Guide: How To Backup And Restore A Windows Phone 8 Handset

Windows Phone 8 is still the newest kid on the block as far as mobile OSes are concerned. There are some things that many users who have taken the leap of faith to this new platform, do not know about this OS. One such feature is the ability to backup and restore the phone settings. In this guide, we will take a look at just how this can be done.

Backing Up Your Windows Phone
In case you are wondering, there is no special software that will really let you back up your Windows Phone 8 data to your computer unlike Zune could for Windows Phone 7.x devices. Everything happens in the cloud, which may not be to everyone's taste. However, something is better than nothing, and we really hope that Microsoft will allow for a way to back up your phone data to your hard drive in the near future. Until then, we will have to go in the following way.

Backup is an automatic feature on a Windows Phone handset. To enable backup, you must go to Settings > backup. Here you will get to see that you can back up your apps list and settings, text messages, and even your photos and videos. The latter can upload to the cloud in the best quality only over Wi-Fi, although it is possible to upload photos in "Good" quality over mobile internet. It is best to disable backup of photos and videos and simply copy them to your hard drive as this will save a lot of your time while restoring. Once done, your phone gets backed up periodically whenever a data connection is available.

Restoring Your Windows Phone

You may opt to restore your Windows Phone in two scenarios:

1) if you have factory reset your phone for some reason,

2) if you have bought a new Windows Phone. In either case, the procedure is the same.

When you start up a new or reset Windows Phone, you will be presented with a screen asking you to sign into a Microsoft account, create a new one, or sign in later. In order to restore your backup, you are required to sign into the Microsoft account associated with your previous backup at this point. It is also necessary that you must have some sort of a mobile data plan as Wi-Fi cannot be used at this point.

Clicking on next after entering your credentials will take you to the next screen where you will be presented with the available sets of backups that can be used to restore the Windows Phone handset. You can choose one and click Next. The backup data starts downloading. This can take a long time depending on the amount of data being restored.

Image Credit: Nokia Conversations

You can now enter your credentials for various accounts from the original Windows Phone handset such as Hotmail, Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, etc and click Next. Your apps will start downloading once the phone reaches the Start screen. At this point, it is wiser to quickly connect to Wi-Fi and then switch off mobile data to save data charges.

Is This Really A "Backup"?

While some of the data does get backed up, this is not really a total backup of the phone data. This is more so with third party apps as only the unique number associated with these apps is stored online and passed on to the handset. Also, any additional settings associated with such apps such as the progress of a game are lost.

Another major problem is that the restore functionality totally depends on the mobile data connection, so you need to have a SIM card inserted into the phone during this process and the SIM must have a data connection (preferably 3G). If you miss this step and go to the Start screen, then the only way to restore the data is by resetting the phone and doing the procedure all over again.

If you thought you could manipulate the backup from the cloud in some way, you are gravely mistaken. The data that is present in the cloud is not available to the user and there is a total lack of transparency not only about what exactly is being sent up and when, but also about the visibility of the content to the authorised user. Thus, if you want to take a look at a particular SMS sent on a particular day, you will not be able to view that because such a facility simply doesn't exist.

Contacts are not backed up in Windows Phone 8 as they are simply stored on the users Gmail or Hotmail accounts present in the phone. So your contacts become available once you log into those accounts in the restored handset.

It is also strange that simple settings such as the placement of Live Tiles, ringtone, theme, etc are not backed up to restore. You are therefore better off taking screenshots beforehand to save the trouble.

This issue can be easily resolved via a software approach like Zune does for Windows Phone 7.x devices. While it is no secret that Windows Phone 8 is a remarkably different and fresh mobile operating system with oodles of capabilities as compared to other veteran mobile OSes, there are a few simple things that need to be addressed to allow it to stake a claim as a stronger third alternative.

