Okay, I have a Google Pixel 4a with LineageOS (sunfish). I followed the instructions given at this site, and created a Seedvault backup.
I had my phone plugged into my laptop via USB, and transfer of files for USB was enabled; so, the laptop could access the phone's files via MTP. However, this was not seen as an option for where the backup was to be created (IE, it did not give the option to create the backup on the hard drive of the laptop via a file transfer with MTP). So, I created it on the phone.
I have since copied that file to my laptop. Specifically, I copied the backup file which was created, that being .SeedVaultAndroidBackup, to my laptop. My laptop runs Debian Linux.
So, a few questions:
1.) will I be able to restore from the backup file, .SeedVaultAndroidBackup, that exists on my laptop? Or will this not work, given that it wasn't originally created there?
2.) if the answer to (1.) is "yes", then will I be able to delete the backup that was made on my phone?
3.) is there a way to create a backup with Seedvault specifically on my laptop, rather than copying the created backup file afterword? I wonder if there was a setting with USB transfer (MTP) that could be adjusted (IE, making the laptop the focus rather than the phone).
Okay, even though the recovery code is verified when I check it, the program does now say: "Backup status: Last backup: Never".
I think creating it first on the phone and then transferring it to a laptop (via MTP) won't work. Despite what the site says, I think these files can't be worked with if they are moved around. Perhaps if I get a cord and directly attach a USB stick, then maybe I'll have some luck. Perhaps the program will see a USB stick or USB storage thing, since it doesn't seem to see a Debian laptop as a place for creating the backup file(s).