Manually restoring contact list from an app’s backup file to my phone? Possible?

Gonzo100100 · 21 Apr 2022 at 18:27

I have an issue with my phone (Galaxy A20e) connecting to the internet. At some point I did a reset to the factory settings. However, as said above I couldn’t connect to the internet so I couldn’t perform a backup using google so I downloaded an app called MobiKin Backup Manager for Android (Windows Version) and I naively used it. The app allows me to backup but to restore I need to pay up for the licence. (You may have a different opinion but I still consider it deceitful practice).

If I only need my contacts (I found Contacts-20220418193158.xml file in the app’s backup folder) can I restore them manually somehow using the file or the only way is to pay for the license (basically a ransom)?

UnworthyBean · 21 Apr 2022 at 18:45

If it's an XML file you should just be able to open it up with notepad and get the information out and manually add the contacts.

It's probably formatted in such a way that only the app itself can do an automatic restore though.

nade · 22 Apr 2022 at 10:02

Yep, as mentioned they could just have some custom formatting, or worse they might have applied some form of encryption to the text.

If you can't send the file to yourself you should be able to copy the file over bluetooth to another device and access it that way.

lsg1r · 24 Apr 2022 at 00:02

Might be a bit of a random side thought here.

You say you couldn't back up to the internet before the factory reset, have you actually checked your google account online via a browser (gmail, contacts icon on right), they might have them backed up from a slightly earlier period.

As to the xml, assuming not encrypted I'd likely try opening with notepad++.

Gonzo100100 · 1 May 2022 at 14:43

Thank you for your answers. I haven’t been active here because rewriting over 100 contacts is something I am NOT looking for. Unfortunately, I don’t have another backup file from earlier and that would be really good. I also am able to just open the file with Microsoft Excel and the contacts are listed there.

I was really tempted to just pay up the $20 and be done with it but I don’t want to support the developers of that app even if I’ll have to rewrite all of those contacts.

However, to make things easier. I hoped to use Phone Link app. The app doesn’t have a feature to create contacts however I can cast screen of my other phone (Samsung Galaxy S9) to my computer screen and I can control that phone with my mouse and keyboard. That way I can just copy and paste information quickly. Unfortunately, it seems that the app doesn’t support casting of the screen on my older phone which is the subject of this thread (Galaxy A20e).

So, my question is if you know of any sort of phone or contact manager that would allow me to add the contacts from my computer to the phone?

I believe that being able to do it this way it would take me 1 or 2 hours to bring back all the contacts instead of all day if I had to do it actually in the phone.

Andre · 1 May 2022 at 15:27

You should be able to add them to your google account on your PC, then sync your phone using the same account

lsg1r · 1 May 2022 at 17:08

Gonzo100100 said:
I also am able to just open the file with Microsoft Excel and the contacts are listed there.

If this is correct and the file isn't passworded you could try something.

BACKUP THE FILE FIRST and use the backup file for the below

Convert xml to csv using service like or a similar offline option

XML To CSV Converter

Convert XML to CSV and XML to Excel Spreadsheet

www.convertcsv.com

Then follow the below to upload the csv file to gmail

How to import contacts to Gmail - a complete guide

Gmail uses Google Contacts as its primary address book, from which you can add the recipient's contacts to any new email. Google Contacts can be used not only in Gmail..

hotter.io

If you're really lucky this might save you having to type in 100 contacts.

As to the below

So, my question is if you know of any sort of phone or contact manager that would allow me to add the contacts from my computer to the phone?

Assuming you're using windows 10 (and I assume 11) iirc you can sync the windows contact app (seems like it's called 'people' now) with your gmail account, I remember doing it in the past and I know my calendar and email are accessible/synced via the inbuilt apps.

EDIT: Just tested the people app, it was linked with google and hotmail accounts already in my case. I clicked on add a new contact (selected google from drop down), typed in all the info and then after a long time syncing (no idea why it took so long) it eventually appeared on my phone.