SubSorted stores your subscription data on your device. That's great for privacy, but it means your data doesn't automatically follow you to a new phone. If you're switching devices, planning ahead takes about a minute and keeps everything safe.
Why this matters
Because SubSorted doesn't use cloud accounts, there's no server holding a copy of your subscriptions. Your data lives in a local database on the phone you're using right now. When you set up a new phone and install SubSorted, it starts fresh — just like it did the first time.
This is the trade-off of local-first design: maximum privacy, but you need to take one extra step when moving devices. We've made that step as simple as possible.
Before you switch: create a backup
The best thing to do before changing phones is to create a backup of your SubSorted data. Here's how:
- Open SubSorted on your current phone.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Backup.
- Choose where to save the backup file.
- Confirm.
The backup file contains all your subscriptions, categories, notes, reminder preferences, and archived items. It's a complete snapshot of your data.
Save your backup somewhere you can reach from your new phone — a cloud storage service like iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox works well. You can also email it to yourself or save it to a USB drive. The file is small and quick to transfer.
On your new phone: restore from backup
Once SubSorted is installed on your new phone:
- Open the app.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Restore.
- Select your backup file.
- Confirm the restore.
Your subscriptions, categories, notes, and archive will all be restored. Reminders are automatically rescheduled based on the restored renewal dates.
The whole process takes under a minute. After that, your new phone is exactly where your old one left off.
What the backup includes
For complete clarity, here's what's in the backup file:
- All active subscriptions (names, amounts, dates, billing cycles)
- All archived subscriptions
- Categories and labels
- Personal notes
- Reminder preferences and timing
- Trial/renewal status for each subscription
And here's what's not in the backup:
- Receipt images (these stay on the original device)
- Premium subscription status (this is managed by Apple/Google and transfers automatically with your account)
- App settings like notification permissions (these are device-level and need to be re-enabled)
After restoring on your new phone, make sure to allow notifications when SubSorted asks. Reminders will be rescheduled automatically, but they can only be delivered if notifications are enabled.
What if I forgot to back up?
If you've already switched phones without creating a backup, your options depend on your old device:
If you still have the old phone
Open SubSorted on it, create a backup, transfer the file to your new phone, and restore. Even if the old phone is reset as a trade-in device, you may still have a window to do this before wiping it.
If you used a full device backup
If you restored your new phone from an iCloud or Google backup of your old phone, SubSorted's data may have been included automatically. Open the app on your new phone and check — your subscriptions might already be there.
If the data is truly gone
If you can't access the old phone and didn't use a device backup, the data can't be recovered from our end — we never had it. You'll need to re-add your subscriptions manually. It's not ideal, but SubSorted makes entry quick, and you'll be back up to date within a few minutes.
Switching between iPhone and Android
SubSorted's backup format works across platforms. If you're moving from iPhone to Android (or the other way around), the process is the same: create a backup on your old phone, save it somewhere accessible, and restore it on your new phone.
Your subscription data will transfer completely. The only thing that won't carry over is your Premium subscription, since that's tied to your Apple or Google account. You'll need to resubscribe through the new platform's store.
A good habit
Even if you're not planning to switch phones, creating an occasional backup is a sensible precaution. Phones get lost, damaged, or stolen. A backup file saved to cloud storage means you can always get your subscription list back.
SubSorted won't nag you about this. But if you've spent time building up your subscription list, a 30-second backup gives you peace of mind.