yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] simplepinoi177:
You only need to wipe your phone on 3 occasions (outside of recovery reasons) -- unlocking bootloader, installing custom ROM, and flashing custom kernel. No other point in the root process. It just so happens you need to unlock your bootloader to root, or you wouldn't even have to do that. On old phones (pre-Pixel), you wouldn't necessarily need to unlock the bootloader to gain root; this is a newer development than original.

If you are rooted on your Pixel 5, you should wait until after finish rooting, so you can migrate everything properly (with app data and settings and all) using a rooted backup option vs. just relying on Google Backup (which is sorely limited and while it re-downloads the apps once downloaded from the Play Store, doesn't include the Settings or Data) and the small little bit you can transfer/recover unrooted (through the cord).

If you're not rooted on your Pixel 5, then it kinda doesn't matter because there's not too much you'd be able to transfer; but it might still mean something to have root access already when trying.

Hope this helps!
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
I am rooted on the Pixel 5. How can I go about using a "rooted backup option" to get the settings and data on the P8P?
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
After rooting, in step 7 of the SafetyNet instructions:

I was only seeing MEETS_BASIC_INTEGRITY - not MEETS_DEVICE_INTEGRITY. ❌

I cleared cache for Google Play Store/Services (didn't have Wallet or GPay installed yet) & Google Services Framework, rebooted, and was then able to see both MEETS_BASIC_INTEGRITY and MEETS_DEVICE_INTEGRITY. ✅ Hooray! 🎉🥳

I was then able to import most of the accounts & other data from my P5 (by finishing the setup from a prompt at the top of the Settings app, which invoked Google Play Services to handle this). ✅

However, it didn't import my launcher layout - the single most annoying, time-consuming thing to set up again! So if anyone knows how to get the home screen layouts for the launcher migrated to the P8P, please let me know!

The last step (I think) is to do a "rooted backup" transfer of app data and settings (need to figure out how) - the stuff that doesn't get copied over using Google's "Set up using another device" option.

If anyone has any useful info (other than what's available at g.co/datatransferhelp) that might help me get the remaining app data, settings, and other files onto the P8P as efficiently as possible it would be much appreciated.

Thanks again!
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] simplepinoi177:
The most generally accepted and prominent method is Swift Backup. Too bad TWRP only works in limited fashion for the Pixel 5 and completely does not on Android 14 -- a nandroid backup option.

If it were me, I'd do Google Backup, then Swift Backup, then SMS Backup and Restore. That should set you straight like 95%+; it's what I do backing up every month (when I update to the next month's update). badabing2003 also said good things about MyBackup Pro.

If you wish for more detailed instructions -- use those 2 backup options, copy their whole folders externally somewhere, set your P8P up (unlock bootloader, phone set up [maybe use cord transfer; but many users claim not to do that and to start from complete scratch because the transfer or restoring from back up might cause random glitches, but YMMV]), root, install those apps (if Google Backup hadn't automatically), rename the apps' folders to something else, copy over the folders from the backups you made from the Pixel 5, you'll find the backups are now in those apps and restore as you will/wish.

If you ask me, that's how I would do it...Hope this helps! I wish you luck!

What launcher are you using? I think @roirraW "edor" ehT has mentioned using the good old staple Nova Launcher, and supposedly it's pretty simple & straightforward to back it up and transfer it to another instance/restore....
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] BillGoss:
You could use adb to pull the data off your old phone and then again to push it to your new one.

In theory these two commands would do it:

adb pull /sdcard/* sdcard
adb push sdcard/* /sdcard

but I used to get problems doing it this way. So I use a shell script to generate the files (attached). And then run them from my PC.

If you use the attached scripts (after you've removed the .txt from the names), edit them to reflect the data you want copied between your two devices.

Note: if you aren't familiar with running scripts on your PC, you can copy the contents of the script and paste it into the terminal session on your PC where you run adb devices to check your phone is properly connected to your PC.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
Thanks again! I will try as you suggest.

I just wonder, maybe I'm reading this weird (or need more coffee 😂), but I'm not quite sure what you meant by it:

On my Pixel 5, it's the stock launcher. However, I've neglected to upgrade the OS for quite some time, so it is running OS 11, build RQ1A.201205.011. 😞🤦‍♂️ Hopefully there's still some way to recover the launcher layout from it to v14 on the P8P.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
Cool thanks! I'm walking my dog and on my phone rn, but will take a look at these as soon as I get back and reply with any questions. 🙌
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] simplepinoi177:
In order to restore the data, you have to get Swift and SMS Backup to read the backup files, but they can only read backups from made on the device (but since you're making backups on another device P5...}. To get around this, you rename/move/delete the SwiftBackup and SMSBackupRestore folder on your P8P(that will automatically be created when installing the app), then copy the ones made on your P5, now the two apps will think those are what they backed up and will restore those files/backups accordingly. this is the simplest method as, for whatever reason, you can't just point at a folder or file to restore from...
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
Thank you!

