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SMS Backup And Restore On HTC Devices

HTC features a nice built-in SMS backup / restore feature on its phones. From within the SMS app you can export messages to a .hbk file, and then you can import that file (on the same device or another) to restore. It’s all explained in this support page. Simple, right? Well, nope! That page neglects a key step without which restores will fail because the device will not see any available backup sets. For restore to work you must create a top level folder named “sms_backup” and save the .hbk file there and then attempt the restore, as that is the only folder the restore utility looks in.
Posting this one so that I have it for future use.

23 responses to “SMS Backup And Restore On HTC Devices”

  1. Jamal Avatar
    Jamal

    Thank you so much for that… I was so confused

  2. Rohit Avatar
    Rohit

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.antheminfotech.AiSmsSecure
    Use this application, this is very nice application for sms backup and restore in android. it create backup on Sdcard and it also email your backup file, View of backup file is superb and its free, m very happy to install it.

  3. Matteo Avatar
    Matteo

    You’ve saved me… So simple, yet HTC leaving the most important part out… Thank you, worked perfect!!!

  4. Vizard Avatar
    Vizard

    God bless your kind! Thank you!

  5. LuciaJayne86 Avatar
    LuciaJayne86

    I can’t believe how simple that was…
    I have been trying for weeks to restore my old texts, even after SEVERAL chats with HTC customer service…professionals? Lol!
    Thank you SO much!!!
    Legendary!

  6. Lyn Avatar
    Lyn

    FINALLY! THE ANSWER! Thank u so much!!!

  7. Joe90 Avatar
    Joe90

    Excellent. You’re a genius.

  8. Tim Avatar
    Tim

    Excellent – where the hell is this info on HTC’s page?? Crazy!

  9. Hemant Avatar
    Hemant

    Thanks, for the information.
    worked for me.
    HTC should update its support page.

  10. fshawly Avatar
    fshawly

    Thanks , you saved my massages

  11. Fahad Avatar
    Fahad

    Thanks, saved my day…

  12. Cat Avatar
    Cat

    I recently exchanged my HTC phone for the Moto X and sent my text message backup to my email. Now I can not retrieve my .hbk file text messages from my email from either my laptop or Moto X due to them not understanding the file. Is there a way to retrieve them?

  13. Ben Forta Avatar
    Ben Forta

    No, the .hbk file is an HTC specific file. If you still have access to the old phone then you can use other apps to move text messages, but .hbk files are not much use on non HTC devices.
    — Ben

  14. biser Avatar
    biser

    Thank You!It was very helpful!

  15. CJacobson Avatar
    CJacobson

    If you saved and then restoring via email.. you must use the stock email application. Gmail App wont work. Click the attachment and then it will automatically restore the msgs for you.

  16. kelly collinson Avatar
    kelly collinson

    How do I do this?

  17. mz.veroniica Avatar
    mz.veroniica

    and how do u set up the "sms_backup" folder and where exactly?

  18. Ahmed Avatar
    Ahmed

    Appriciated, thank you soo much 🙂
    resolve my issue

  19. bilal Avatar
    bilal

    Thnkxxxxxx
    Its really very useful

  20. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    The link is now a 404 page.

  21. Tawrd Avatar
    Tawrd

    Tried this on my HTC One and all that was needed for the ordinary application to work was the sms_backup folder in the root directory.

  22. Taras Avatar
    Taras

    Thank you!

  23. Niko Avatar
    Niko

    thank you very much, you saved me!

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