since i just did a factory reset on a nexus 4 this AM to bring it up to 4.4 i'll go through it.

consider this a PSA for folks who want to enjoy android free from carrier bloat.

- enable USB debugging on phone (7 clicks on phone version)
- install ADB drivers for your phone (from XDA)
- install wugfresh toolkit and let it go nuts updating!
- if you don't have latest android OS and google is pushing it to you, go ahead & do that first.

Now, plug your phone in and let it scan to recognize phone & OS version
- if you haven't updated OS, let WUG do it for you, click 'flash stock & unroot' and it will grab the latest image and do it for you (wiping your phone in the process)
- click unlock and let it ride
- click root and let it ride (and install custom TWRP recovery)
- after rebooting, run superSU and busybox and let them do their thing.

now, you're rooted, happy & on the latest android OS and almost ready for a fresh backup.

However, before the backup do the following:
- click 'allow untrusted sources' from security settings menu
- go ahead & download FDROID and ADAWAY (let adaway run & update to latest host files)
- install ROOT BROWSER
- login to a gmail account (any account will do but you need to log in to get the play store to update apps)
- let the play store update ALL your basic GAPPS
- manually go to play store & grab google docs & sheets
- rstart into recovery, run BACKUP and when done, copy your backup (will be tiny) to GDRIVE (just in case)

Now you're ready to play and you've got a happy unlocked bootloader rooted android with a solid backup including all basic apps updated in case you need to restore to it.

at this point you can proceed to screw your phone up with impunity.

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Posted by Hu_Flung_Pu

Central, LA

Member since Jan 2013

22151 posts

Posted on 6/26/14 at 2:55 pm to CAD703X

Neat.

Now when I run Titanium Backup. How do I get all my apps back on my phone with the app data? I have always had problems with that.

I am always reserved about rooting also. I am so scared of bricking. FIY I have done like 5 phones and tablets and haven't had a problem, just always scared.

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Posted by CAD703X

Liberty Island

Member since Jul 2008

77890 posts

Posted on 6/26/14 at 3:53 pm to Hu_Flung_Pu

quote:
Now when I run Titanium Backup. How do I get all my apps back on my phone with the app data? I

TWRP will do this (default recovery installed with WUGFRESH) and i'm not familiar with titanium having never used..i heard it cost money

anyway, you can go ahead & install all your apps, etc. and then do the backup if you like.

i just prefer a fresh clean system with all the latest gapps, etc. as a baseline backup.

as for apps, i try to limit usage to ones that store my settings in the cloud for this very reason.

imo, you should be able to wipe/reset your phone any time and lose nothing more than maybe a few texts and have to reintall a few apps (no big deal).

the real PITA is when you spend hours configuring some app or widget and all those settings can't be backed up so it goes out the window when you reset your phone.

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Posted by Ice Cream Sammich