Can't restore data backed up by SeedVault

Previous OS: CalyxOS 2.11 (2021 November Release) Current OS: CalyxOS 2.11 (2021 November Release) Device: Google Pixel 3A

I had some personal data on my phone that I backed up with SeedVault before wiping and installing a fresh copy of CalyxOS. I have the restore code and backup files on my PC.

I skipped the restoration offer during the setup process (It was a fresh installation. I hadn’t transferred my backup data to the phone yet. It was kind of a stupid place to put the data restoration offer).

As others have complained, SeedVault doesn’t offer you an option to restore backups after that point!

I moved my backed up data into my phone’s default local backup location: /.SeedVaultAndroidBackup

I googled and found the ##RESTORE## dialer code thing, but SeedVault is giving me this error: “No suitable backups found at given location. This is most likely due to a wrong recovery code or a storage error.” I am presented with no backups to restore and can only choose Skip restoring apps. I don’t know what to do now.

I suspect I got this error because SeedVault forced me to select a new 12-word pass code after wiping, which does not match the pass code I was issued from BEFORE the wipe. So now, I have backup files encrypted via a pass phrase that the app’s restoration process cannot even ask me for!?

I understand a little bit about software development and I’m sympathetic to developers. But this is the incompetent thing I’ve seen in some time! Does nobody dogfood SeedVault? Its not a music player app, it’s a data backup app! If there’s one thing you need to respect, its the integrity of people’s data! Did absolutely nobody try the restoration function of a data backup and restoration app?!? Why do I need to use the phone dialer to restore data? If one thing is clear, SeedVault is far too immature and buggy to have been released. It’s in beta state at best. I’m not even an amateur programmer and I can tell you that this completely amateurish.

Sorry for venting, but that needed to be said. To the developers: please re-think your entire development process. Identify the standard backup and restoration process and ensure these codepaths are rock solid before releasing them. At no point should data integrity be at risk. That should be a core value of people who develop a data backup and restoration app.

Now, can someone please tell me to how to get SeedVault to recognize my backed up files, de-crypt them and restore them on to my phone, please?

[grote]

Ok you have convinced me. I’ll quite computers and do something with wood instead! 👋 🪓 🪵

[chodera]

I can confirm that Seedvault worked for me like a charm with a local backup. Used it yesterday for the first time to backup GrapheneOS, with the backup written to a USB stick and recovery during the set up wizard. Thanks for all your effort!