The phone is only wiped when you unlocked the bootloader (or if you re-lock the bootloader, but of course, you won't be doing that).

I'd wait until after rooting because having root enables other avenues of restoring data, such as the Swift Backup, as was suggested.

Edit: I still swear by Nova Launcher (v7, the latest Stable version in the Play Store at this moment), which is easy to make backups of and restores to, whether rooted or not, but I understand that tastes differ.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
Ah okay. I understand now. Thanks for the clarification!
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
Hmm. I'll have to check it out. I've never actually heard of Nova or used it before.

Is there any way to import the app/folder layout from the 5 home screen pages I have in the Pixel 5 launcher into Nova launcher?

If so, that would probably be the easiest way to get the same launcher layout on the P8P (since I'm still not sure how to import the layout from the P5 launcher on the P8P, or why it didn't do it automatically when setting up the P8P from the P5).
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
I first started using Nova in 2011-2012 (it just had its 12th birthday). I bought "Prime" (it's one-time paid license) for the advanced features sometime in the next couple of years. I occasionally still fiddled with other launchers, but I always came back. I very, very rarely try a different launcher, but I still come back when I do.

I know that Nova has an "Import from other launcher" option, and I think the last time I tested it out with the Pixel, it worked, but I've only kept modifying the same configuration in Nova for many years. Every time I do modify mine, I make a manual backup to Google Drive.

The following is a now out-of-date example from 2021 or 2022, but to give you an idea:

~86 apps, 12 folders, 8 widgets - made to look like 15 app icons and 4 obvious folders (and 8 widgets). I might've lost count of the apps and skipped a few. In Nova Launcher Prime, with some "folders" set to behave like apps unless I swipe up or down on their icons. Some icons I have different swipe up and swipe down actions to launch other frequently used apps that I don't really need an icon for.

Nova also has an optional add-on (link in the app) to give it Google's "Discover" screen (swipe right from the primary home screen), just like on the stock Pixel launcher. I do have a few more homescreens beside this Primary one for a few large widgets I like to keep handy.

In my app drawer, I opt for having tabs for different categories of apps, rather than folders, but you can configure how you like it.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
Wow. 😲 Okay, I'm sold haha. 😄

If you have some kind of affiliate/referral link to get credit for this, drop it in a reply. Otherwise, I'll probably just get the paid version later tonight. From the features you listed, it definitely seems worth it. I think I'd probably go for it just for having 7 slots on the pinned/bottom row!
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
:) Another upside of using any third-party launcher that it's easy to back up and restore is that it'll work on any Android device you have. Tablet by Samsung? I have it set up very similarly as I do on my Pixel.

I do not, and these days, not only as a moderator, but as a person who likes to help, even if I had some way to get credit by referral, I wouldn't do it, but I appreciate your gesture. In my opinion, my fellow moderator @simplepinoi177 deserves much more credit for helping you overall, though.

Sounds good, I hope you like it as much as I think you will.

Seven is the maximum in Nova for the dock, or I might've thought of an eighth category of foldered apps for my dock.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
Yeah, good point! Definitely nice to be able to migrate between different types of devices.

@simplepinoi177 - if you have a donate link, please share it.

Haha yeah. I can imagine it would be nice to have a dock with either nested folders, and/or that can be scrolled freely with inertia (e.g. want 50 dock items and need to get to the last 7 fast? just swipe it left really fast).
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
I do have a gesture (two fingers swipe up) set up in Nova to quickly move to my far right home screen, and the reverse of that gesture to go to the Primary home screen. :)

You can "only" have 5 pages of dock icons in Nova, though, so can only go up to 35 dock icons total. 🤣
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
what the... 😲

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

All I can think right now is, "HOW has it taken me this long to learn about this launcher?!" 🤩
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
Do you know where to find this feature? I googled about it, but don't see the option anywhere in Nova settings.

Could it be this is only available with Nova Prime?

EDIT: I did some googling, and only found answers similar to the ones in this thread.

Reddit - Dive into anything

www.reddit.com

1. So it looks like I still need to find some other way (if there is any 😢) to get my home screen layout transferred over to the P8P, or if possible, into Nova launcher from the P5 stock launcher.

