Back up and restore BlackBerry smartphone data on a Mac computer using BlackBerry Desktop Software 2.0

Article ID: KB18776

Type: Support Content

Last Modified: 11-30-2011

 

Product(s) Affected:

  • BlackBerry® Desktop Software (Mac OS)
Jump to: Overview | Environment
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Most of the data on the BlackBerry® smartphone, including email messages, organizer data, fonts, saved searches, and browser bookmarks, can be backed up and restored using the BlackBerry® Desktop Software and the Mac computer.

Note: By default, backup files are saved on the Mac computer to /Users/<name>/Documents/BlackBerry Backups.


Complete the following steps to back up BlackBerry smartphone data:
  1. Connect your BlackBerry smartphone to your Mac computer.
  2. In the Applications folder of the Mac computer, click BlackBerry Desktop Software.
  3. Click the Back Up icon at the top of the screen.
  4. Perform one of the following actions:
    • To back up all data on the BlackBerry smartphone, click All data
    • To back up specific data, click Selected data and select the check box beside one or more databases
  5. If necessary, perform the following actions:
    • To encrypt the data on the BlackBerry smartphone, select the Encrypt backup file check box
    • To back up on-board device memory, select the Back up built-in media storage check box

      Note: To perform this task on your BlackBerry smartphone, mass storage mode must be turned on.

  6. Click Back Up.

Note: If you encrypted the data that was backed up, type a password when you are prompted.


Complete the following steps to restore data to your BlackBerry smartphone:

Note: To perform this task on your BlackBerry smartphone, mass storage mode must be turned on.

Important: When data is restored to the BlackBerry smartphone, all files are deleted from the BlackBerry smartphone before the backup file is restored.

  1. Connect your BlackBerry smartphone to your Mac computer.
  2. In the Applications folder of the Mac computer, click BlackBerry Desktop Software.
  3. Click the Restore icon at the top of the screen.
  4. Perform one of the following actions:
    • Select a backup file
      • To restore all data from the backup file, click Restore all data
      • To restore specific data from the backup file, click Restore selected data and select the check box beside one or more databases
    • To restore data from a backup file that is not listed, click Open Another Backup File. Navigate to the backup file and click Open
  5. Click Restore.

Complete the following steps to change the location of backup files on your Mac computer:

  1. On your computer, in the Applications folder, click BlackBerry Desktop Software.
  2. On the BlackBerry Desktop Software menu, click Preferences.
  3. In the Backup Location section, click Change.
  4. Navigate to the new location.
  5. Click Open.

Complete the following steps to schedule automatic backups:

  1. Connect your BlackBerry smartphone to your Mac computer.
  2. In the Applications folder of the Mac computer, click BlackBerry Desktop Software.
  3. Click Device Options.
  4. Click the Backup tab.
  5. Select the Automatically back up when device is connected check box.
  6. In the drop-down list, click an interval.
  7. Perform one of the following actions:
    • To back up all data during an automatic backup, select All device application data
    • To back up specific data during an automatic backup, select All device application data except
      • To exclude email messages, select the Messages check box
      • To exclude organizer data, select the Information data, such as calendar or your contacts check box
  8. Click OK.
CollapseEnvironment
  • BlackBerry® Desktop Software 2.0
  • Mac OS

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Visit the BlackBerry Technical Solution Center at www.blackberry.com/btsc.