Safeguard every transaction, snapshot, and preference before you make big changes or swap devices. This guide turns
the Import Backup hub into a reliable routine for any Budget Buddy workspace.
The Import Backup tools are your recovery plan. They capture your financial history, photo receipts, and
personalised settings so you can move data between devices or undo accidents without losing context.
Keeping this area active means you always have a fresh, portable copy of your budget—handy when migrating phones,
testing beta builds, or supporting a teammate.
Hint
Schedule a monthly five-minute check-in to confirm the latest backup date and run a manual export.
Warning
Store exported files somewhere secure. They include every transaction and photo, so avoid leaving them in
public folders or shared chats.
Opening the Import Backup hub
From the main screen, head into Settings → Import Backup. Android users can also tap the cloud icon
in the top-right corner for a shortcut. The hub brings together connection status, backup actions, and feedback
messages.
Connection overview
The banner at the top shows whether Google Drive is linked and, if so, the timestamp of your latest cloud copy.
Action panel
Central buttons cover exporting, importing, and managing automations so you never hunt through menus.
Status console
The color-coded message area flips between green (success) and red (needs attention) while progress bars or
spinners track active jobs.
Warning
Keep the app open when a spinner or progress bar is visible. Closing mid-transfer can corrupt a backup file.
Connecting to Google Drive
Tap Sign in with Google and approve the permissions prompt. Once connected, your Google address displays
beneath the button and the app scans your Drive for the BudgetBuddy folder to show the latest backup date.
Need to disconnect? Choose Sign Out from Google. The app clears the “latest backup” note so you know
cloud sync is paused.
Hint
When Drive access is restored, the hub automatically refreshes the timestamp—no need to run a backup immediately
just to check the status.
Warning
Use the same Google account on every device you plan to restore. Mixing accounts hides your history.
Creating a personal copy on your device
Export Database gathers your full ledger and any item photos into a single shareable file. Once the
export finishes, your phone’s share sheet opens so you can email the file, save it to secure storage, or move it to a
computer.
Tap Export Database.
Wait for the share sheet to appear (the file ends in .bbbackup or .zip).
Send it to a trusted location before making major edits or switching devices.
After sharing, the status message confirms how many transactions and photos were captured so you can double-check the
copy before archiving it.
Hint
This is the only export that bundles photos with numbers—use it before major clean-ups or migrations.
Saving a copy to Google Drive
With Drive linked, tap Backup to Google Drive. The app reconnects if needed, compresses your data, and
uploads it to the BudgetBuddy folder.
Progress feedback
The bar shows upload percentage, file size, and how many chunks remain. Stay in the app until it hits 100%.
Success receipt
When complete, the message strip turns green, lists the number of items saved, and refreshes the latest backup.
Warning
A flaky connection can stall uploads. If you see repeated failures, toggle Wi‑Fi or retry on a stable network.
Bringing information back from your device
Choose Import Backup from Device and pick a file you previously saved. Supported extensions include
.bbbackup, .db, and .zip. Download cloud files locally first so they appear in the
picker.
While the import runs, the hub shows “Importing backup…” and handles full bundles (data plus photos), data-only copies,
or photo-only archives automatically.
Hint
After the green confirmation banner appears, browse a few recent transactions to confirm photos display correctly.
Warning
Canceling the file picker leaves your data untouched, but hardware issues (like low storage) will trigger a red alert.
Restoring from Google Drive
Stay signed in and tap Import from Google Drive. The app lists every backup stored in your Drive folder
with the newest option at the top.
Select the backup you need—each entry shows both the file name and a friendly timestamp.
The app downloads the file, places it in secure storage, and restores your data automatically.
Look for the green success message to confirm whether numbers, photos, or both were recovered.
Warning
If a file was removed from Drive, the download fails and the banner turns red. Pick another copy and retry.
Automatic Google Drive backups
Tap Auto Backup Settings to choose Daily, Weekly, or Disabled. The screen also
displays the last successful automatic run so you know when the background job last completed.
How it behaves
Each time you open the main screen, Budget Buddy checks whether an automatic backup is due and runs it silently.
Requirements
Auto backups need an internet connection plus an active Drive link. Missing either triggers a short reminder toast.
What’s included
Scheduled copies capture your lists, balances, and preferences but skip attached photos. Continue manual exports for images.
Reading the status messages
The message strip narrates every step—signing in, uploading, choosing files, restoring—and switches colors to highlight
success (green) or issues (red). Longer actions display spinners or progress bars so you know the app is still busy.
After each import finishes, a brief confirmation banner appears to reassure you that the data is ready to browse again.
Tips for peace of mind
Run a local export before major edits or device swaps to capture photos alongside your numbers.
Check the top banner for the latest Google Drive timestamp before wiping or resetting a device.
Review Auto Backup Settings quarterly to confirm the cadence still fits your habits.
Reconnect Google Drive promptly after signing out so automatic protections resume.
Follow these rhythms to keep your financial history portable, protected, and ready for whatever comes next.