# Flash a TCL without losing messages?

**URL:** https://jtechforums.org/t/flash-a-tcl-without-losing-messages/4504
**Category:** TCL Flip 2
**Tags:** Flash, TCL-Phones, Backup
**Created:** [June 30, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/flash-a-tcl-without-losing-messages/4504 "2025-06-30T20:12:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![atombak](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/atombak/32/1929_2.png) [@atombak](https://jtechforums.org/u/atombak)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/flash-a-tcl-without-losing-messages/4504/1 "2025-06-30T20:12:40Z")

</div>

I’m using an unlocked tcl pro with Verizon. I want to flash a rom on to my phone but I know that I will lose everything on my phone if I do that. Is there a way to flash a rom while preserving all my text messages. It is there a way to back up all my text messages while using the original firmware? I know I can use apps to backup my texts but I didn’t think I can install any apps without changing the ROM is that correct?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ys770](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/ys770/32/2595_2.png) [@ys770](https://jtechforums.org/u/ys770)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/flash-a-tcl-without-losing-messages/4504/2 "2025-06-30T20:24:23Z")

</div>

Correct. You will lose your messages. It’s unfortunate, but the only way…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![kosherboy](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/kosherboy/32/292_2.png) [@kosherboy](https://jtechforums.org/u/kosherboy)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2025, 12:24am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/flash-a-tcl-without-losing-messages/4504/3 "2025-07-01T00:24:37Z")

</div>

If you can enable debugging there might be a way to do it through ADB I’m not sure.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ys770](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/ys770/32/2595_2.png) [@ys770](https://jtechforums.org/u/ys770)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2025, 12:26am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/flash-a-tcl-without-losing-messages/4504/4 "2025-07-01T00:26:02Z")

</div>

Good point. using `adb backup` ( i don’t remember exactly what the commands were, and iirc it didn’t backup all the messages)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![anonymousfliphones](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/anonymousfliphones/32/2591_2.png) [@anonymousfliphones](https://jtechforums.org/u/anonymousfliphones)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2025, 1:22am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/flash-a-tcl-without-losing-messages/4504/5 "2025-07-01T01:22:43Z")

</div>

Not necessarily depends if you unlocked your bootloader already and depends which rom, if you are trying to flash @Darth it is impossible but any stock rom should be doable just don’t run `fastboot flashing unlock`.

Which rom are you trying to flash?