[Windows 11] targetedAI:
WSA Backup and Restore from Backup Instructions

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*This has only been tested on MustardChef Builds*

MustardChef WSA Builds URL

https://github.com/MustardChef/WSABuilds/releases/tag/Windows_11_2307.40000.5.0

MustardChef WSA Backup and Restore Tutorial

https://github.com/MustardChef/WSABuilds/blob/master/Documentation/WSABuilds/Backup and Restore.md

Prior to my PC crashing, I was successfully using WSAbackup v1.01 for backups and restoring WSA, so I did already have a backup of the LocalCache folder that WSAbackup creates. After my PC crashed and did a clean install of win11- WSAbackup.exe stopped working and will not even open any longer. I’ve tried everything. I’m not sure if I have different updates or what the issue is, but it does nothing at all. I lost my me and my sons Minecraft game, so I needed to do something haha

There is a huge lack of information on backing up and restoring WSA and Play Store data. Hopefully this will help someone. If you want to restore a backup you already have or you have a functioning WSA you want to backup, then you can follow these instructions.

Backing up WSA and Play Store:

If you don't have a backup yet, but you have a WSA userdata that you do want to backup and have a working WSA, then go to the following directory and copy the entire " LocalCache" folder and save it in a safe place for future restores. It will be a large file, 5-10gb +/-

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbwe\

That’s all you need to do to back up your entire WSA + Play Store + Game / App Data. It can be used to restore WSA to exact same state it was in when it was copied.

At the top of this post, I linked the original MustardChef Restore / Backup Tutorial: But if that does not work (I tried it 10x and then another 30x tweaking the steps slightly and nothing worked, so either I just am unlucky, or I’m missing something. I did create a screen recording of the steps, and the first part of my method used the instructions in the link, but then I had to do a few more steps that are not mentioned in that github tutorial. So, you can decide to follow those instructions, but I suggest following mine because where those instructions end – mine begin. Oh, and do NOT use userdata as outlined in the instructions – # Do not confuse userdata.2.vhdx and userdata.vhdx - They are NOT the same #

Restoring a WSA Backup:

Uninstall WSA completely and restart computer.

Extract the

mustardChef

WSA Build of choice to a permanent directory.

Once installed, go to WSA installation folder you just made and find the file named "INSTALL.PS1"

Right click Install.ps1 and choose to edit with notepad.

# Take mental note of how the lines of code are spaced #

Press CTRL + F to bring up the find text box and search for the following lines of code. If any of them match, delete them, and take mental note of their location and remove any spaces to maintain the same script structure. Remember which ones you delete. You probably won’t have all of them, that’s ok

Start-Process "wsa://com.android.settings"

Start-Process "wsa://com.topjohnwu.magisk"

Start-Process "wsa://io.github.huskydg.magisk"

Start-Process "wsa://io.github.vvb2060.magisk"

Start-Process "wsa://com.android.vending"

Start-Process "wsa://com.amazon.venezia"

click file and save. Exit notepad and find the file "RUN.BAT" used to install WSA and double click it

# Now stop- Do not follow the typical install instructions#

Once PowerShell opens and/ or the "Optional Diagnosis" Popups show (the normal amount of pop ups might not, mine didn't), go to file explorer address bar and go to the following directory: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\

Look for the "MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbwe" folder and open it. If the folder isn't there, just wait, it will show up in shortly

Now copy your Backup of the "LOCALCACHE" folder and paste it inside the folder “MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbwe"

if there are Optional Diagnosis Popups from the current WSA installation, then click on the Ok box(s) and finish the install of WSA

These instructions are from the tutorilal I linked above, this is supposed to be all you need to do, but this didn’t work for me. If it worked, you’re done. If not, this is where my instructions begin to complete a successful restore. From my experience, only the WSA subsystem will install, the Play Store will not and I’m unsure if any Data is actually restored at this point.

Open WSA and under the hamburger on top left of window, click Advanced Settings and turn on Developer Mode. Go to Memory and Performance tab and select " Continuous”. Go to Experimental features and turn on “Share User Folders” Restart Computer.

Open WSA and at the bottom right of window select “OFF” and wait until it turns off.

Go back to the Folder where you extracted the WSA build and find "install.ps1" and right click- edit in notepad

Copy the lines of code you previously deleted and paste them back to the same text location they were deleted from

# Take note that you use the proper number of spaces and line up the text to the same format of the script. There are 4 spaces before the text should start and there should be one blank line after the codes are entered

Once the code is added back into its proper location, click file and save and exit notepad

Double click on the file “RUN.bat" and this time install WSA the typical way by following the on-screen directions. But This time it SHOULD skip most of the setup process and load the play store if your build includes the Play Store - when the play store loads, it should load your backup profile without the need to enter your credentials. You're apps should already be loaded, along with game data etc as well.

Restart computer after the installation is complete, go to: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\

And copy the folder: "MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbwe" for good measure and use this for your future backup. That should do it.

I made a video tutorial and recorded my screen. If enough people request it, I may throw it on youtube to help further. Hopefully this helps someone!