Backblaze Mobile FAQ Backblaze Mobile FAQ

Backblaze Mobile FAQ

Yev Yev

Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Q:  What mobile platforms is the Backblaze app available for?
A: The Backblaze app is available for iOS and Android.

 

Q: Do I need Backblaze Online Backup in order to use the Backblaze app?
A:  Yes! The Backblaze app only works if you have data backed up to your Backblaze online backup account from your Mac or Windows computer.


Q:  What files can I get access to through the Backblaze app?
A:  You can access the files that are securely backed up and stored by Backblaze from your Mac or Windows system.


Q:  Can Backblaze on iPhone access my Windows files? Can Backblaze on Android access my Mac files?
A:  Yes, you can access the files that are backed up from both Windows and Mac computers from either mobile app.


Q:  What kind of iPhone and which version of iOS do I need?
A:  The app will run on all iPhones running iOS 15 or later.

 

Q:  What about the iPod Touch?
A:  Yes, as long it is running iOS 15 or later.


Q:  What kind of Android device and what version of Android do I need?
A:  You will need an Android 9 Pie device or later to run the Backblaze app.

 

Q:  Does the Android app work on tablets?
A:  Yes, the Android app will work on most 7′′ and 10′′ screen Android tablets. 

 

Q:  Can I download and view a video file?
A:  Yes, but the current size for any individual file is 5 GB.

 

Q:  Why is there a 5 GB size limit?
A:  Since the mobile app is intended to be used on the go and with mobile devices potentially on cellular networks, this limit is designed to ensure that you don’t accidentally request a file that is larger than your phone can handle.

 

Q:  Can I have multiple mobile devices access a single Backblaze account?
A:  Yes. Simply sign in from each device using your standard Backblaze credentials.

 

Q:  Can I have one mobile device access multiple Backblaze accounts?
A:  Yes. Simply sign in to each account using your standard Backblaze credentials.


Q:  Does the app back up my iPhone or Android device too?
A:  No, but if you sync your iPhone or Android to your computer and then back up that computer using Backblaze, your data is backed up and available for the Backblaze app to access.


Q:  How secure is the connection between Backblaze and the device?
A:  All communication, between the device and the Backblaze datacenter where your data is stored, occurs over an HTTPS (encrypted) connection.


Q:  Is my password stored on the device?
A:  You decide. In the Backblaze app settings, you can choose to save your password or not. If your password is saved, your Backblaze account password is stored encrypted on the device. If your password is not saved, the Backblaze password is not stored and must be entered each time you sign in to the app. In either case, you should always have access to your device protected with a password.


Q:  How secure are my downloaded files on my iPhone?
A:  Files downloaded by Backblaze on iOS are stored in the Backblaze domain space on the iOS device. The Backblaze domain space is protected by iOS.

 

Q:  How secure are my downloaded files on my Android?
A:  Like most Android apps, if you download a file using Backblaze, the file will be stored in your “Downloads” folder and can be accessed by other apps. You can delete downloaded content, and we recommend you do so if you do not wish them to be accessible by other apps or people.

 

Q:  Can I change my Backblaze account settings such as my password with the app?
A:  Not at this time, but you can use a browser on your device to access your Backblaze account and make changes as desired.

 


Q:  If I have set an additional Passphrase (Private Encryption Key) on my Backblaze account, can I use the Backblaze app?
A:  Yes, you’ll be asked to put in your passphrase once you select a computer that has passphrase protection enabled. 

 

Q:  If I have a Passphrase (Private Encryption Key) on my Backblaze account, do I need to input it each time I log in to the app?
A:  Yes, the Private Encryption Key is intended to keep your data as secure as possible. You will need to enter the key every time you wish to view or restore files from a backup with the key enabled.