Did you know that with a little legwork and a free application you can easily transfer your Angry Birds progress across an iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, or Mac? This is great if you happen to have more than one iOS device (i.e. an iPhone and an iPad) or recently upgraded. This is also a great way to backup your Angry Birds progress in the event something goes awry.
Update: We have created a more-comprehensive guide, including many more platforms and some specific file paths. The iOS directions circle back here, but if you are looking for a different device, check out our Ultimate Backup Tutorial for all Platforms.
Disclaimer: We are not responsible if something goes wrong while performing the steps below.
Step 1: Before We Begin Lets Take Some Precautions
- Be sure you have the same version of Angry Birds installed on both devices (exception, SD and HD versions of the same app are OK).
- Be sure you’re copying the files off your device and not removing them.
- Before you overwrite any .lua file on your device create a backup copy first.
- Sync ALL devices with iTunes first. This way if something happens you can always restore.
Step 2: Install DiskAid
- Direct Link Change! DiskAid has become a product called iMazing. Our personal preference is still for DiskAid in terms of user-interface and cost. The direct link in (1) below has been updated to reflect the change, which can be a little tough to find. Let us know if you have any questions.
- Install DiskAid, which is available for both PC & Mac. While a paid version is available and can do a whole lot of cool stuff, the free version will work perfectly fine for this guide.
- Configure DiskAid. In the Menu Bar, click DiskAid > Preferences > Storage. Enable all three options: “Show all Apps even if…”, “Show root path for Apps”, and “Show hidden files and folders”.
Step 3: Copying the Angry Birds .lua Files Off Your iOS Device
- Open DiskAid.
- Connect the device you want to transfer your progress FROM. Once your device is connected, DiskAid should recognize it.
- Click “Apps”. Look through the app icons to find the application directory that you’re looking to transfer / backup.
- Click to open the desired app folder, then open the “Documents” folder.
- In the “Documents” folder you’ll see a few .lua files. You will want to copy over any of the following .lua files that you see:
- highscores.lua
- settings.lua
- {purchases}.lua (if applicable, such as Space and Star Wars)
- highscores_<hash>.lua and settings_<hash>.lua (if applicable via Rovio Accounts; learn more!)
Select them all and drag them into a folder on your PC / Mac. Once all these .lua files are copied over you effectively have a backup copy.
Step 4: Copying the Saved .lua Files onto Another iOS Device
- Connect the iOS device you want to transfer your progress TO and sync it with iTunes (if you already did you can skip this step). This way if something goes wrong you can restore.
- After the sync with iTunes is complete disconnect the device, launch DiskAid, then reconnect the same device again.
- Now repeat steps 3 and 4 above in order to navigate to the version of Angry Birds you’re looking to copy your data too. Remember, if copying from an iPhone or iPod Touch to an iPad you can go from non-HD to HD versions (the directory on the iPad includes “HD” in the name).
- Once you have the “Documents” folder open in DiskAid copy or drag the respective .lua files you previously saved on your computer onto your device (in other words, drag them from you computer into DiskAid, which will in turn copy them to your device — overwriting what was previously there).
- Once this is done you’ve effectively transferred your progress from one device to another, but in order to see the progress on the new device you need to completely close and reopen Angry Birds.
Step 5: Completely Restarting Angry Birds
- If you’re running a next generation iOS device you don’t have to restart to completely close Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, etc. Rather, double-tap the home key. That will open the multitasking menu. Swipe the windows upward to close the programs.
- For those running older devices, such an older iPod Touch, just old down the power key and restart your device.
- Finally, reopen Angry Birds and you should see your progress correlates with what was on your other device.
- Rejoice!
Does this work with ipad2 while using the standard definition on the iPad 2?
Yes, this should work just fine even if you are playing SD on iPad 2.
I was just updating/backing up my AB games and noticed an .lua file on the ABO that I don’t remember seeing before. It’s named crystalachstatus.lua. Do you know what this is and if it should be transferred with settings and high score lua files? The last time I transferred scores on ABO to my HD version on my iPad, all the stars showed up but none of the achievements did. As you mentioned before, the achievements all showed up when the birthday update came out-yay- but now I’m curious what this other lua file is.
What’s in crystalachstatus.lua.?
Crystal is similar to GameCenter but only available for ABo. You don’t need to transfer this.
Need help on this … i’ve read the above and watched the video but i could only follow thru up to Step 3.3. I am using a PC and try to transfer my AB records from iphone 3GS to my new iPhone 4S.