2. Also, after rebooting again recently, I tried doing a SafetyNet check, and am once again only seeing MEETS_BASIC_INTEGRITY - but not MEETS_DEVICE_INTEGRITY.

3. Also, I've noticed, anytime I try to view pictures or videos I just took from the shortcut to the camera reel in the camera app, everything there lags & malfunctions horribly: videos show they're loading indefinitely and can't be played, the metadata info section when you swipe the photo or video upward is missing, and part of the photo viewer UI (icons) will be missing for up to 30 sec to 1 min, and I'm unable to delete, edit, share, or use lens on pictures/videos via that UI.

already tried force quitting camera, clearing cache & data, uninstalling updates to the camera app, and reinstalling it. still seeing the same behavior.

This hasn't been the only weird thing I've noticed throughout this process either. starting to feel like maybe rooting was a bad idea this time... thinking of unrooting and going back to stock/no root, and trying to import everything from my pixel 5 and set up the phone again, with the hope that, maybe then at least, the home screen layout for all my apps/folders will import properly. 😢
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
I remember getting prompted for it when the installation was new, during the initial setup. Nova Settings / Backup & restore / Quick start - I don't know for a fact that's where it shows up, but I think so. As I mentioned, I know I tested it on the Pixel sometime in the last 2-3 years, and it worked.

It's possible, but not sure. The Play Store's About entry for just regular Nova mentions some of what Prime brings, but I don't see that specifically mentioned: "…and more. More scrolling effects, unread counts, and others."
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
@leveleyed, I just installed Nova, first without the paid license, and then with the paid license, on a spare old Pixel 1, and I couldn't get the Quick start to show the import from previous launcher option.

Sounds like either they dropped the option, or it was just too hard to keep it working with the Pixel Launcher. I know it hadn't worked at one time, which is why I was just curious 2-3 years ago and tried it on a newer Pixel, and it worked.

Old information, but:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NovaLauncher/comments/dc9e6u/_/f298q45

The good news is once you set Nova up and make backups from it, you'll be good from now on.

Edit: Change of subject. I notice that in Nova Settings / Labs, there's a "Big grid size options" you can enable, so maybe you can get even more than 12 x 12 on the home screen. :D
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
@roirraW "edor" ehT - Thanks again for checking into this and giving more info!

Not sure if you noticed, but I edited my previous post to include some other info. starting to lose hope, & fearing that I may still end up spending another few days trying to get everything transferred over & set up properly on the P8P.

Then again, I think I might just do a wipe and start from scratch with Nova as you suggest. 😕 Too many hours of headaches in a row is killing me. probably better to spread this stuff out over time, and just carry my old phone around with me too for a few months for times when I need something off of it that I don't have on the new phone.

Still, I have to wonder if the other issues I'm seeing (SafetyNet not passing properly again, Google Camera app's reel & its features not working properly, etc) will still show up after a wipe & fresh start. Have other people been having these issues too, or is is just me?
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
You're welcome! No, I hadn't noticed. I had replied before you edited your post, although I do encourage you to continue editing your posts until it has been replied to. It's a good habit.

I think that's rather extreme, personally. Regarding SafetyNet, you're using the very latest Play Integrity Fix, and you followed all the rest of the directions in the SafetyNet section of Post #2, including things to try if it's not passing?

SafetyNet, especially most recently, has been a constant fight in order to stay passing while rooted. Developers come up with fixes, and then Google tweaks something on their end, so it's a struggle for all of us. I just updated to Play Integrity Fix v14.5, and the Play Store is now reporting the device as certified, and the Play Store's Developer options' Check integrity says meets basic, and meets device.

But even when on the latest version, sometimes some users have to go further with some of the steps outlined in the SafetyNet section of Post #2 in order to get those two categories as certified.

Wiping is not likely to change your experience.

I frequently don't update Play Integrity Fix as often as they come out, because sometimes updates come out multiple times a week, so I typically wait a week after a new version comes out, and 14.5 just came out yesterday, but prompted by your post, while I was on 14.3, I was no longer passing device integrity, so I updated to test if 14.5 works, and it does.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] simplepinoi177:
Just know if you go completely stock no rooting, other than contacts and other very basic things, and texts (using SMS Backup & Restore), there's not much of the "everything from my pixel 5" that will be imported... But I do believe home screen layout and/or applicable shortcuts (other than widgets) do...if I recall my experience when I set my phone up correctly...

