Board Thread:Troubleshooting/@comment-73.21.132.193-20150916114426/@comment-24668482-20150918120201

It sounds like you have all updated your iOS past 8.2 if iFunbox does not work for you now (I am going on the use of the word 'we' here). That is a bit unusual, but I guess you have to work with what you have. Was there some reason you were all forced onto iOS 8.3 or 8.4? Some other app that required it?

At the risk of breaking into full rant mode here (bear with me, it will probably happen): it is really not advisable to just update the operating system on any device before checking to see what impact it will have. Updating an operating system is a major chance to the device, and should not be undertaken lightly. Big releases can often have big bugs, but small releases can also cause problems.

If the update is a new number (e.g. Windows 8 to Windows 10 or iOS 8 to iOS 9), then the best advice is always to hold off in case there are major problems that results in a rushed small (10.0.2/9.0.2) or even big (10.1/ 9.1) release by the manufacturer of the device. Then take the tried and tested newer version if you really need the new features the big release contains. Its rare that a major update is problem free and doesn't need some work after release before it is completely stable. I suspect manufacturers release big updates as a way to essentially beta test them on a large user base to find these problems, knowing they will have to release a patch or two within a few weeks once the bugs are found. So waiting to see how things pan out is always the safer option.

Sometimes apps won't work on the new OS and will have to be updated by the developers to fix the incompatibility (e.g. like SS when iOS 8 was released, the game couldn't work on iOS 8 so people who upgraded were forced to wait a couple of months for an update to the game to fix compatibility). Other times the new OS is unstable in more major ways and affects multiple apps/functions (battery life reduction/major crashes etc.). It is also important to remember that the impact of new OS will vary from update to update but also from device to device (newer ipads that originally came with iOS 8.4 pre-installed will have smoother transition to iOS 9 than older devices that originally came with iOS 6 or 7 for example, because their hardware will be different).

And while this is especially true for big new releases (e.g. going from windows 8 to windows 10 before reading reports on potential problems with windows 10; or going from iOS 7 to iOS 8 or now iOS 8 to iOS 9 before reading reports on problems with the new iOS), care should still always be taken with the smaller updates as well (iOS 8.1 to 8.2 or 8.2 to 8.3).

I know that the devices will keep throwing pop ups at you telling you to update, but there is no need to do it until you are comfortable that it is the right choice for you (and there won't be any negative effects you can't live with). I keep my main devices on iOS 7 until the point comes that new apps won't support it. It is what works best for my needs (in and out of these games).

The best thing to do when you see a new update to your OS is available (no matter how big or small) is to just hang back for even a couple of days and keep an eye on the news to see if there are any major problems or any changes that might not suit you.

In this case, iOS 8.3 brought nothing new to the table in terms of real functionality/performance but it did add new security measures, including blocking sandbox access to directory folders, which is what has caused problems from file managers such as iFunbox. The sandbox directories block was reported within days (maybe even hours) of release and most articles that mentioned it also mentioned iFunbox, iExplorer and Diskaid by name (as they are best known file managers). Which is why it is worth waiting a little while to update even when the update seems stable enough like 8.3 did, unless some other reason is forcing you to update (other than just for sake of getting newest version).

Okay, that did get ranty. It just always surprises me to see people having problems with the game, when the cause is taking an OS update before finding out if it would cause problems for the game, you know? Particularly with SS after the whole iOS 8 disaster, it is surprising to see players still installing new updates to iOS straight away.

But there is no point in crying over spilled milk, and there are still multiple back up options available for this game for everyone. They just are not as neat, quick and simple as before if you have updated beyond iOS 8.2:

Backing Up on iOS 8.2 or lower

If anyone in your group is still using iOS 8.2 or lower on their device, then you can still use iFunbox (or iExplorer, they are very similar and user friendly). Just follow the same instructions you have for SS. The only difference is that the folder the game files are stored in is called SocialHog2 not SocialHog. Otherwise using cloud or itunes is also a very good option (doing both itunes/icloud and an external would also be a good idea to cover all bases). I actually think just sticking with itunes/cloud is probably the best fit for most people at most times.

