3. How do I know if my device support App2SD?
4. I don't see the "Move to SD card" button on the App info screen.
5. After moving "xyz" app to SD, it stop working.
6. Why is the install location of AppWererabbit changed to internalOnly?
7. What is the 3 different panel?
8. Why is the "On SD Card" panel always empty?
Cache Cleaner
1. What is a cache?
2. Do I needs a rooted device to clean cache?
3. Is it safe to clear the cache?
4. Which is the best method to clear cache?
5. 1-Tap cache cleaning not working.
Import APK
1. What does Import APK do?
2. I am current using "xyz" for backup, how to I migrate my existing apk files to AppWererabbit?
Rename APK
1. What does Rename APK do?
2. How do I use the Rename APK function?
3. What does the BLUE colour indicate?
4. I did a Rename all, and found some files have a number in bracket at the end of the name, what does this mean?
Search APK
1. What does Search APK do?
2. How do I use the Search APK function?
PRO key
1. AppWererabbit is not recognizing the PRO key.
ROOT
1. What is Rooting?
2. How do I root my device?
What is this "Base folder"?
All folders AppWererabbit uses for storage are located under the "Base folder".
The location of the folder is user definable, for devices with a true SD card, it is preferred to define it there.
Note:
- Don't point the "Base folder" to the root of the SD card storage, but a folder on the SD card storage.
- Remember, if the base folder is located on the system internal storage, the content would be erased after a factory reset.
Top
I don't see "xyz" app when I select share/send?
AppWererabbit may not actually perform the share or send action, but the action is handle by others app installed on your device,
if you don't see a particular app, install it from Play Store.
Top
The app's icon show up when I open my image viewer app.
The problem is with the image viewer app, it is not observing the Android convention to "hide" media files in folders with the ".nomedia" file.
Please report it to image viewer app's developers, so they may fix the problem.
Note:
- As of v0.3.2, the icon's filename changed to "icon" from "icon.png".
- If icon images still show up on your image viewer app, you may needs to refresh your viewer's thrumbnail cache.
Top
Can I revert back to a pre-v0.3.2 release?
Yes, but no icon would show up on the "Backed Up Apps" screen.
Top
In addition to OI File Manager, can you support another file manager?
Any file manager that support below intent is launchable.
- intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
- intent.setData(Uri.parse(<starting folder location>));
If your favourite file manager is not listed, email the developer of the file manager with your situation, and request if they would support the above intent.
Top
What are system apps?
System apps are applications pre-installed by the device manufacturer.
Note:
- These applications cannot be uninstall by AppWererabbit, because they are installed in a section of the storage that AppWererabbit cannot access.
Top
I restarted the app after I changed the "Display language" settings, but the language did not change.
If app restart don't seem to works, do a device orientation change will also effect the "Display language" settings.
Top
Can I change the APK name format of the "Export apk" function?
Goto "Settings > Advanced > APK name format" to define the prefer format.
Note:
- The settings is shared with the Rename APK function.
Top
What is a frozen app?
A frozen app is an application that is disabled to prevent it from running and is hiden from the launcher, the app itself is still installed and its data kept. The app can be unfreeze (enabled) if the Android device is rooted.
Note:
- Freeze and Unfreeze requires ROOT access.
Top
What does the different filter mean?
- All: System apps + User apps.
- System: System apps.
- User: User apps.
- Backed up: Apps with current installed version backed up.
- Not backup: Apps with current installed version not backup, but backup of other version is found.
- No backup: Apps with no backup.
- Frozen: Disabled apps.
- Updated: Updated system apps. For example, Gmail after updated from Play Store.
Top
How to exclude system apps from "Backed up", "Not backup" and "No backup" filter?
Goto "Settings > Advanced > Filter", and check the appropriate settings.
Note:
- For PRO only, otherwise, the settings is dimed.
Top
I can't browse the exported APK.
AppWererabbit handle this via an external "file manager" app. Several file manager are supported, one of them is OI File Manager.
For support criteria, see here.
Top
Are there folders where backed up files should not be kept?
Anywhere that would interfere with the system is a bad location, "/" for example. The best place is on an external storage like SD card.
See "Base folder" for more information.
Top
Where to keep the backed up files?
The best location is a folder on SD storage, the SD storage is usually located at "/mnt/sdcard". On some phones, GSII for example,
this may not point to a real SD card storage. The backup folder can be changed to anywhere, just ensure the backup folder is
writable by the app, and not in a location that would interfere with the system.
