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Why do you even need to root a Nexus 4? It just lets you unlock / root it out of the box with no more effort than plugging in a usb cable and installing fastboot/adb.

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You get to keep all your data since unlocking bootloader will wipe everything.

That's what `adb backup -apk -shared -all` is for. Rootless data and app backup that can be restored after a wipe

Didn't restore most stuff for me (especially SMSs and calls) last time I tried it on my N4.

You don't need root to backup restore either of those -- but both are system apps, that's why their data isn't in an adb backup.

Yep that's also why I did it this way. That way someone can't get in via the bootloader to grab any data if the phone is stolen.

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