Quoted: 4.Once you’ve located the directory click on it. Now in the right hand pane double-click the “Documents” folder to open it. If you get a “File or Directory not found.” error just close and reopen iExplorer.
i could not even see the “documents” folder but a message box just keeps popping up telling me that sthg like “up to 5 directories open, recnnect the device or re open iExplorer ….. ”
no way am i going to re start all those 700 levels again ….
is there an easier wa to do this?? thanks all!
I think DiskAid is a little easier to manage than iExplorer. I recommend giving that one a try.
Are the steps for DiskAid the same as iExplorer stated above??
Only a slight adjustment in Step 2. Otherwise, identical.
I get that message all the time. I just close iExplorer and reopen it until I don’t get the message and am able to open the directory. It’s a pain, but I don’t know how to make it go away permanently. I have to close the app at least once or twice after every transfer.
I’m so stoked! After all the prep work I did with I explorer and disk aid, I picked up my new 4S today, used my backup for my 3GS on iTunes and EVERYTHING AB transferred-scores, stars, achievements, eggs, and fruits–and I didn’t have to “lua” a thing. Woohoo bring on the next AB update!
Yes, in a perfect world that would always work. But iTunes is not perfect most of the time. Also, this method allows you do transfer between devices without having to restore one of them, or simply backup every so often.
I plan on keeping my folders updated with the lua files just in case. I’m completely surprised that iTunes worked as well as it did!
Is seasons HD 2.1.2 compatable with Seasons 2.1.0?
I would be careful with that. For now I have been keeping the settings files separate. My advice: If you are transferring between HD and SD, hold off until v2.2.0, which is coming this month
I would be very disappointed if my progress was deleted again (happened once with ABSeasons). Really helpful article, thanks for the link and article: Slim and BL!
@Kartflyer its happened to me three times on Angry Birds Oringal
Mine was deleted too from iPhone.I contacted Rovio and got it back.
I transfered my data for all 3 games from an iPod Touch 2nd gen to an iPhone 4S using iPhone Explorer. It worked, but the screen is blurred and i don’t know why; the problem does not occur when I play a level, only in the menu.
Try restarting your device.
iexplorer doesn’t seem to allow me to drag my saved .lua files from the desktop back into the angry birds documents folders. I select them from a an open finder window, drag them onto the open documents folder in the iexplorer window, but they just bounce back to the finder window?
What am i doing wrong?
In iExplorer, click on the Documents folder so that is open in the window. Then yu should be able to drag things into the window that way.
Alternatively, I think DiskAid is a bit more user-friendly. Note that Step 2 has some additional information for DiskAid.
Slim, can I transfer the highscores.lua file to the pc from iPhone? (i guess settings file wouldn‛t transfer!) :)
I don’t think it can go that way. I believe the encryption styles don’t match. But note that transferring only the highscores file could result in being locked out of some levels (such as 3-star eggs).
At the very least, I would say the settings file won’t work, since they have different protocols (for example, PC has a concept of activation, while iOS does not).
OK, I might give it a go, but ensuring that I keep the original .lua files safely backed up! Thanks Slim :)
Help: I tried this prcoess of copying the save data to make sure it worked for my 2nd soon to arrive ipod. I opened iExplorer and it tried to sync my ipod. My ipod was too old and the program wasnt working for me. I then downloaded DiskAid and found the .lua files. I was sure I knew how to copy them so i closed DiskAid. I then disconnected my iPod and none of my apps open. They launch and then close. The only apps that work are the preloaded app and the Cydia apps. PLEASE HELP. How can I fix these apps. I have a 3rd gen jailbroken ipod. Version 3.1.3.
First, try restarting your device. Otherwise, you should probably restore from your last iTunes backup.
BTW, iPod Touch 3gen can be updated all the way to iOS 5.0.1 and still be jail broken. I have no idea why you are running a two-year-old OS.
ok thanks. i just got theis ipod and was unsure if it would screw anything up.
Hey how about Muddy GRAS? Angry birds in new Orleans during the parade or s’thin?! That would be cool! Can I get credit for the idea?? Lol
I don’t think you are the first to have the idea. And since the holiday is today, I don’t think so.
Strangely Angry Birds Rio data (highscores.lua and settings.lua files) on Mac is saved at Macintosh HD/User Name/Library/Application Support/com.rovio.mac.AngryBirdsRio instead of Macintosh HD/User Name/Library/Application Support/Rovio/Angry Birds Rio
Whereas Angry Birds Original, Seasons and Rio Bonus Version data are saved at Macintosh HD/User Name/Library/Application Support/Rovio/Game Name
Anyone with the same problem? I’m running Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3 on my Mac Book Pro.
Why do you call it a problem?
I don’t call it a problem but ABR files are being stored in non-standard locations. Just wanted to know why? Anyway, I’ve contacted Rovio support, hope to get their reply soon.
