Where Does PinePhone Store User Data?
PinePhone user data lives in the Linux home directory on eMMC or SD. OS images flash with JumpDrive; back up home before reflashing.
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The PinePhone is a small Linux computer that makes calls. User data sits in the home directory of whichever distro runs it, on internal eMMC or on the SD card. There is no vendor cloud; the filesystem is the whole story.
System images arrive through JumpDrive: boot it from SD, plug into a computer, and the eMMC appears as USB storage for flashing. PostmarketOS, Mobian, and other images all follow this dance. Treat reflashing like reinstalling a laptop OS: back up home, verify the copy, then flash.
Where PinePhone stores this, by platform
/home/ (eMMC or SD card)
Home directory holds all user data on eMMC or SD. Flash with JumpDrive over USB. Back up /home before any reflash; no cloud copy exists.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up a PinePhone?
Power off, boot JumpDrive from SD, and copy the eMMC partitions over USB to a computer. For file-level safety, sync /home to another machine first. Reflashing without a backup wipes installed apps, configs, and messages together.
Can I boot from SD card?
Yes. The PinePhone boots from SD when one is inserted with a valid image, leaving eMMC untouched. Keep a known-good SD image for rescue and experiments, and flash daily drivers to eMMC once stable.
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