How to Make a NANDroid Backup and Restore Your Android Phone via TWRP

A custom recovery is one of the most powerful tools available to Android enthusiasts. You can flash ZIPs that modify your device in ways even root access can’t achieve, and use it to install custom ROMs. But when applying mods, there’s always a chance something could go wrong — including bricking your device.

With TWRP recovery, the NANDroid backup feature ensures you’re never without a safety net. Once you create a backup, you’ll always have a restore point that brings your apps, settings, and system back to a fully working state. Every custom recovery user should do this — here’s exactly how.

💡 Prerequisite: You must have TWRP installed on your Android device before following this guide. Make sure TWRP is set up correctly before proceeding.

Part 1: Creating a NANDroid Backup

Start by booting your phone into TWRP. The method varies by device — for most Android phones, power the device completely off, then press and hold the Volume Down + Power buttons simultaneously until the bootloader appears.

Android bootloader menu on a smartphone — select Recovery Mode to enter TWRP
Android’s bootloader menu — use Volume buttons to highlight “Recovery Mode,” then press Power to select it.

Once inside TWRP, follow these steps to create your NANDroid backup:

  1. From the TWRP home screen, tap the “Backup” button.
  2. On the backup screen, ensure Boot, System, and Data are all checked.
    TWRP recovery home screen showing the Backup button option
    TWRP home screen — tap “Backup”
    TWRP backup options screen showing Boot, System, and Data checkboxes selected
    Select Boot, System, and Data
  3. Swipe the slider at the bottom of the screen to start the backup. This can take up to 15 minutes.
    TWRP backup screen showing the swipe-to-confirm slider at the bottom
    Swipe the slider at the bottom to start the backup
  4. When complete, tap “Reboot System” to return to Android.
    TWRP backup completion screen confirming the NANDroid backup finished successfully
    Backup complete — tap Reboot System
📝 Note: Files stored on your SD card or internal storage are not included in a NANDroid backup — only your ROM, apps, and system data are saved. Repeat this process regularly to keep your backup current.

Part 2: Restoring a NANDroid Backup

If a mod or ROM installation causes problems, your NANDroid backup is your escape hatch. Restoring it rolls back every app, setting, and system file to exactly how things were when you made the backup.

To restore, boot into TWRP and follow these steps:

  1. From the TWRP home screen, tap the “Restore” button.
    TWRP recovery interface showing the Restore button on the home screen
    TWRP home screen — tap “Restore”
  2. Select your backup from the list — backups are named by the date they were created.
    TWRP backup selection list showing available NANDroid backups by date
    Select a backup from the list
  3. Confirm the partitions to restore (Boot, System, Data), then swipe the slider to begin. Allow up to 15 minutes.
    TWRP restore confirmation screen with System, Data, and Boot partitions selected
    Confirm partitions and swipe to restore
  4. When finished, tap “Reboot System” — your phone will be restored to its previous state.
    TWRP completion screen confirming the restore finished successfully — tap Reboot System
    Restore complete — tap Reboot System
✅ Pro tip: Create a fresh NANDroid backup before every major change — a new ROM, kernel, or batch of mods. That way you always have a clean, recent restore point ready to go.