First things to do with your new Android phone

You have just taken your new Android device out of the box and you’re beaming. Maybe your hands are shaking with anticipation. Your mouth is dry and the pupils are dilated. Okay, maybe you’re not that excited, but getting a new phone is certainly something to celebrate. What’s next?

Here are some of the first things every Android owner should do with their phone when they take it out of the box. These little exercises will ensure that you get the most out of your device from day one.

Check your device

First, take a moment to really appreciate what you are holding in your hands. You are now the owner of a wearable device so amazingly futuristic that no science fiction writer saw it coming. Touch the screen in the right place. Pizza arrives at your doorstep. Or a man in Morocco will start speaking to you. Or videos of cats jumping into cardboard boxes are played. You are the almighty god of this pocket-sized screen.

Don’t let all this power go into your head. You need to maintain your composure long enough to make sure your device came with the correct parts.

Search the entire packaging of your phone and take an inventory. Review all warranty information and note any extras. Most Android phones come with a SIM tool. So don’t throw this away in case you ever want to install a new SIM card. You likely have a charger and maybe even a fancy set of earbuds.

Prepare to download data

Connect the phone to charge the battery. While many phones are partially charged, they usually don’t get fully charged. You will be playing with your new toy for the next few hours and you don’t want it to die on you in the middle of a crucial process.

Also, you’ll likely want to connect to a wireless network, if one is available. Not all of us have unlimited data, and you will almost certainly be downloading a lot on your phone on the first day. It may not be a good idea to start eating right away within your monthly limit.

Sign into Google and let the magic flow

The first time you turn on your device, a walkthrough will walk you through the setup process. This will vary a little from phone to phone, but one of the first things you need to ask is to sign in to your Google account.

You can skip this step if you want, but we seriously don’t recommend it. When you sign in to Google, your device is connected to a variety of other services. This is the first step in personalizing your phone. Activating this account will automatically set up your e-mail, calendar and contact lists and prepare your phone to synchronize your identity across devices. It’s also required for the Play Store.

If you’ve owned an Android device before, witness the magic. After you sign into your Google account, your phone will connect to the Google Play Store and try to download all of your old apps. Before your very eyes, this standard device is transforming into a faster, slimmer version of your old phone.

For more help, see our guide on switching phones like a pro. New to Android? Here is a guide on how to transfer your contacts and other information from iPhone to Android.

Deactivate bloatware

Your phone is likely preinstalled with some manufacturer or carrier apps that you didn’t ask for and that you can’t remove (unless you choose to root). These apps take up storage space and can slow down your phone. In order to maximize the functions of your phone, this is the stuff you should get rid of.

Once your phone is ready to use, go to the Apps menu in your settings and find all the apps that came pre-installed on your phone. You may not be able to uninstall them, but you can disable them and uninstall updates to keep storage space to a minimum. Disabling an app also means you won’t see it in the app drawer anymore.

A word of caution. If this is your first Android device, you may want to keep the pre-installed apps until you’re sure you don’t need them, they don’t interfere with an important part of your phone’s experience, or until you find suitable alternatives in Play Store.

When you go through the initial setup of your device, you may also be asked to sign up for additional malware protection or other additional services. Feel free to skip these offers; You really shouldn’t have to sign up for anything other than your Google Account during setup.

Set up your storage space and get some new apps too

Just because your phone is installing all of your old apps doesn’t mean you have to do things the same way. Getting a new device is an excellent opportunity to give up bad habits and make better life decisions-Ör at least some better app decisions.

Head over to the Play Store and see alternatives to some of the apps you use. You can also try a different launcher, download some new games, or opt for a new music player. If you’re not a big fan of the keyboard installed on your device, get a new one like Swiftkey, Chrooma, or Minuum. They pay attention to your writing habits and make writing text messages child’s play.

It’s also important to remember that you still need to sign in to Facebook, WhatsApp, Netflix, and other services.

Once all the apps are installed, you can customize the device to your liking. You can set new wallpapers and ringtones, and customize the home screen with app shortcuts and widgets. Don’t forget to organize the quick switches in the notification panel, adjust the screen brightness, and enable gestures, as well as other useful features your device may offer.

Here are some of the best sources for finding some of the best apps, games, and services for your new device:

Back up your device

Your phone holds a lot of sensitive information, especially if you are using it for banking, shopping, or pizza delivery. It is important to put in place solid security measures to protect your privacy and identity.

A PIN and a pattern lock are two security options available on most Android phones. Many of them also come with a fingerprint scanner or even face recognition features. Remember, no biometric method is as secure as a password.

You can also check if your device has Smart Lock features. Smart Lock is a pretty cool feature that allows your phone to bypass the lock screen in certain situations. For example, you can choose to keep your phone unlocked when it’s near a specific Bluetooth device, such as a phone. B. your car stereo. It may also be able to tell if it was set since the last unlock or passed to a new user.

Make sure everything is up to date!

There is a pretty good chance that there are some updates waiting for you on your device. Sometimes these are minor corrections or speed improvements. Sometimes brand new versions of Android are waiting – – especially if your new phone has been on the market for a while. You can check for the latest software updates by going to Settings> System> System Updates, although the exact path may vary slightly from device to device.

In addition to the operating system, you can update the preinstalled apps by visiting the Play Store, selecting “My Apps and Games” from the menu and tapping the “Update All” button at the top, if available.

Set up mobile data tracking

Unless you have an unlimited plan, monitoring how much data you used in a given billing cycle is a must. Exceeding the limit due to all of the cat videos you watch on YouTube can get expensive.

Setting up mobile data tracking is a breeze. Go into your device’s settings, tap “Wi-Fi & Internet,” followed by “Data Usage,” then set the billing cycle and amount of data your plan offers. Keep in mind that the exact path may vary slightly depending on your device.

The next and final step is to enable a data warning and data limit. The former notifies you when you have used a predefined amount of data, while the latter switches off cellular data as soon as the limit you set is reached.

If you can’t find the data tracking feature on your Android device, don’t fear my friend. There are a number of dedicated apps available in the Play Store such as My Data Manager which you can download from the button below.

Get to know your device

Take the time to check your phone’s settings. Browse the menus and submenus and worry about where different functions are located. This can save a lot of time later and you can even discover some new things about your device.

The ancient Greeks (and also the oracle from the Matrix) had a saying: “Know yourself.” You have a lot of personal information written on your phone and will likely use it in so much of your interpersonal communications that your phone is a bit like an extension of yourself. Don’t let it be strange!

Imagine setting up a new phone as if you were moving to a new location. Don’t just leave these spaces empty. Move your old familiar furniture around and hang up some new pictures. Spruce up the place. Clean it thoroughly. After all, you will live here for a while.

Setting up an Android device may seem overwhelming, but it can be nice to settle in and enjoy the process.

Continue reading: 5 Android Settings You Should Change to Improve Your Smartphone Game