You've just lifted your new Android device from its packaging, and you're beaming. Maybe your hands are shivering with anticipation. Your mouth is dry and pupils are dilated. Okay, maybe you're not that excited, but a new phone is certainly a cause celebration. What comes next, though?
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 are getting the most out of your device from day one.
Check out your device
First of all, take a moment to really appreciate what you're holding in your hands. You are now the owner of a portable device so staggeringly futuristic that no science fiction writers saw it coming. Touch its screen in the right places, pizza will arrive at your front door. Or a man in Morocco will start talking to you. Or it will play videos of cats jumping into cardboard boxes. You are the all-powerful God of this pocketable screen.
Don't let all this power go to your head. You need to keep your composure long enough to make sure your device came with all the correct parts.
Go through all of your phone's packaging and take stock of everything. Review any warranty information, and take note of any extras. Most Android phones come with a SIM tool, so be sure not to throw that out in case you ever want to install a new SIM card. You probably also got a charger and maybe even a nifty set of earbuds.
Prep for data downloading
Plug the phone in to get that battery charging. While many phones will come partially charged, they typically don't come fully topped off. You're going to be playing with your new toy for the next couple of hours, and you don't want it dying on you right in the middle of a crucial process.
Also, you'll probably want to connect to a wireless network if one is available. Not all of us have unlimited data, and you're almost certainly going to be downloading a lot in your first day with your phone. It might not be a good idea to start eating into your monthly limit right away.
Log into Google and let the magic flow
When you turn on your device for the first time, a walkthrough will guide you through the setup process. This will vary a tiny bit from phone to phone but one of the first things it will ask you to do is log into your Google account.
You can skip this step if you want, but we seriously don't recommend it. Logging into Google connects your device with a ton of other services, and it's the first step toward personalizing your phone. Activating this account will set up your email, calendar, and contacts list automatically, and it will 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, then you're about to witness some magic. After logging into your Google account, your phone will connect with the Google Play Store and attempt to download all your old apps. Before your very eyes, this stock device will transform into a faster, sleeker version of your old phone.
Disable bloatware
Your phone likely came with a few apps pre-installed by the manufacturer or carrier that you didn't ask for and can't get rid of (unless you decide to root). These apps take up space and can slow your phone down. To maximize your phone's capabilities, you may want to ditch this stuff.
Once your phone is up and running, go to the Apps menu in your Settings and locate any apps that came pre-loaded on your phone. You might not be able to uninstall them, but you can disable them and uninstall any updates, which will keep the space they occupy to a minimum. Disabling an app also means you won't see it in the app drawer anymore.
A word of caution, however. If this is your very first Android device, you may want to keep the pre-installed apps around until you are sure you won't need them, they won't break a key part of your phone's experience, or until you've found suitable alternatives in the Play store.
When going through your device's initial setup, it may also ask you to register for additional malware protection or other extra services. Feel free to skip these offers; you really shouldn't have to sign up for anything beyond your Google account during setup.
Set up your space and get some new apps too
Just because your phone is installing all your old apps doesn't mean you have to keep doing things the same way. Getting a new device is an excellent opportunity to kick some bad habits and start making better life decisions—or at least some better app decisions.
Visit the Play Store and check out alternatives to some of the apps you're using. You can also try out a different launcher, download a few new games, or opt for a new music player. If you're not a big fan of the keyboard installed on your device, grab a new one like Swiftkey, Chrooma, or Minuum. These pay attention to your typing habits and make texting a breeze.
It's also important to remember you'll still need to sign into Facebook, WhatsApp, Netflix, and whatever other services you have.
Once all the apps are installed, you can start customizing the device to your liking. You can set new wallpapers and ringtones, as well as customize the home screen with app shortcuts and widgets. Don't forget to organize the quick toggles in the notification panel, adjust the screen brightness, and enable gestures as well as other useful features your device might offer.
Here are some of the best sources to find some of the best apps, games, and services for your new device:
- Best Android games
- Best new Android apps
- Best Android apps
- Some of the best video streaming services
Secure your device
Your phone contains a lot of sensitive information, especially if you use it for banking or shopping or pizza delivery. It's important to set up some solid security measures to protect your privacy and identity.
A PIN and a pattern lock are two security options available on the majority of Android phones. Many of them also come with a fingerprint scanner or even facial recognition features. Just remember no biometric method is as safe as a password.
You can also check if your device has Smart Lock capabilities. Smart Lock is a pretty cool feature that lets your phone bypass the lock screen in certain situations. For instance, you can set up your phone to remain unlocked if it's in the vicinity of a particular Bluetooth device, like your car stereo. It may also be able to sense whether it has been set down or passed to a new user since the last time it was unlocked.
Make sure everything is up to date!
There's a pretty big chance that your device might have a few updates waiting for you. Sometimes they will be minor fixes or speed improvements. Sometimes whole new versions of Android are waiting — especially if your new phone has been on the market for a little while. You can check for the latest software updates by going to Settings > About Phone > System Updates.
In addition to the operating system, you can also update the pre-installed apps by visiting the Play Store, selecting "My apps & games" from the menu, and tapping the "Update all" button on top, if available.
Set up mobile data tracking
If you don't have an unlimited plan, monitoring how much data you have used in a given billing cycle is a must. Going over the limit because of all those cat videos you're watching on YouTube can get expensive.
Setting up mobile data tracking is a breeze. Head into the settings of your device, tap on "Data usage", and then set the billing cycle and the amount of data your plan offers.
The next and final step is to enable a data warning and data limit. The former will notify you when you have used a predefined amount of data, while the latter will turn off cellular data once it reaches the limit you've set.
If you don't find the data tracking feature on your Android device, fear not my friend. There are plenty of dedicated apps available on the Play Store like My Data Manager, which you download via the button below.
Get to know your device
Take the time to investigate your phone's settings. Sift through the menus and submenus, and make mental notes about where various features reside. This can save a lot of time later on, and you might even discover some new things about your device.
The Ancient Greeks (and also the Oracle from the Matrix) had a saying: "Know thyself." You put a lot of personal information on your phone, and you will probably use it for so much of your interpersonal communications, so your phone is a little bit like an extension of yourself. Don't let it be a stranger!
Think of setting up a new phone like you would moving into a new place. Don't just leave those rooms empty. Move in your old familiar furniture and hang a few new pictures. Spruce the place up. Give it a thorough cleaning. After all, you're going to be living here for a while.
Setting up an Android device might seem overwhelming, but it can be nice to settle in and enjoy the process.
What's the first thing you do when you get a new phone? Let us know in the comments!
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