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

I arrange a brand new cellphone pretty usually — whether or not it’s transferring to a brand new each day driver or secondary cellphone, or organising one of many new finest Android telephones to evaluate. 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 the case of organising a brand new machine.

Whereas I’ll 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 machine (comparable 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 info instantly out of your earlier machine. Nonetheless, I want utilizing my Google account to revive a backup from my most important machine for a variety of causes. Firstly, the cloning utilities on smartphones usually require the brand new and previous cellphone to be related or close to one another for a while. Because of this I usually 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 subject, however nonetheless.

Secondly, when restoring apps from my unique 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 contains lots of the helpful options of cloning your cellphone, comparable to copying over SMS messages, contacts, machine settings, and name historical past. And since I exploit Google Password Supervisor, syncing my Google account with the brand new cellphone additionally offers me entry to the login particulars I exploit for varied apps. Nonetheless, I’ve discovered that my mileage might differ 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 seen extra fragmentation in the case of the default person interface (UI). So each time I arrange a brand new smartphone, I be certain that to regulate the UI’s settings to my preferrred setup.

This contains three-button navigation, everlasting darkish mode, switching to Eye Consolation mode, selecting an app drawer for my house display if it’s not on by default, and switching my management panel shortcuts to these I exploit essentially the most. Many of the modifications I make are to forestall my smartphone from triggering my migraines, however a few of them are additionally on account of 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 change customers to a cut up notification panel by default. On some Android skins, there’s no option 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 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 Images by self-hosting Immich as an alternative, I nonetheless haven’t made the transition totally. That is partially on account of how Google Images incorporates into my workflow, since I usually take photographs on my cellphone after which entry them via the net to obtain and add them to a submit I’m engaged on, for instance.

So, no less than for now, Google Images stays a vital utility for me. I again up photographs throughout all my gadgets, even when I’m simply utilizing the cellphone for a two-week evaluate interval — particularly since I usually use evaluate 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 Reminiscences, which is one in every of my favourite Google Images options.

In the event 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 in the case 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 on account 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 doable, 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 make it possible for I begin receiving necessary notifications on my new machine, I signal into my most-used apps as quickly as doable. These are often my Gmail, Asana, and Slack accounts. Nonetheless, if the cellphone is my new each day driver, I be certain 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 the case 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 necessary e mail to my secondary Gmail account (which is completely different to my backup account) implies that I might miss necessary details about work or assignments. So I be certain that 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 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 robotically sync with the linked Microsoft account, that means the completely different built-in providers don’t transfer over while you check in on a brand new machine. I ultimately discovered that I first wanted to create a backup on my previous machine, then restore that account backup on the brand new machine.

Now, each time I arrange a brand new smartphone, I be certain that 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, ensure you switch your credentials so that you just don’t lose entry.

I’m usually juggling a couple of smartphone at a time, however I be certain 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 once I change my most important machine. Too many occasions I’ve been caught out by not having the fitting settings or knowledge on the smartphone I’m utilizing, which might grow 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 be certain that to manufacturing facility reset your previous cellphone in case you plan to promote it or give it away, when you’re sure you could have all the mandatory data you want from it.