Google blocked the fingerprint late last night, so chiteroman updated to 14.5 sometime during the night, so that's why (at the time of that post) it would've broken/not-passed...
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
Cool. Will do. Although, hopefully I won't make it a habit to be editing something at the same time someone is replying to it. 😉

Well that's the odd thing: it did pass both okay. But then after a reboot, it isn't anymore. checked the deny list, etc. But I just noticed they updated PIF from 14.4 to 14.5. just updated it and going to reboot in a minute. hopefully that fixes it.

ah ok. well I'll just keep following the steps, and always check first to ensure there isn't an update to PIF.

Okay. I'm really not sure WTF is going on, but I've also noticed a similar issue when using the photos app. at least through there I can delete, edit, etc. But if I swipe up, a lot of the time the metadata isn't shown for an image/video, or takes a really long time to load.

is it possible that adding something on the system side to the deny list might cause this? I might have gone a bit overkill with it. I selected both check boxes from the menu at the top right, searched for "Google", and am denying everything listed there.

about to reboot and see if PIF update fixes the issue for me. 🤞
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
ok. I wonder if there's some way to just try running a "restore" on the P8P, either from from the p5, or cloud backup, and if that might restore the launcher layout. 🤔

ah ok. guess that explains it then. rebooting now!
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] simplepinoi177:
The restore I spoke about was the simple "phone setup" (that you mentioned you were considering doing) where you connect via the cord/wire(usb-c)....

good luck with it/to-you!
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] leveleyed:
Oh okay. The way I did it the other night was over Wi-Fi. didn't actually connect one phone to the other. I wonder if there's some way I could connect them together now and try and update the restore rather than completely reinstalling everything, like maybe a sort of sync of apps/layout from old to new phone? 🤔 I'll have to look and see if I can find any info on how to do that (If it's possible).
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] simplepinoi177:
No....that kind of thing (transfer data) only works when setting up phones (not "updating", hence starting from scratch, meaning losing everything you've done up to now). Although, I figured the Wi-Fi option was the same as through the cord; otherwise why would they offer it like it's a parallel alternative?
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
The Photos app is building the cache out from you taking actions in the app, since you're using a new phone. It loads as you swipe. Over time, all metadata will be cached. There's nothing wrong and nothing you can do to improve it.

After a while, it should be less often that you notice delays in loading.

It shouldn't hurt to deny root knowledge/capability to every Google app, although it is certainly overkill to do so for all Google apps. It definitely would have nothing to do with what you're seeing in Google Photos.

I list in Post #2 what you should most definitely put on the DenyList:

@leveleyed & @simplepinoi177,

I prefer the Wi-Fi method myself. Each time I've done the direct phone to phone method, it seems slower to me, and results in both phones getting hot and using a lot of battery, as opposed to just one potentially getting hot from having a lot of background activity while restoring data.

I don't know for 100% certain if both methods are supposed to produce the exact same results. I know that for restoring app data, the Wi-Fi backups rely on each individual app having integrated support for Google's cloud backup, although all apps themselves will be restored regardless of that support, just not necessarily the data.

It's certainly possible that restoring via cable would transfer more app data over - to include those that don't support Google's cloud backup feature.

Interestingly, on my Pixel 8 Pro just now when I happened to check, Google One said "No data backed up". I know I had launched Google One at least once or twice after getting my phone and being finished setting up/rooted the first time. The main screen had said a backup was in progress, but clicking "View" showed no attempt being made. I just kicked off a manual backup, and it's definitely making progress now, and shows the progress as a notification as well.

I'm not too worried since I also use Swift Backup scheduled automatically every night, and I know that was already working.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] swieder711:
I have an unlocked P8P that I bought from Google and run on Verizon. It is Bootloader unlocked, rooted and running the standard December update.

Im getting getting a message now that an update is available which I an guessing is the Vz version of the December update.

Has anyone switched from the stock to Vz update and seen any advantage?
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] roirraW "edor" ehT:
Play Store adding support for uninstalling apps from other Android devices

The Google Play Store is adding support for letting you uninstall apps from Android devices remotely from another device.

9to5google.com
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] cmh714:
I have been a VZW customer since the beginning of time.....and have never used the VZW versions. The only thing I occasionally do is extract the Radio when its different for testing. The VZW radio is different than the one in the latest QPR beta, however, I did not test it this go round, but still may do so since the cellular has been a little sketchy.

YMMV!
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] swieder711:
I just downloaded and extracted the Vz update for December. It has the modem file called radio-husky-g5300i-230927-231106-b-11056121.img.

The stock December update has the modem file called radio-husky-g5300i-230927-231102-b-11040898.img and seems a bit older based on the file name.
[Google Pixel 8 Pro] cmh714:
Correct! In my previous experience though, newer doesnt always mean better. Its easy enough to flash the radio so just do some testing in your area.