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

I arrange a brand new telephone pretty typically — whether or not it’s transferring to a brand new day by day driver or secondary telephone, or organising 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 organising a brand new system.

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

Many Android producers supply a telephone clone utility that copies the information straight out of your earlier system. Nonetheless, I desire 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 linked or close to one another for a while. Which means that I typically really feel like I can’t use both telephone throughout the switch, which cuts me off from issues like my chats and notifications. A minor problem, however nonetheless.

Secondly, when restoring apps from my unique telephone, 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 most of the useful options of cloning your telephone, reminiscent of 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 could differ relying on which producers I’m switching between. In circumstances 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 in terms of the default person interface (UI). So every time I arrange a brand new smartphone, I be certain 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 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 approach 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 just 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 Photographs by self-hosting Immich as an alternative, I nonetheless haven’t made the transition totally. That is partially as a consequence of how Google Photographs incorporates into my workflow, since I typically take photographs on my telephone after which entry them by means of the net to obtain and add them to a submit I’m engaged on, for instance.

So, a minimum of for now, Google Photographs stays a vital 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 footage of scenic areas and my pets. This additionally signifies that the photographs I take with these gadgets are added to my Recollections, which is one in all my favourite Google Photographs options.

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

Typically 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 potential, 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 essential notifications on my new system, I signal into my most-used apps as quickly as potential. These are often my Gmail, Asana, and Slack accounts. Nonetheless, if the telephone is my new day by day driver, I be certain 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 am going weeks with out utilizing some platforms.

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

Whereas two-factor authentication (2FA) undoubtedly has its advantages, I at all times fear about switching gadgets and 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 mechanically sync with the linked Microsoft account, which means the completely different built-in providers don’t transfer over if you register 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 be certain to revive the account backup in order that I can entry my linked providers. In the event 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 multiple smartphone at a time, however I be certain to observe 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 most important system. Too many occasions I’ve been caught out by not having the correct settings or knowledge on the smartphone I’m utilizing, which may turn into a problem when my different gadgets will not be 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 be certain to manufacturing unit reset your previous telephone for those who plan to promote it or give it away, when you’re sure you might have all the mandatory info you want from it.