LifeUp Data Import: Migrate from LifeUp to ulives on iOS
Starting from ulives 1.7.22, you can import your LifeUp backup data (.lfbak files) directly into ulives. If you've been searching for a LifeUp iOS alternative — an app like LifeUp for iPhone that works as a gamified to-do list and RPG habit tracker — this is it: you can now migrate from LifeUp to iOS without starting from scratch.
Why This Matters
Many ulives users came from LifeUp on Android — often searching for a gamified task manager or productivity RPG that could replace LifeUp on iOS. For years, they built elaborate task systems, achievement trees, item shops, and attribute frameworks — all trapped on a platform they might not want to stay on forever. The ability to migrate this data to ulives means:
- Continuity: Keep your existing setups without rebuilding from scratch
- Gradual transition: Import your LifeUp data into a separate profile in ulives, so you can keep using both apps side by side
- Foundation preserved: Attributes, items, tasks, achievements — the core structure comes with you
How to Import
- Export from LifeUp: In LifeUp (Android), go to Settings → Data Backup → Export to create an
.lfbakfile - Transfer to iOS: Send the file to your iPhone/iPad via AirDrop, email, file sharing, or cloud storage
- Import in ulives: Go to ulives Settings → Data Backup & Restore → "Import LifeUp Backup", then select your
.lfbakfile - Wait for processing: ulives will decompress, analyze, and convert your data. This may take a moment for large backups
- Switch to the new profile: After import, you'll find a new profile with your LifeUp data. Your existing ulives data remains untouched
What Gets Imported
The import covers the majority of LifeUp's data model:
| Data Type | What's Imported |
|---|---|
| Attributes (Skills) | Skill groups → attribute groups; skills → attributes with XP values |
| Items & Shop | Shop categories → item lists; items with inventory and shop paths |
| Tasks | Task lists, groups, tasks, subtasks, recurrence rules, count configurations |
| Achievements | Achievement categories → achievement lists; achievements with conditions, progress, and rewards |
| Recipes | Crafting recipes and item-to-item conversion rules |
| Item Effects | XP modifiers, item give/consume, loot boxes (open-box), URL schemes, reflection prompts, sound playback |
| Notes | Notes linked to imported entities |
| Pomodoro Records | Focus session history |
| Level Model | LifeUp level tables or default ulives model |
Special Conversions Worth Knowing
A few LifeUp concepts don't have a direct 1:1 equivalent in ulives, so we handle them specially:
- Coins & Tomatoes → Currency Items: LifeUp's built-in "Coins" and "Tomatoes" are converted into special items inside ulives and placed into a dedicated currency group. This fits naturally with ulives' flexible currency system, where any item can act as currency.
- Timing Tasks → Focus Tasks: LifeUp tasks configured as timing-type (e.g., study for 30 minutes) are converted into ulives focus tasks, so your work session habits carry over.
How It Works
The .lfbak file is a ZIP archive containing LifeUp's app data — primarily a SQLite database with all your records, plus attached media files. The import process reads the database structure and maps it to ulives' data model through a series of conversion rules, then writes everything into a new profile. Because the two apps have different underlying models, some data is transformed rather than copied verbatim.
Known Limitations
This is a lossy conversion — the two apps have different data models and feature sets:
| Limitation | Details |
|---|---|
| Ebbinghaus spacing | LifeUp's spaced-repetition mode cannot be mapped; tasks using it become non-recurring |
| Legacy attribute data | Older LifeUp attribute formats may not be fully preserved |
| Unsupported effects | Some LifeUp item effects have no ulives equivalent and are skipped, including LifeUp's API effects (URL Scheme, Content Provider) |
| One-way only | You cannot export ulives data back to LifeUp format |
| Pomodoro estimation | LifeUp stores pomodoro counts, not minutes; ulives estimates 25 min/pomodoro |
| Tag extraction | #tag syntax in LifeUp task titles is extracted as separate tags |
| iOS only | The import feature is only available on iOS; Android ulives does not have this capability |
What's Next
The import bridges the most critical data for a smooth transition, but there's room to grow — more nuanced recurrence mapping, better attachment media handling, and broader effect type coverage.
If you've been looking to turn your tasks into a game and gamify your life without losing years of LifeUp data, give the import a try. If you encounter issues, please submit feedback or email fb@ulives.io. We're actively monitoring import quality and will continue to refine the conversion logic.