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up vote 6 down vote favorite

I'm finally getting ready to install an Android client. I believe Android Wallet is the most popular one.

How do I back up the bitcoins stored on it?

Also, is there a thin native Android client being developed?

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foldersync looks good to backup into my owncloud webdav. But which folders do i have to backup to be able to restore bitcoin wallet? – user1421 May 27 '12 at 15:06
P.S. I ended up using the Android version of Blockchain's MyWallet, which has built in backup to email/dropbox/google drive. – ripper234 May 27 '12 at 16:54

2 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

As with any backup solution you must test it yourself through the whole cycle first in a zero risk scenario.

I have successfully used titanium backup to this end many times. I combine it with dropsync so it's saved 'offsite' as soon as possible.

An interesting property of bitcoin wallets is that you can also observe that if you restore the wallet to a previous state then it will be rolled forward by the network when it connects again.

I should add also that should you lose your phone, you should immediately bring that backed up wallet file online and spend them into another wallet that you have sole control of to avoid someone who may have your phone spending them.

There is more than one bitcoin client for android. The one I use currently (Bitcoin wallet) allows you to use a trusted node, although I haven't test this and I don't know exactly what it does.

It is highly likely here will be lighter android clients in the near future. The Stratum overlay network looks like a promising direction.

I've just discovered a new lightweight client: BitCoinSpinner

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I think I'll wait for a good light client. I just wanted to play around with some coins on my android, but it's not urgent (I really don't have anywhere to spend them anyway at this point). – ripper234 Jan 10 '12 at 17:24
1  
Yes it takes an age to get started, even on a wifi connection. I think mine took over 24 hours. But after that it's sweet and I like to keep a few on there just in case. There are people beginning to accept them, and I couldn't miss the opportunity. Sometimes it's scary when the wallet becomes worth more than the hardware though! :-) – barrymac Jan 10 '12 at 17:31
up vote 2 down vote

Bitcoin Wallet for Android supports backing up your private keys to external storage (e.g. SD Card). Just select "Export/Import private keys" from the action bar overflow menu.

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