Backup and Restore

Creating a backup ensures that your contacts, visits, and notes are safe if you lose your phone, get a new device, or need to reinstall the app.

Why Should I Back Up?

Your data in Field Service Companion is stored on your device. If something happens to your phone — it is lost, damaged, or replaced — your contacts and visit history could be lost with it.

A backup creates an encrypted copy of all your data that you can restore later. It only takes a moment, and it could save you months of carefully recorded visits.

We recommend creating a backup regularly — especially after adding new contacts or logging important visits.

How to Create a Backup

1. Tap the Settings tab.
2. Tap Backup & Restore.
3. Tap Create Backup.
4. The app generates an encrypted backup file and a 6-word recovery phrase.
5. Write down your recovery phrase and keep it in a safe place. You will need it to restore the backup.
6. Tap I've saved it — Continue.

The backup file can be saved or shared using your phone's share sheet — for example, you could save it to iCloud Drive, Google Drive, email it to yourself, or AirDrop it to another device.

Using Your Own Passphrase

If you prefer to use your own passphrase instead of the generated recovery phrase, tap Use my own passphrase on the backup screen. Choose something you will remember, but that others cannot easily guess.

How to Restore a Backup

1. Open Field Service Companion on your new or reinstalled device.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID or Google account.
3. Go to Settings → Backup & Restore.
4. Tap Restore from Backup.
5. Select the backup file from where you saved it (iCloud Drive, Google Drive, email, etc.).
6. Enter your 6-word recovery phrase or the passphrase you chose.
7. Your contacts, visits, and notes will be restored.

Important Things to Know

• Your recovery phrase is the only way to unlock your backup. There is no "forgot password" option. If you lose the recovery phrase, the backup cannot be restored. This is by design — it means no one else can access your data either.
• Backups are encrypted with strong encryption. Even if someone finds your backup file, they cannot read it without the recovery phrase.
• The app does not automatically back up your data. You need to create backups manually. Automatic cloud backup is planned for a future version.

Need More Help?

If you have difficulty creating or restoring a backup, a friend who is familiar with Field Service Companion may be able to help you. You can also contact us at support@returnvisits.org.