Request for device backup

2035918 over 5 years ago

Hi, I would like to backup my whole Vivoactive 3 (parameters, faces, apps, widgets with all their respectives settings) watch in case of problems like losing it or breaking it. It would then be possible to fastly recover everything in the replacement watch. If possible, I think that making possible to use that backup for even a new watch upgrade. For example, if I'm switching from my Vivoactive 3 to a Fenix 6, every faces, apps and widgets that are compatible could simply be recover on the new watch with every parameters already set by the user.

0 jim_m_58 over 5 years ago

You can do a very minimal backup by just hooking to a computer and copying everything, but there's alot you'll miss.

And as far as va3 to f6 and ciq apps, I would not even try that. Many apps are built for a specific device, and here we have a bunch of things like touch vs non touch, 240x240 display vs 260x260, and a whole different set of system fonts. Just do a clean install of the apps you like when you get the f6.

0 WillNorthYork over 5 years ago

If you're just backing up and restoring to the same *kind* of device, it's def possible. The trick is you can't just copy everything back to the original folder it came from -- some things, like locations, sport/activity settings, and records need to go into the NEWFILES folder when you restore them.

Apps and app settings can definitely be backed up and restored, too. Certain things like WiFi settings, Bluetooth pairing info and FirstBeat metrics cannot be backed up.

As Jim said, I would not attempt to backup from one type of device and restore to a different type of device.

Here's a guide I made for FR935. Like Jim said, it involves connecting your watch to a computer with the charging cable. I'm pretty sure it works for all modern Forerunners and Fenix watches -- hopefully it'll work for VA3 as well:

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-935/137954/backup-of-user-settings/763911#763911

It would be great if this kind of thing was officially supported in a user-friendly way, but I feel like that's not gonna happen any time soon. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

0 2035918 over 5 years ago in reply to WillNorthYork

Maybe you're right, but if yes, it's sad. The main idea is to correlate what is already handle by Garmin Connect and Connect IQ. It's simple as saving the state of a device in Garmin Connect and using IQ to select the stuff that can be installed in the new one... I think that the work is already made to a certain point. I believe that Garmin will give the opportunity to make users happier when upgrading. That isn't nothing.

0 WillNorthYork over 5 years ago in reply to 2035918

Yeah, one problem is that settings can't be migrated, because both app-specific and native sport-specific settings are tied to the device model. Lots of things could break if those files were just copied over.

If you want to officially request this feature, I think this would be the official place to do it: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/forms/ideas/

0 2035918 over 5 years ago in reply to WillNorthYork

Thank you for the cue. I'll try it.