Backup#

Never lose your sleep tracking history, alarms, or customized settings! Sleep as Android offers both automated cloud backup and manual local export options so you can safely transfer your data when upgrading or resetting your phone.

Quick Comparison: What gets backed up?#

Inactive alarms are never saved during backups. Audio recording files (.m4a/.oggr) are large and must be transferred manually if you wish to keep them.

Automated Cloud Backups (Recommended)#

Automated backups protect your data continuously in the background without needing manual exports.

Option A: SleepCloud Add-on (Best overall)#

SleepCloud is designed specifically for Sleep as Android. It provides effortless cloud syncing, web dashboard access, and seamless data restoration on new devices.

1. Install the SleepCloud Backup add-on from Google Play.
2. In Sleep as Android, open Settings → Services → Cloud backup.
3. Sign in to your account and enable backup.

Option B: Google Drive or Dropbox#

If you prefer storing your data in your personal cloud account:

1. Install the SleepCloud Backup add-on add-on.
2. Go to Settings → Services → Cloud backup.
3. Select Google Drive or Dropbox and follow the authorization prompt.

The app will automatically create a designated folder (Sleep as Android on Google Drive or Sleep Cloud Backup on Dropbox) to keep your files safe.

If a cloud backup fails, you will receive a notification in your status bar. If issues persist, feel free to reach out to our team at support@urbandroid.org.

2. Manual Backup & File Sharing#

If you prefer offline backups or want to transfer your data directly via email or message app, you can generate a local backup file at any time.

How to Create & Share a Manual Backup#

1. Open the Left ≡ menu → Backup → Export data.
2. Once you see the “Backup Successful” message, tap Share.
3. Choose your preferred app:
   • Email: Send the generated .zip attachment to yourself.
   • Cloud / Messaging: Save it directly to Google Drive, or local storage.

By default, manual backups are saved to scoped storage—the most secure location available, fully isolated and protected by the system. You can select a custom location via location in Settings → Personalize → Privacy → Storage path, though using scoped storage is strongly recommended for optimal data protection.

Do not rely purely on a local folder backup if you plan to uninstall the app or factory reset your device! Uninstalling Android apps erases their local storage folder. Always use the Share button to send the file off your device first, or choose an alternative location for sharing (for example, Media folder).

How to Restore a Manual Backup on a New Phone#

1. Install Sleep as Android on your new phone and make sure you granted all permissions,
2. Locate your exported .zip file (in your email attachment, file manager, or cloud storage) and tap on it.
3. Select Sleep as Android when prompted to open the file.
4. Choose the data types you wish to restore (History, Settings, Alarms) and confirm.

Alternatively, you can restore manually inside the app:

1. Place the sleep-export.zip file into the app’s local storage path on your new device.
2. Open the Left ≡ menu → Backup → Import data.

Transferring Sleep Audio Recordings#

Because noise recording files (/rec folder) are large, they are not included in cloud or zipped backups. To move your actual recorded audio to a new phone:

1. Locate audio on your old phone: Check Settings → Sleep noise recording → Storage path to find where your audio files are stored.
2. Copy the folder: Connect your old phone to a computer or use a file manager to copy the sleep-data/rec folder.
3. Move to your new phone:
   • On your new phone, create a folder structure in an accessible location (e.g., Documents or Media — avoid Downloads):

     YourFolder/sleep-data/rec/

   • Paste your copied audio files into the rec folder.
4. Update app settings: Open Sleep as Android on the new phone and navigate to Settings → ``Sleep noise recording → Storage path. Set the path to YourFolder (select the parent directory, not the /rec subfolder).
5. Sync: Import your general sleep backup. The app will automatically pair your audio metadata with the copied audio files.

Android System Backup (Google One)#

Most modern Android devices include automatic system backups powered by Google One.

• To enable: Open your phone’s System Settings → System → Backup (or Google → Backup) and turn on Backup by Google One.
• To force an immediate backup: Tap Back up now.

While Google One is convenient when migrating to a brand-new phone during initial Android setup, we strongly recommend using SleepCloud or Manual Export as your primary backup strategy for guaranteed reliability.

❓ FAQs & Troubleshooting#

Need further help? Contact us via Left ☰ Menu → Support → Report a bug.