BlackBerry FAQ: How to Back Up And Restore BlackBerry Messenger Contacts.
Everyday I run into BlackBerry users who proudly show me their massive BlackBerry Messenger contact list filled with friends, family, co-workers and business contacts. I always ask them, “What would you do if you lost all of your BBM contacts?†Generally, I get the look of utter horror, which is then usually followed by a colorful statement. Then I ask them, “When was the last time you backed up your BlackBerry Messenger Contacts?†The blank stare I get generally tells the story. So, today we are going to cover, “How to backup your BlackBerry Messenger contacts, and also how to restore themâ€
BlackBerry Messenger can be backup 3 simple ways.
- Via BlackBerry Desktop Manager
- Via Remote Back up
- Via Local Backup (MicroSD card or on the device itself.)
Today we will only be discussing Backing Up via remote and Backing Up via local. You will need to be using the latest version of BlackBerry Messenger version 5.0. Only version 5.0 supports this functionality, if you are still using an older version. You can still do a back up via BlackBerry Desktop Manager.  Let’s get started…
Backing up BlackBerry Messenger Contacts : Remote and Local Backup
1. Open BlackBerry Messenger > Hit Menu > Select Options
2. Scroll down to Contact List and Select Back Up >
3. Select Back up files remotely > On the next screen your will see your email address. >Â If it does not say registered, select the address you want to register. > Once it says registered, your contacts will be backed up remotely.
4. Next select Back up files locally > Make sure you change Save backup files to : Media Card. (Note: this will only work if you have a MicroSD card installed, if not it will default to save on your BlackBerry Device.) > Check Auto save contacts list changes > Select Back up Now.
5. Your BlackBerry will show you a file name to save as. You can either change the file name or just select save.
6. That’s it!!! You just backed up your BlackBerry Messenger contacts.
To restore your BlackBerry Messenger Contacts: Remote Restore and Local Restore.
Remote Restore:
If you are restoring to a new BlackBerry or after an OS reinstall, once you have setup your email on your BlackBerry device > launch BlackBerry Messenger and perform the following:
1. Scroll down to Contact List in Options and Select Restore.
2. Select Restore using email.
3. Next choose the email address that you selected to do your back up and BBM will re-download your BlackBerry Messenger contact backups.
To restore using backup file on MicoSD Card or device.
1. Scroll down to Contact List in Options and select Restore.
2. Select Restore using a backup file from device.
3. You will then be shown a list of backup files. > Choose the last backup date and hit Ok.
That’s it, your backup files are restored.
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I've removed some BBM contacts but wish to add them back however when I go to "Restore using email" I get this message:
"You have configured Remote Backup. Your contact list changes are being automatically backed up and you do not need to use the Remote Restore Using Email"
How do I bring my old contact list back using the email restore feature?
I've removed some BBM contacts but wish to add them back however when I go to "Restore using email" I get this message:
"You have configured Remote Backup. Your contact list changes are being automatically backed up and you do not need to use the Remote Restore Using Email"
How do I bring my old contact list back using the email restore feature?
Generally, Its smart to do the backup in two places, remotely and do a backup via to the SD card. That way your always covered.. Email restore generally only takes place, if BBM is removed and then re-added. Thats why its better to backup tp SD card and use desktop manager to backup your entire device, or use the options backup to backup only BBM onto your computer. RIM will be launching a product that wirelessly Blackup your entire device for free. Go to the search bar on the top of the site a look for BlackBerry sheild.
Anderson..
I've been remotely backing up my bbm contact and I've changed a few bb and always worked wondrously, then I my onyx got stolen, so I used torch and the bbm remote contact worked again…but then, I changed back to onyx, now when I try to restore, it keeps saying my email address is not linked to any bbm…what's wrong?? any suggestions would be appreciated
It could be you need to redownload the service books to fix the issues. I also always recommend that you back up your BBM contacts to your SD Card just to be safe.
i just upgrade my bb device software to os 5, but i didn’t back up files by bb dekstop manager but i back up it locally so that the file type is .bak. when i finished upgrading to os 5, i cant restore my bbm contact. i just think thay it might caused by the file type, how can i change the file type from bak to ipd?
i did that, but when i went to restore them, my restore point wasnt there. it says that its there in my list of files when you go into applications then files, its there. but not when you go to the restore option in BBM. help!!!
my bbm just wont download
i am trying to recover my bbm contacts via email, but am getting and error message saying ‘ email is not linked to any bbm account” can i get some help pls. these contacts are so important
I have a Media Card in my phone, but when i did “back up locally” i dint bother seeing whether seeing whether it gets saved on the media card or device memory…
SO by default does it get saved on the device memory or Media card??
Hey I would like to know how to restore my bbm contacts ALONE from blackberry desktop? I would like to select only my bb contacts from blackberry desktop and not everything else.
Is there any option to automatically save chat from my BBM to my email account? Sometimes I forgot my Black Berry Phone in my office and is there a possibility to look all the messages/chat (BBM) using my computer thru my email?.
i have a torch i just backup my phone on desktop manager full backup and then restore after formatting the phone but i cud not get the messages back in bb messenger ……. those were very important for me plz tell me how cud it possible to retrieve them …… i will b looking for ur reply ……….