6 things I always do when setting up a new phone

I arrange a brand new cellphone pretty typically — whether or not it’s shifting to a brand new each day driver or secondary cellphone, or establishing one of many new finest Android telephones to assessment. Since I’m a creature of behavior, I like to make sure that switching units isn’t too jarring, so I’ve created a little bit of a routine on the subject of establishing a brand new gadget.

Whereas I could tweak my strategy relying on whether or not I plan to make use of the cellphone as my new each day driver or as a secondary gadget (corresponding to a digicam smartphone), these are the important steps I take with each cellphone.

Many Android producers provide a cellphone clone utility that copies the information straight out of your earlier gadget. Nonetheless, I choose utilizing my Google account to revive a backup from my predominant gadget for quite a lot of causes. Firstly, the cloning utilities on smartphones typically require the brand new and outdated cellphone to be related or close to one another for a while. Which means that I typically really feel like I can’t use both cellphone throughout the switch, which cuts me off from issues like my chats and notifications. A minor challenge, however nonetheless.

Secondly, when restoring apps from my authentic cellphone, I’m able to choose which of them to put in. It is a nice function, since I typically accrue apps that I take a look at for work that I don’t essentially use anymore however neglect to uninstall.

Moreover, restoring a backup from a Google account contains lots of the useful options of cloning your cellphone, corresponding to copying over SMS messages, contacts, gadget settings, and name historical past. And since I take advantage of Google Password Supervisor, syncing my Google account with the brand new cellphone additionally provides me entry to the login particulars I take advantage of for numerous apps. Nonetheless, I’ve discovered that my mileage could differ relying on which producers I’m switching between. In instances the place my login particulars haven’t transferred, I take advantage of the Chrome app to entry the password supervisor.

There was a time that Android skins felt very comparable, however through the years I’ve observed extra fragmentation on the subject of the default consumer interface (UI). So every time I arrange a brand new smartphone, I ensure to regulate the UI’s settings to my ideally suited setup.

This contains three-button navigation, everlasting darkish mode, switching to Eye Consolation mode, selecting an app drawer for my house display screen if it’s not on by default, and switching my management panel shortcuts to these I take advantage of probably the most. Many of the adjustments I make are to forestall my smartphone from triggering my migraines, however a few of them are additionally attributable to habits I’ve constructed up after over a decade of utilizing Android telephones.

A latest annoyance I’ve discovered with some Android cellphone manufacturers is the try to modify customers to a break up notification panel by default. On some Android skins, there’s no method to change again to a mixed notification and management panel, which actually frustrates me. However when the choice is there, I change to the mixed view. For instance, once I just lately arrange the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, I switched again to the mixed notification view in One UI 7.

Though I’ve tried to maneuver away from Google Images by self-hosting Immich as an alternative, I nonetheless haven’t made the transition totally. That is partially attributable to how Google Images incorporates into my workflow, since I typically take photographs on my cellphone after which entry them by way of the net to obtain and add them to a submit I’m engaged on, for instance.

So, not less than for now, Google Images stays a vital utility for me. I again up photographs throughout all my units, even when I’m simply utilizing the cellphone for a two-week assessment interval — particularly since I typically use assessment units to take footage of scenic areas and my pets. This additionally implies that the photographs I take with these units are added to my Recollections, which is one among my favourite Google Images options.

When you’ve used Android, you’ll be very conversant in bloatware — the non-essential, pre-installed apps that OEMs embrace on their units. I discover that this step is especially wanted on the subject of mid-range and finances smartphones, which are likely to pack in much more bloat.

Generally these apps are OEM instruments that I by no means use attributable to preferring cross-platform apps as an alternative. However I’ve additionally discovered loads of social media apps, video games, and workplace software program come pre-installed on units whether or not you utilize them or not.

The place doable, I uninstall any app or sport that I don’t use. In fact, some bloatware can’t be uninstalled. On this case, I attempt to see if I can archive or disable the app in order that I don’t obtain prompts to make use of it as an alternative of my most well-liked software program.

To be sure that I begin receiving essential notifications on my new gadget, I signal into my most-used apps as quickly as doable. These are normally my Gmail, Asana, and Slack accounts. Nonetheless, if the cellphone is my new each day driver, I ensure to log into WhatsApp and restore my chat backup.

If an app isn’t integral to getting work notifications or communications from my contacts, I’ll take my time signing into it once I really use it. For instance, I don’t rush on the subject of signing into my social media apps, particularly since I’m going weeks with out utilizing some platforms.

However lacking a Slack notification or an essential electronic mail to my secondary Gmail account (which is totally different to my backup account) implies that I might miss essential details about work or assignments. So I ensure to signal into these as quickly as doable.

Whereas two-factor authentication (2FA) undoubtedly has its advantages, I at all times fear about switching units and now not accessing my authenticator app. Whereas I initially solely used Microsoft Authenticator for my Microsoft account, over time, I started including another apps and web sites to the device.

However I quickly realized that the app doesn’t robotically sync with the linked Microsoft account, that means the totally different built-in providers don’t transfer over once you check in on a brand new gadget. I finally found out that I first wanted to create a backup on my outdated gadget, then restore that account backup on the brand new gadget.

Now, every time I arrange a brand new smartphone, I ensure to revive the account backup in order that I can entry my linked providers. When you use a 2FA or multi-factor authentication (MFA) app, be sure to switch your credentials so that you simply don’t lose entry.

I’m typically juggling a couple of smartphone at a time, however I ensure to observe sure steps when setting them up. This makes switching between units simpler for me, whereas additionally offering me with one of the best expertise once I change my predominant gadget. Too many instances I’ve been caught out by not having the appropriate settings or information on the smartphone I’m utilizing, which may develop into a problem when my different units should not round.

Most individuals solely have one smartphone to cope with, however these steps are useful no matter what number of units you’re utilizing. Simply ensure to manufacturing unit reset your outdated cellphone should you plan to promote it or give it away, when you’re sure you will have all the mandatory data you want from it.