Backing Up on iOS 8.3 or 8.4

iFunbox: For those on iOS 8.3 and iOS 8.4, you won't be able to access files on iFunbox (version 2) without Jailbreaking your device. The good news is that there is finally a jailbreak available, so that is an option available to you now if you are willing. (note: there is a ifunbox version 3, and I've seen reports that it works but haven't tested yet).

iExplorer: For iExplorer, the old method of accessing files directly (like in iFunbox) will not work without Jailbreaking either. But you can actually still use their backup function to access the files on an non-jailbroken device and you will be able to copy them off your device and onto a computer, its getting them back onto the device that is the problem. Just ask it to backup the device and then use the backup explorer to navigate to the game, and then documents, mytona, socialhog2 etc. and right clicking on any file will give an export to folder option to make a back up. This is probably only useful if you want to transfer game to another device that you will be able to get files back on to.

iTunes/Cloud: As you noted, you also have cloud and itunes available to you to back up, and those back ups will restore your game progress. It is a good idea to back up the device regularly, and then should you need to restore the game, you can just restore from the backup. Just be careful to make sure the backup is set to back up apps as well as documents in itunes. And honestly? These methods will work just fine and are really easy to do (albeit a bit more time consuming when it comes to restoring from the backup) so are probably always going to be the best options available unless you really need to do a full restore of device or start fresh with new device. If the game crashes and you lose your progress, then just restore from the most recent backup. You'll lose a few levels if its been a few days, and it will be time consuming if you have a lot of other things on the device device. But it should work just fine. There are of course two problems with this - it is a bit of a black box which can feel a little crippling after the freedom of sandbox access, and you have to restore the device to restore the game. This is fine if you are transferring between devices, but I can see how people might be reluctant to do it if they are just trying to restore this one game (or SS). As you will lose other things on device since your last backup, and they might be more important to you than the game progress (depending on how frequently you back up I guess).

Combo (backup editing): So there is a middle ground - keep everything else on the device, and just restore the game using multiple backups and a backup editing tool. It is a messy and slow solution compared to the old iFunbox way but it works very well, and does restore your access to the files. It is a way to get around the fact that you cannot get to files while they are on device, by simply getting to them when they are not (through a backup of them). You still need to back up your device on itunes, but then use an external backup editor to locate the SN game files and make a copy of the important files to another location on your computer (at a pinch, all you really need is the player.prf file). Do this every time you back up using itunes (use the editor on latest back up version). When the day comes that you unfortunately need to restore the game from a backup for whatever reason, you now have recent versions of your game progress saved separately on your computer. Make a new back up of your device in itunes. This will back up everything else for you, so you will only be changing the game files and not losing progress in other games/apps or recent photos etc. Open your back up editor and find this latest backup (if it has access to multiple backups, then make sure to cross check date/time so you are editing the right one). Navigate to the game files, and this time just delete them and then copy over your recent back-up version of them from where ever it was saved on your computer. Then close the editor and go back to itunes and restore your device from the back up. The entire device will be back to exactly where it was when you started, except you'll have the old player.prf file (and others if you copied them) and so game progress will be restored. This can also be used to transfer the game between devices (back up first device and use editor to find the files you want; install the game on second device and then back up second device; use editor to replace files on second device with ones from first device; restore second device from edited back up). If you lost game progress from a crash, then it is probably a good idea to first delete and re-install the game before making the initial back up. That way you will be putting your old game profile onto a clean install of the game after you restore.

I have one device on 8.4, and have transferred SN and SS profiles from that to others and from others to that successfully this way, but I kept that device quite empty so the backing up/restore is really quick. I can still see it being frustrating if you have a lot on the device.

I am aware I am being a bit vague in those instructions. I can be more detailed and give a suggestion to a programme to use if needed. I am just little reluctant for a couple of reasons, not limited to the legal grey area (though it isn't much more questionable than using ifunbox was in that regard) but also the best programme i found isn't free (does have a free trial though). There are probably free ones out there, but I don't have any experience in them. I put a note on the SS wiki back up article saying i'd give the instructions if asked, but so far no one has asked so i suspect for most people it isn't worth the effort considering just backing up through itunes works just fine (albeit with a slight loss of data is backup is a bit old).