How to Back Up Your Ebook Library on Android
A complete ebook backup has at least two parts: the book files and the reading data. Copying EPUB or PDF files does not necessarily preserve progress, bookmarks or notes. Enabling app sync does not necessarily back up the original books.
Back up both before a factory reset, app removal or phone replacement.
Inventory what must survive
| Data | Examples | Typical backup method |
|---|---|---|
| Book files | EPUB, PDF, FB2, MOBI, AZW3, TXT | Computer, external drive or cloud folder |
| Reading state | Current page, percentage, last opened | Reader export or sync |
| Annotations | Highlights, bookmarks, notes | Reader export or sync |
| Settings | Fonts, themes, margins | Reader sync or manual screenshots |
Do not assume Android’s general device backup includes every app-private file. The exact coverage depends on the application, Android version and account settings.
Back up the books
Locate the original files in Downloads, a Books folder, computer or cloud storage. Copy them to a second location you control. If the only visible copy is inside the reader, check whether the app offers export or share.
Open a sample backup file on another device before trusting it. A list of filenames is not proof that the files are complete.
Back up progress and annotations
Use the reader’s documented sync or export function. Confirm the destination account, wait for completion and check the timestamp if one is shown.
Aurora Reader’s optional Premium sync writes reading data to your own Google Drive. That does not mean every unrelated book source or store entitlement is copied. The features page describes what the current sync covers.
For notes that matter professionally or academically, export a human-readable copy as well. An app-specific database is useful for restoration but poor as the only archive of important research.
Before uninstalling or resetting
- Copy book files to a second device or cloud folder.
- Run the reader’s sync or export.
- Confirm the correct Google or store account.
- Open several backed-up files independently.
- Record any custom font or theme settings you need.
- Only then remove the app or reset the phone.
Restore in the right order
Install the reader from its official store listing. Sign into the sync account only if you used sync. Restore reading data according to the app’s process, then import the book files.
If restored entries appear without books, the database returned but the source files did not. If books appear without progress, the files returned but the reading data did not. Those are separate failures and should be diagnosed separately.
Avoid duplicate imports after restore
Import one folder once and let the operation finish. Repeatedly selecting the same directories can create duplicates in readers that identify books by path or metadata. Aurora Reader uses SHA-256 detection for identical files, but revised editions with different bytes are correctly treated as separate files. See how to remove duplicate ebooks before deleting either edition.
A backup is complete only when it can be restored. Test a small sample now, not after the old phone has been erased.