6 issues I at all times do when establishing a brand new cellphone

I arrange a brand new cellphone pretty usually — whether or not it’s shifting to a brand new day by day driver or secondary cellphone, or establishing one of many new finest 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 in terms of establishing a brand new gadget.

Whereas I’ll tweak my strategy relying on whether or not I plan to make use of the cellphone as my new day by 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 supply a cellphone clone utility that copies the information straight out of your earlier gadget. Nevertheless, I desire utilizing my Google account to revive a backup from my major gadget for various causes. Firstly, the cloning utilities on smartphones usually require the brand new and outdated cellphone to be linked or close to one another for a while. Which means that I usually really feel like I can’t use both cellphone in the course of the switch, which cuts me off from issues like my chats and notifications. A minor subject, 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 usually accrue apps that I check for work that I don’t essentially use anymore however neglect to uninstall.

Moreover, restoring a backup from a Google account consists of most 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 offers me entry to the login particulars I take advantage of for varied apps. Nevertheless, I’ve discovered that my mileage might range relying on which producers I’m switching between. In circumstances 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 related, however through the years I’ve seen extra fragmentation in terms of the default consumer interface (UI). So each time I arrange a brand new smartphone, I make sure that to regulate the UI’s settings to my splendid setup.

This consists of 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 take advantage of probably the most. Many of the modifications I make are to stop 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 current annoyance I’ve discovered with some Android cellphone manufacturers is the try to change customers to a break up notification panel by default. On some Android skins, there’s no method 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, 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 transfer away from Google Pictures by self-hosting Immich as an alternative, I nonetheless haven’t made the transition absolutely. That is partially attributable to how Google Pictures incorporates into my workflow, since I usually take images on my cellphone after which entry them by way of the online to obtain and add them to a put up I’m engaged on, for instance.

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

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

Typically 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 gadgets whether or not you utilize them or not.

The place attainable, I uninstall any app or recreation 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 make it possible for I begin receiving essential notifications on my new gadget, I signal into my most-used apps as quickly as attainable. These are normally my Gmail, Asana, and Slack accounts. Nevertheless, if the cellphone is my new day by day driver, I make 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 once I really use it. For instance, I don’t rush in terms 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 e-mail to my secondary Gmail account (which is completely different to my backup account) implies that I might miss essential details about work or assignments. So I make sure that to signal into these as quickly as attainable.

Whereas two-factor authentication (2FA) undoubtedly has its advantages, I at all times fear about switching gadgets and now not gaining 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 software.

However I quickly realized that the app doesn’t mechanically sync with the linked Microsoft account, that means the completely different built-in companies don’t transfer over while you check in on a brand new gadget. I finally discovered that I first wanted to create a backup on my outdated gadget, then restore that account backup on the brand new gadget.

Now, each time I arrange a brand new smartphone, I make sure that to revive the account backup in order that I can entry my linked companies. 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 usually juggling multiple smartphone at a time, however I make sure that to observe sure steps when setting them up. This makes switching between gadgets simpler for me, whereas additionally offering me with one of the best expertise once I change my major gadget. Too many occasions I’ve been caught out by not having the proper settings or knowledge on the smartphone I’m utilizing, which might turn out to be a problem when my different gadgets aren’t 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 make sure that to manufacturing unit reset your outdated cellphone should you plan to promote it or give it away, when you’re sure you’ve gotten all the mandatory info you want from it.