See "Base folder" for more information.
Top
Does it backup data of apps?
No, it only backup the application file (apk).
The data of apps are usually stored in private folders, and app like AppWererabbit have no read/write access to these folders.
Note:
- Not yet. (ROOT is required)
Top
What are "Protected" apps?
"Protected" means the app is "Copy Protected" to prevent the apk file from being copied, therefore, the app cannot be
truely backup, instead, only information regarding the app is backup to facilities restore from Play Store.
Note:
- As of v3.0.0, provided your device is ROOTed, protected app can be backup.
Top
Why can't I restore apps?
By default, a phone can only install apps from Google Play Store. To install from third parties sources, goto
"Settings"->"Security", enable the "Unknown sources" setting, then you can restore apps from SD card.
Top
What is the different between package Delete and Purge?
Delete remove all backup information associated with the package, while
Purge remove only those version backup not marked as "Retain".
Top
Why uses Package Name and Version Code as backup name?
- "Package Name" is a good choice, because it is unique for every apps from Play Store.
- "Version Code" is a good choice, because it is unique for each release of the same app from Play Store.
- Both uses filesystem friendly characters set.
Top
Why not use App Name and Version Name as backup name?
- "App name" is not ideal, because some apps uses identical name, "Angry Birds" for example.
- Both could contains characters not valid for filename.
Top
I want to move my backup folder to a new location.
Use follow steps.
- Use a "file manager" or "file explorer" app to move the current application "Base folder" to the new location.
- Update the application "Base folder" preference to point to the new location.
Top
Can I prevent a version backup from being purge?
Yes. Any version backup marked as "Retain" is ignore during purging.
To mark a version backup as "Retain".
- goto the "View versions" screen of the particular app.
- tap on the version you like to retain.
- select "Toggle retain" to change its retain status.
Top
How do I restore all my apps on my new phone?
Below steps assume both phones support a true SD card storage, and the application "Base folder" is located on the SD card storage,
if not, then you will needs to do a manual copy of the application "Base folder", the minimum to copy is the app list under the app list export folder.
(1) on the old phone, export the app list to the SD card storage.
(2) transfer the SD card to the new phone. (if phones does not support a true SD card storage, do a manual copy here)
(3) install AppWererabbit on the new phone (manual install from SD or via Play Store).
(4) after install, point the application "Base folder" to the required folder.
(5) import the app list exported from step 1.
From this list you can either
(a) install the apps from Play Store, or
(b) if a backup is available, install from SD.
Top
I can't find my backup files after inserting my SD card from my old phone to my new phone?
Ensure on your old phone, the application "Base folder" is really pointing to a folder on the external SD card storage,
otherwise, your backup files is actually stored on your phone's internal storage memory, and not on your SD card storage.
Top
How can I migrate my existing apk files to AppWererabbit?
After configured the "Base folder", use the Import APK function to import the apk files.
Top
Why some apps does not show the "Backed Up" indicator after I performed a batch Backup?
AppWererabbit skip over any apps already backed up. You can confirm this by trigging a single app backup, which will prompt user to confirm if a backup already exists.
Top
I want to cleanup my backup and only keep x number of version. How do I do this?
Follow below steps:
(1) Goto "Settings > Basic".
(2) Set "Maximum version limit" as required.
(3) Tap "Purge now" to start purging.
Note:
- Retained version are not purge.
- If "Auto purge" is selected, AppWererabbit automatically do a purge of the app's backup after a backup is performed.
Top
What does the coloured version name in the Installed Apps screen mean?
The coloured version name indicate the backup status.
- "NORMAL" indicate current installed version is backed up.
- "ORANGE" indicate current installed version is not backup, but backup of other version is found.
- "RED" indicate no backup found.
Note:
- Protected apps are always displayed as NORMAL.
Top
I wish to maintain backup for my installed apps only, can I config AppWererabbit to delete the corresponding backup if I uninstall the app?
As of v3.4.0, there are two methods to achieve this.
Method 1 (PRO only)
Follow below steps to config AppWererabbit.
(1) Goto "Settings > Advanced".
(2) Select "On uninstall an app".
(3) Select "Delete all".
From now, if an app is uninstall via AppWererabbit, the corresponding backup is also deleted.
Note:
- A toast message only popup if there is a backup to delete.
- The backup is deleted, even if you decide not to uninstall at the confirm dialog.
Method 2 (PRO only) *** USE WITH CAUTION ***
Follow below steps to config AppWererabbit.
