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

I arrange a brand new telephone pretty usually — whether or not it’s transferring to a brand new each day driver or secondary telephone, 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 gadgets isn’t too jarring, so I’ve created a little bit of a routine in terms of establishing a brand new system.

Whereas I’ll tweak my strategy relying on whether or not I plan to make use of the telephone as my new each day driver or as a secondary system (corresponding 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. Nevertheless, I desire utilizing my Google account to revive a backup from my major system for a lot of causes. Firstly, the cloning utilities on smartphones usually require the brand new and previous telephone to be linked or close to one another for a while. Which means I usually 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 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 contains most of the helpful options of cloning your telephone, corresponding 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 offers me entry to the login particulars I exploit for numerous apps. Nevertheless, 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 comparable, however over time I’ve observed extra fragmentation in terms of the default person interface (UI). So every time I arrange a brand new smartphone, I ensure to regulate the UI’s settings to my splendid setup.

This contains three-button navigation, everlasting darkish mode, switching to Eye Consolation mode, selecting an app drawer for my dwelling display if it’s not on by default, and switching my management panel shortcuts to these I exploit 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 as a consequence of habits I’ve constructed up after over a decade of utilizing Android telephones.

A latest annoyance I’ve discovered with some Android telephone manufacturers is the try to modify customers to a cut up notification panel by default. On some Android skins, there’s no solution 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, after I not too long ago 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 Images by self-hosting Immich as an alternative, I nonetheless haven’t made the transition absolutely. That is partially as a consequence of how Google Images incorporates into my workflow, since I usually take photographs on my telephone after which entry them by the net to obtain and add them to a submit I’m engaged on, for instance.

So, at the very least for now, Google Images 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 assessment interval — particularly since I usually use assessment 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 in every of my favourite Google Images options.

If you happen to’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 in terms 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 as a consequence 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 employ them or not.

The place doable, 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 well-liked software program.

To ensure that I begin receiving necessary notifications on my new system, I signal into my most-used apps as quickly as doable. These are normally my Gmail, Asana, and Slack accounts. Nevertheless, if the telephone 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 after I truly 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 necessary electronic mail to my secondary Gmail account (which is totally different to my backup account) implies that I might miss necessary 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 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 totally different built-in companies don’t transfer over if you sign up on a brand new system. I finally discovered that I first wanted to create a backup on my previous system, then restore that account backup on the brand new system.

Now, every time I arrange a brand new smartphone, I ensure to revive the account backup in order that I can entry my linked companies. If you happen to 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 ensure to comply with sure steps when setting them up. This makes switching between gadgets simpler for me, whereas additionally offering me with the very best expertise after I change my major system. Too many instances I’ve been caught out by not having the suitable settings or knowledge on the smartphone I’m utilizing, which might develop into a problem when my different gadgets usually are not round.

Most individuals solely have one smartphone to take care of, however these steps are useful no matter what number of gadgets you’re utilizing. Simply ensure to manufacturing unit reset your previous telephone in the event you plan to promote it or give it away, when you’re sure you may have all the required info you want from it.