You were asking “Anyone with the same problem?”.
Your game is running smoothly? No issues with the trackpad.
Refer to this earlier post.
I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. Yes, the game is running smoothly and there are no issues with the trackpad either.
Just got a reply from Rovio:
Angry Birds Team, Feb 23 15:50 (EET):
Hello,
and thanks for contacting us.
In the future, also Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons will start saving their data under Macintosh HD/User Name/Library/Application Support/com.rovio.mac.AngryBirds and Macintosh HD/User Name/Library/Application Support/com.rovio.mac.AngryBirdsSeasons.
Kind regards,
Jenni
Angry Birds Team
Great info! Thanks for reporting.
Can i use this way to transfer a whole application, ie i dont have angrybirds on the other iphone, can i transfer the whole folder and then would it work?
No, you should download the app on the other device (and play one level) first.
Note: If you are buying the same named app (for example, ABo SD) you can download the app on the new device and will not be charged. It must be the SAME app in the SAME definition.
Here’s my situation. My main goal was to transfer all my files from iTouch to iPad, because the iTouch is where I have made the majority of my progress… full completion to be exact. 100% achievements, golden eggs, and ME feathers, and I wanted to resume where I left off, and make iPad my primary device. It worked brilliantly all but one thing. Prior to moving the files, I made all of my high scores in Mighty Hoax on iPad, and so the move from my iTouch replaced all of those scores. Not good at all. Is there any way I can get this restored? Can you break down the lua files level by level?
Not possible, sorry.
It works smooth… took me longer to watch the video than do it.. Just past everything from my very old I touch to my Iphone 4. Thank you! Thank you!!!
will this work from iphone4 to new ipad (not just the ipad2)?
Yes, works on all iOS devices, I believe.
@Fuji, I watched your video, thanks for taking all of the time that you do to make all of them for us!! I specialized in otolaryngology, and the Dr. I worked for specialized in voice. You should do voice overs for pay, you have a pleasing quality to your voice. :)
Used DiskAid to transfer Angry Birds Lite’s two lua files from an iphone 4 to an iphone 4s. The file transfer went fine. Basically as shown in the video and script.
What did occur was that the 12 levels of AB Lite were locked. They had the gold 3 stars underneath each lock, but it looks like I have to play each level again. I shut the 4s off after the transfer and the levels were still locked.
I do not want to transfer the files from the 6 other AB games and have to play each level.
Any advice would be kindly appreciated?
As an FYI, I tried using iExplorer and when I would click on the “Apps” file the whole program of iExplorer would close down and disappear. Could not figure that one.
As you stated, DiskAid was easier.
Bill
iExplorer is a bit picky. I much prefer DiskAid as well.
AB:Lite has some other .luas I believe, so perhaps you didn’t move the “settings” one. It is entirely possible that you moved highscores (which explains your stars) and maybe the “Crystal” one.
Also, if you are going to do this for AB:Seasons, you should move all of the date-looking .lua files as well. (2011-12-01, etc.)
Thank you for the suggestions.
I double checked the lua files in the 4s and they are correct. In fact they are still on my desktop, one for highscores and the other for settings. It looks like the Crystal files are in another folder.
I have played half of the games and all appears to be working fine but the visual quality has deterioted in the game playing screens. It is now actually hurting my eyes.
Let me present this for your consideration and advice: The iphone 4 is still connected to the network and functioning. The iphone 4s is not connected to a network. All I have to do is change the card between the two phones. When I backed up both phones with iTunes (4 first then 4s), iTunes asked if I wanted the same apps on the 4s and then it loaded all the missing apps to the 4s. Based on your knowledge, would not being connected and the transfer process have any affect on the quality of the game playing screens. As I mentioned in the note below, all the intro screens to AB Lite have outstanding quality. The game playing screens are like watching fast action sports on an LCD TV vs a Plasma, LCD’d blurred effect.
Any advice?
Bill
This is not my area of expertise. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can be much help. Perhaps try contacting Rovio directly.
Thank you for the response.
I transferred the files for AB-Free, AB Rio-Free and AB Seasons-Free. Everything worked great. No locked levels.
My conclusion is that the situation I described above appears to be in AB-Lite.
Also noticed that the visual quality in the actual playing screens is poor, blurred and fuzzy with the transferred files on the iphone 4s. All the intro screens for the AB Lite were crisp and clear right up to the actual game playing screens.
Any advice?
Bill
Anyone confirmed angry birds space hd and sd transfer?
Hrm I will try it later today. But I believe BL has done it. Achievements might be iffy though. A lot of issues there.
