Need both export and import for contacts, sms history, call history

Librem Phones (Librem 5)
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I am thinking about the following scenarios, both relevant for me:

  • migrating from one Librem 5 to another, or to/from PinePhone
  • reflashing PureOS for whatever reason, then restore selected things afterwards, but not restoring the whole system

I know the Tips&Tricks part in the wiki has a part about importing contacts, that’s good but I would like to also be able to do the following:

  • exporting contacts in the form that can later be imported with contacts importer
  • exporting SMS history
  • importing SMS history
  • exporting call history
  • importing call history

Probably these things can be achieved using the backup/restore tool as long as the idea is to restore to the same device, but I’m interested also in being able to move from one device to another, and also from one operating system to another, for example migrate between PureOS and postmarketOS or Mobian. Also, having the SMS history exported would be nice as it would allow me to work with something from my SMS history on another computer, like searching through the SMS history looking for some text string, things like that.

What do you think, how to do these things?

1 Like
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For import/export of contacts, search the forum for the tool syncevolution.

2 Likes
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The contacts database should be able to be copied from one Librem 5 to another - as long as you don’t need to merge the migrating contacts in with other existing contacts. (I don’t necessarily think that exporting for use with the contacts importer is the right approach unless the export format is lossless.)

That approach might work for SMS history and call history too - but you would need to work out which files to copy across.

Even though I don’t know how to do any of those export/imports, or whether the software functions even exist right now, I take heart from the fact that with an open source phone, it is always going to be possible.

You might be the pathfinder here. If you work it out, let us know. :slight_smile: