Android Backup Workflow & WhatsApp Backup to ZimaOS

Insight & Feedback
1

Hi everyone,

I’m running ZimaOS on a Mini PC and use Tailscale so I can access it remotely. I’m trying to move away from cloud backups and would like to back up my Android phone to my ZimaOS server instead.

1. What backup solution do you use for Android?

I’m interested in hearing what everyone uses for Android backups.

In particular:

  • Do you use the built-in Zima Client Backup?

  • Syncthing?

  • FolderSync?

  • SMB/SFTP?

  • Something else?

My ideal solution would:

  • Transfer only new or modified files (incremental backup).

  • Not copy everything again every time.

  • Preserve files already on the server if I accidentally delete something on my phone.

  • Be reliable enough for long-term backups.

I’d love to hear what has worked well for you.

2. Questions about the Zima Client Backup

I’m also curious about the Android Backup feature built into the Zima Client.

Has anyone tested or knows the answers to these questions?

  1. Does it upload only new or modified files, or does it upload every file again during each backup?

  2. If I delete a file from my Android phone, will it also be deleted from the backup stored on ZimaOS?

  3. Does it keep previous versions of modified files?

  4. Can it back up the WhatsApp local backup folder (for example, Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases) on modern Android versions?

  5. Would you consider it a true backup solution, or is it closer to a synchronization/mirroring tool?