Not so worried about acheivements, usually if you copy over progress and get one achievement on the device you copied to it will check for other achievements.
Not seeing the save game data using iexplorer. Is it under a different folder name than “angry birds *”
I have transferred my progress fine using DiskAid.
This worked great. Howevery my HD AB on the new iPad didn’t show as HD. It shied up ad chillingo angry birds. I then had to restart the iPad to get the changes to show. Closing and reopening wasnt enough. Anyone know how to transfer data for where’s my water or period tracker???
Sorry, that’s not our area.
Is there a way I can transfer my progress from my iOS device to my PC??
No, the settings files are not compatible.
That’s kinda dumb because I don’t have a Mac and I want to transfer my data to my PC.
Sorry, just the way it is.
Thank you so very much!!
Don’t know if this has been said before, but I transferred my iPod touch progress to my new iPad, (iPod running SD, iPad HD), and all progress was transferred, including the MIGHTY EAGLE.
Thanks Slim, saved me $3 on HD Eagles. :)
saw i have the exactly the same apps on both devices would i be able to just drag and drop every single folder into the other device to get the same outcome or do i have to go through every folder individually?
You only need to copy the settings and highscore files.
I will probably be going to an iPad from an iPhone 4s format to play AB games. I noticed on another’s iPad that it supports the HD versions of AB games. I have not seen that for an iPhone yet (may have missed it).
Can the regular versions (I think they are called SD-not sure what that stands for) of the AB games be downloaded from Apple to the iPad as well as the HD versions?
(I will transfer my files with DiskAid-it was easy and flawless between two iPhones)
If so, are there any differences between the HD and SD versions?
Are there any limitations between the two version, e.g., HD can do this where SD cannot?
If the two versions cannot be on the iPad, can I transfer my files from the iPhone to get them to work in the HD versions of the same game?
There are many questions here, and I’ll try to answer them all. I will also answer exclusively in terms of iPad/iPhone, though it generalizes to tablet/mobile in most cases.
Angry Birds ___ HD is only available for iPad and will not be made available for iPhone. The HD and SD apps are precisely the same with the notable exception that HD has higher graphics quality and is specifically designed to be used on iPad’s screen size. You would have to specifically buy HD for iPad as a separate app; or you CAN re-download (for free) the SD app onto iPad, though you will be playing on an embedded screen roughly the same size as your iPhone.
Once you have (some) Angry Birds app on your iPad, you can transfer your progress using our instructions above. That works perfectly fine (I do it monthly).
Any other questions, let me know.
Thank you AMslimfordy for your advice and answers to the questions.
Just have to ask one more.
I buy/download AB HD, AB Rio HD, and AB Seasons HD to the iPad. Lets say play a game from each one. Can I then import my past performace from the same three SD games on my iPhone (import the two+ lua files) into the HD iPad games and transfer the achievements, points, etc.,from the SD versions to the HD versions?
I think you reference this concept in your last statement but I just wanted to make sure I understand it correctly.
If the transfer of the data from the two SD lua files cannot be completed, then am I correct in assuming that each HD version game has to be started from the beginning.
You can transfer from SD to HD a vice versa, but it is a PURE OVERWRITE. Play one level of each of the new apps to ensure all data files exist, and then overwrite them with the lua files from your SD apps. There is no mix-and-match.
Hi AMslimfordy,
Thank you for your answers above concerning the iPad.
I transferred the AB games from my iPhone-4s to an iPad using DiskAid and everything worked perfectly except for the one item listed below.
Details of the transfer:
Transferred the 8 games’ lua files from the iPhone into the 15 games on the iPad.
I loaded the SD and HD versions of all the AB games to the iPad.
AB Lite did not appear to have an HD version, Is that correct?
One problem occurred:
In Game Center only 27 of the 60 Achievements loaded for AB HD with a Leaderboard score 27,054,880 and rank of 2,430 into the iPad.
In Game Center all 60 of the 60 Achievements loaded for AB SD with a Leaderboard score of 27,054,880 and rank of 13,368 into the iPad.
All the HD version Scores, Stars, Feathers and Eggs match the SD version.
1. Do you have any advice as to why all the Achievements did not load for the HD version of the Angry Birds only into the iPad?
Twice I reloaded the lua files from (iPhone) AB SD to (iPad) AB HD with the same result.
2. Is there another file I have to bring over from the (iPhone) SD version to the (iPad) HD version?
It is strange this is the only game out of eight with this issue and everything else matches up exactly.
— There is no “Lite” version, that is correct. Lite has not received an update in nearly 2 years, so that’s why.
1) Achievements will eventually load, but it can take some time.
2) I don’t think there are any other files necessary.