(1) Goto "Settings > Advanced".
(2) Select "After app uninstall".
(3) Select "Delete all".
(4) Enable notification as requires.
From now, if an app is uninstall (via any apps), the corresponding backup is also deleted.
Note:
- Notification only popup if there is a backup to delete.
- This feature is best accompany with the "Auto backup" feature, to automate the whole "backup"/"delete backup" process.
- Backup can take up a fair amount of storage space, config "Auto purge" to limit this.
- Use the "Retain" feature to prevent a particular backed up version from being purge.
Top
I wish to maintain backup of a selection of my installed apps only, can I config AppWererabbit to automate this?
Follow below steps to config AppWererabbit (PRO only).
(1) Goto "Settings > Basic".
(2) Select "After update (installed app), auto backup".
(3) Enable notification as requires.
(4) Perform a manual backup of the required apps.
Fron now, when any apps from step (4) is updated, a backup is automatically taken.
Note:
- The process depends on a backup already exist, this is why step (4) is required.
- Backup can take up a fair amount of storage space, config "Auto purge" to limit this.
- Use the "Retain" feature to prevent a particular backed up version from being purge.
Top
After enabled "Auto backup", my device's storage dropped significantly.
Following affect the amount of storage used by your backups.
(1) The size of the apps.
(2) The number of copy (version) kept.
Use below methods to reduce the amount of storage used.
(a) Enable "Auto purge".
- (i) Goto "Settings > Basic".
- (ii) Set "Maximum version limit" to desired value.
- (iii) Enable "Auto purge".
(b) If you prefer not to enable "Auto purge", then perform a manual purge as required.
- (i) Goto "Settings > Basic".
- (ii) Set "Maximum version limit" to desired value.
- (iii) Select "Purge now" to start the purge process.
Note:
- Method (a) is the prefer method, since it is automated.
- After setting up method (a), it maybe advisable to immediately do a manual purge, because auto purge is perform after backup completed for a particular app.
- Use the "Retain" feature to prevent a particular version from being purge.
Top
What is App2SD?
App2SD is a Android system function that move an app from the system internal memory to the external SD card storage.
There are two main advantages with more free internal memory.
- Allow more apps to be installed.
- The system slow down when internal memory is low.
Top
Do I needs a rooted device for App2SD?
No, but below criteria are required.
- Only apps specifically written to support this function can be moved to the SD card storage.
- An Android device with a true SD card storage installed.
- App2SD was added to Android from 2.2 (aka Froyo), specific support depends on the actual device's implementation.
Note:
- Not all version of Android 3.0 or above support App2SD, this is not the fault of AppWererabbit, but a system constraint.
- If you still want App2SD, your only option is to "ROOT" your device, and install an apps2sd app for rooted devices, google for more information if you still interested.
Top
How do I know if my device support App2SD?
The easiest way to know is first ensure your device have a true SD card installed, then from AppWererabbit, find an
app with "App2SD" status, then goto the "App info" screen of this app, if you see the "Move to SD card" button on the App info
screen then your device support App2SD.
Note:
- Not all version of Android 3.0 or above support App2SD, this is not the fault of AppWererabbit, but a system constraint imposed by the device manufacturer.
- On some devices, the "Move to SD card" button is shown, but does not actually support App2SD. So confirm your devices really have support by doing a move.
Top
I don't see the "Move to SD card" button on the App info screen.
AppWererabbit only notify if an app support App2SD, and provide an UI to facilitate easy access to the Android system
"App info" screen. Actual support is dependent on the specific device.
Note:
- Not all devices support App2SD, for example, Galaxy Nexus does not support this, because it does not have a true SD card storage.
Top
After moving "xyz" app to SD, it stop working.
Not all apps can be moved to SD, this is an Android limitation.
Apps using below features should not be installed on external SD storage.
- Services
- Alarm Services
- Input Method Engines
- Live Wallpapers
- Live Folders
- App Widgets
- Account Managers
- Sync Adapters
- Device Administrators
- Broadcast Receivers listening for "boot completed"
More information here.
Top
Why is the install location of AppWererabbit changed to internalOnly?
AppWererabbit uses some of those features that Android suggest not to move to SD.
Top
What is the 3 different panel?
On Phone
On SD Card
- Listed applications are those you installed.
- Listed applications are currently installed on SD card storage, but can be moved back to internal storage.
- Developers allows them to be moved to SD storage. See How do I know if my device support App2SD?
Phone Only
- Listed applications are those you installed.
