6 issues I all the time do when establishing a brand new telephone

I arrange a brand new telephone pretty typically — whether or not it’s transferring to a brand new each day driver or secondary telephone, or establishing one of many new greatest Android telephones to overview. Since I’m a creature of behavior, I like to make sure that switching gadgets isn’t too jarring, so I’ve created a little bit of a routine with regards to establishing a brand new system.

Whereas I’ll tweak my method relying on whether or not I plan to make use of the telephone as my new each day driver or as a secondary system (comparable to a digicam smartphone), these are the important steps I take with each telephone.

Many Android producers supply a telephone clone utility that copies the info straight out of your earlier system. Nonetheless, I want utilizing my Google account to revive a backup from my most important system for quite a few causes. Firstly, the cloning utilities on smartphones typically require the brand new and previous telephone to be related or close to one another for a while. Which means that I typically really feel like I can’t use both telephone in the course of 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 telephone, I’m able to choose which of them to put in. This can be a nice characteristic, 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 telephone, comparable to copying over SMS messages, contacts, system settings, and name historical past. And since I exploit Google Password Supervisor, syncing my Google account with the brand new telephone additionally provides me entry to the login particulars I exploit for numerous apps. Nonetheless, I’ve discovered that my mileage might fluctuate relying on which producers I’m switching between. In instances the place my login particulars haven’t transferred, I exploit the Chrome app to entry the password supervisor.

There was a time that Android skins felt very related, however over time I’ve observed extra fragmentation with regards to the default person interface (UI). So at any time when I arrange a brand new smartphone, I be sure that to regulate the UI’s settings to my superb setup.

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

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

Regardless that I’ve tried to transfer away from Google Pictures by self-hosting Immich as an alternative, I nonetheless haven’t made the transition absolutely. That is partially as a result of how Google Pictures incorporates into my workflow, since I typically take photographs on my telephone after which entry them by means of the online to obtain and add them to a publish I’m engaged on, for instance.

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

Should you’ve used Android, you’ll be very acquainted with bloatware — the non-essential, pre-installed apps that OEMs embody on their gadgets. I discover that this step is especially wanted with regards to mid-range and funds smartphones, which are inclined to pack in much more bloat.

Typically these apps are OEM instruments that I by no means use as a result of 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 gadgets whether or not you utilize them or not.

The place potential, I uninstall any app or sport that I don’t use. After all, 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 popular software program.

To be sure that I begin receiving vital notifications on my new system, I signal into my most-used apps as quickly as potential. These are normally my Gmail, Asana, and Slack accounts. Nonetheless, if the telephone is my new each day driver, I be sure that 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 after I truly use it. For instance, I don’t rush with regards to signing into my social media apps, particularly since I’m going weeks with out utilizing some platforms.

However lacking a Slack notification or an vital e mail to my secondary Gmail account (which is completely different to my backup account) implies that I may miss vital details about work or assignments. So I be sure that to signal into these as quickly as potential.

Whereas two-factor authentication (2FA) undoubtedly has its advantages, I all the time fear about switching gadgets and now not getting access to 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 routinely sync with the linked Microsoft account, which means the completely different built-in providers don’t transfer over once you sign up on a brand new system. I finally found out that I first wanted to create a backup on my previous system, then restore that account backup on the brand new system.

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

I’m typically juggling multiple smartphone at a time, however I be sure that to comply with sure steps when setting them up. This makes switching between gadgets simpler for me, whereas additionally offering me with one of the best expertise after I change my most important system. Too many occasions I’ve been caught out by not having the appropriate settings or information on the smartphone I’m utilizing, which may turn into a difficulty when my different gadgets should not round.

Most individuals solely have one smartphone to cope with, however these steps are useful no matter what number of gadgets you’re utilizing. Simply be sure that to manufacturing unit reset your previous telephone 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.