Guide: How To Apply For Passport Online

A passport is an important document without which, you cannot travel outside the country. It is also important because it is accepted as a valid address and photo id proof almost everywhere. Getting a passport has usually been a hassle and people preferred to pay off middlemen to save the trouble. However, obtaining a new passport or renewing one is now really a child's play because the entire procedure happens online and is easier than you may assume. In this article, I will guide you through the steps involved.


1. The first step in this process involves visiting the Passport Seva website and registering your name. The registration is free and only requires your minimal personal details.

2. Next, download the e-Form from here passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/Resources/PassportApplicationForm_Main_English_V1.0.zip. Extract the contents of the ZIP file—a PDF file—to your desktop. This is the offline form that you are supposed to fill.

3. Open the PDF document. Choose "Fresh Passport" from the dropdown list in front of "Applying for". Select the type of application as Normal. In case you are wondering, you can also apply for Tatkaal if you need the passport urgently, by paying an additional amount over the normal application fee.

4. Select the radio button in front of "36 Pages" (or "60 Pages" if you are going to be a frequent traveller). Assuming that you are aged 18 years and above, select "Not Applicable" for "Validity Required".

5. Enter your name, middle name, and surname in the appropriate dialogue boxes. You needn't worry about capitalisation as the form automatically takes care of it. Fill in the rest of the details as appropriate by referring to the screenshot.

6. You must also fill in Family Details about at least one of the following: father, mother, or legal guardian. The rest of the details can be filled by referring to the screenshot.

7. In the Emergency Contact Details section, provide the contact details of the person who could be contacted in case of any problem. This can be a family member, relative, friend, or colleague.

8. There is also a References section in which you must furnish contact details of two people who reside near your residential address.

9. In case this application is for renewal of passport, you can fill in the required details about the previous passport under the Previous Passport/ Application Details

10. In most cases, you can safely mark No in all the answers to the queries under Other Details.

11. Check the checkbox near Agree, fill in the place of submission, the date, and click Validate & Save button. An XML file will now be created, which you must save to your computer.

12. You can now log into your account and upload this file to finish the application process.

13. Now that you are done with submitting the application, you are required to get an appointment to physically visit your Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). You can locate your PSK by visiting this hyperlink http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/locatePSK/locatePFCInp.

14. Before you get an appointment, you are required to pay the application fee. You can use internet banking, credit, or debit card. The fees can be calculated by clicking on this hyperlink http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/fee/feeInput.

15. Once the payment is made, select a convenient time slot from the ones provided on the screen to visit the PSK. You will receive a PDF file of the receipt, which you must print to take along to the PSK. Finish off the application process.

16. You are required to carry a photocopy set of documents along with the originals when you visit the PSK. The list of documents required when you visit can be checked at this hyperlink http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/docAdvisor/attachmentAdvFresh in case of a fresh application. The best address proof is a 1-year bank statement, which you can easily get from your bank. Other address proofs will require supporting documents. You will also need a documentary proof of your date of birth. This can be your birth certificate or any certificate such as SSC, HSC, or school leaving certificate from a recognised educational institution. For those who do not have any of these date of birth proofs and have not studied beyond 5th class, a sworn affidavit before a notary stating the date and place of birth as per Annexure A will be required.

17. The status of your application goes live just a couple of days after the application is submitted and you can track it from within your account.

18. Police verification of your physical address takes place after a few days. You may receive a phone call from your local police station to the number you had provided in the application and you must visit it along with the same set of documents as during the PSK visit. In case it takes too long to receive such a call, you can visit the local police station to enquire about whether the application has been forwarded over there from the PSK.

19. Once the police verification of your physical address is done, the application is sent back to the PSK, which sends it to the district police headquarters for final verification, and then it finally goes back to the PSK. After this stage, the passport is printed and couriered to the applicant.

20. The applicant will receive an SMS notification about the passport being sent to the residential address. It is advisable for the applicant to be physically present to receive the passport by providing any valid id proof to the courier. However, if this is not possible, the passport can be received by a blood relative after furnishing his/her id proof to the courier. If there is nobody to receive the passport at the said address, the passport is returned to the PSK and the applicant will have to collect it from there.