- Listed applications are currently installed on internal storage, and cannot be moved.
- Developers insisted applications be install on internal storage only.
Top
Why is the "On SD Card" panel always empty?
See On SD Card.
Top
What is a cache?
A cache is a mechanism of storing data, so that future request for that data can be served faster, thereby improve application performance.
Top
Do I needs a rooted device to clean cache?
No, but the function is dependent on availability of corresponding Android system functions, especially for 1-Tap cache cleaning.
Top
Is it safe to clear the cache?
It is safe.
This app provide three methods to clear cache.
- Manually via the app info screen provided by the Android system.
- Manually via 1-Tap cleaning, this clean all apps cache in 1-Tap of the delete button.
- Automatically clean all apps cache at set intervals.
Top
Which is the best method to clear cache?
The best method depends on your needs, but the automatic method is the simplest, just pick the most appropriate interval for your needs, and let the system do all the works.
To verify automatic cleaning is running as defined, goto "Settings > Basic > View log" to view the auto clean log.
Note:
- As the "Automatic" and "1-Tap" cleaning depends on the Android system, after an OS upgrade, check everything is still working as expected.
Top
1-Tap cache cleaning not working.
There is a bug in Android 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, this is fixed by Google in 4.0.3.
Top
What does Import APK do?
The purpose is to search the storage (Internal or SD) for apk files and import the apk files found to AppWererabbit for easy management.
Example of usage would be:
- Migrating to AppWererabbit from another backup app.
- Importing apk files to AppWererabbit without first installing the apps.
Top
I am current using "xyz" for backup, how to I migrate my existing apk files to AppWererabbit?
To migrate or just want to import some apk files from storage, follow below steps:
(1) Using a file manager, locate the folder where the apk files are stored by "xyz", this maybe a single folder or a folders tree (you want the root of the tree).
(2) Open AppWererabbit.
(3) Ensure the "Base folder" is pointing to your prefered folder, if you not already done so.
(4) Select the "Import APK" function from the menu.
(5) Read the Introduction.
(6) Set the "Search path" to point to the folder found in step (1).
(7) Enable "Search sub-folders" as required.
(8) Start the process by tapping on "Start importing".
(9) Upon completed, you can review which apk files got imported by looking at the log.
Top
What does Rename APK do?
The purpose is to search the storage (Internal or SD) for apk files and rename them using a custom name of your choice.
Top
How do I use the Rename APK function?
Follow below steps:
(1) Open AppWererabbit.
(2) Select the "Rename APK" function from the menu.
(3) Tap on "APK name format" to set the desired name format.
(4) Set the "Search path" to point to the folder where the apk files is located.
(5) Enable "Search sub-folders" as required.
(6) Start the search process by tapping on "Start searching".
(7) Upon seach completed, the list of apk found is listed, from this list you can do bulk rename (Rename all), or just those you want by tapping on the entry.
Note:
- The Search path should not be within the Base folder.
Top
What does the BLUE colour indicate?
Each entry in the list show the full path of the apk file, and its name, below this is the new name if you rename it.
If both name is in BLUE, it mean the apk file is already in the desired name format.
Top
I did a Rename all, and found some files have a number in bracket at the end of the name, what does this mean?
It mean within the same folder, two or more apk files have the same apk filename, to avoid overwriting the file, they are renamed with a sequence number.
You can delete them by using the "Delete" option, or "Rename (Overwrite)" option.
Top
What does Search APK do?
The purpose is to search the storage (Internal or SD) for apk files, from the result, you can install or delete the apk file.
Top
How do I use the Search APK function?
Refer to "How do I use Rename APK function?".
Note:
- The Search path should not be within the Base folder.
Top
AppWererabbit is not recognizing the PRO key.
- Goto "Settings > PRO key", and tap "Activate PRO key" until you get the toast message "License verified".
- Sometime uninstall/install the PRO key may helps. After key re-install, restart AppWererabbit.
- If you still can't get verify, try again at another time, as there maybe problem/maintenance at Play Store.
- If problem persist, contact Google regarding the problem of unable to verify license against Play Store.
Note:
- Internet connection is required for the license verification process.
- App developers is not involve in the license verification process, it is between the user's device and Play Store.
Top
What is Rooting?
For more information on rooting, tap here and here.
Top
How do I root my device?
Google for "root <your device name>".
e.g. "root Galaxy Nexus" to search for information on rooting the Galaxy Nexus.
For more information on rooting an Android device, tap here.
Top