Congratulation on your new Android phone purchase! The most widely used mobile operating system in the world is going to be yours to experience. Android boasts a stunning Material Design look, millions of amazing apps available for download, and almost limitless customization options.
But you might be a little confused about how to set it up properly if you're new to Android or haven't set up a new phone in a while. Together, let's go over the setup procedure and a few more suggestions you should keep in mind as you prepare your device.
Keep in mind that we have previously discussed the fundamentals and key starter advice for using Android. While those on general use will show you how to use your gadget to its full potential, this article will address the basic setup. As always, the way hardware manufacturers customise Android may cause these instructions to vary significantly depending on your device.
Performing the Initial Setup Step by Step
You just brought your Android phone home, so now you need to set it up. Here is what to do.
Insert the SIM card in Step 1 (and Battery)
Your gadget connects to your carrier's network via the SIM card. To find out where it goes in your specific device, seek for the Quick Setup manual and check the box for a tiny, thumbnail-sized card.
To unlock the SIM slot, you typically find either a cover that pops off with your nail or a pinhole that requires a small tool. If the battery is removable, some devices might have the SIM within the battery compartment. You only need to push the SIM card in until it is firmly in place (or, if your device has a tray, drop it in there) to complete the installation.
The SIM card may already be in your phone if you bought it from a carrier store. Normally, if you purchase your phone online or unlocked, such as if you utilise Project Fi, you will need to insert it yourself.
When you receive your phone, the battery should already be installed; however, if the battery is removable, this may not be the case. Remove the back cover, if necessary, and put the battery in.
Step 2: Switch on and connect
You are now prepared to power on your gadget and begin configuring it. To turn on your phone, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds. Usually, you may find this button on the top of your phone or on the right side of your device. There will most likely be enough charge in the battery for the initial setup. However, if you'd like, you can charge your device before or during the setup.
Your phone will show the Welcome screen and prompt you to select a language after a minute after powering on. Click Get Started or Continue after selecting that. Your phone can ask you if you want to access the internet using Wi-Fi just or the Mobile Network and Wi-Fi. Unless your data plan is extremely constrained, you should generally go with option 1.
The next step is to get your phone online by connecting it to a Wi-Fi network. When setting up, touch on the name of your home Wi-Fi network and type in the password, assuming you are at home. Your phone will certify that you are connected to the internet after a little delay.
Sign in to your Google Account in step three.
Connecting your Google account comes next once you're online. While it is possible to run Android without Google, doing so will prevent you from taking advantage of many fantastic features. You can effortlessly backup data from your phone, including contacts, images, and Wi-Fi passwords, using your Google account. Enter your login information or, if you'd prefer, follow the instructions to establish a new account.
Your phone will prompt you to enable some Google services, such as location services and automatic backups, once you have logged in. To make the most of your phone, we advise leaving these turned on, but you can easily change them later if necessary.
A prompt to add a payment method will then appear. When you make purchases from the Google Play Store, which is where Android users can download applications, games, music, and more, Google will utilise this information if you have linked your credit/debit card or PayPal account. To skip this step and add a payment method later, choose No, thanks. You may still download free content from the Play Store despite this.
You'll probably have the option to restore your applications and settings from the Android phone that the Google Account you signed into was used on. For the purposes of this guide, we're assuming that this is your first Android device and that you don't have a backup to restore. This can speed up the setup considerably.
Configure assistants in Step 4
You're almost finished with these setup menus! Depending on the maker of your phone, the next step may vary. You'll be asked if you wish to utilise Google Now on a Nexus or Pixel device. You must make this possible. A fantastic characteristic of Google Now is that it provides information before you ask for it.
It notifies you when an accident occurs during your daily commute, lets you know when recent Amazon orders will arrive, and finds interesting web content. You might instead see details about services particular to HTC or Samsung devices if you're using one of those devices.
Step 5: Security Lock Screen
The next crucial step is to secure your phone's lock screen. Do this now. You can use your phone without a lock, but there won't be anything to prevent nefarious people from accessing your information if you ever lose your phone.
Your device will guide you through the process of adding your fingerprints if it has a fingerprint scanner. Resting your finger on the scanner is significantly faster than typing a password, and fingerprint scanning provides a perfect combination of security and convenience. You'll need to add at least a few fingers, but we advise adding a few more (perhaps on both hands) to make entry easier.
You can pick between a pattern, PIN, and password in place of a fingerprint on smartphones lacking fingerprint scanners (and as a backup for phones that support fingerprints). Due to the limited amount of possible combinations, patterns aren't very safe, and entering a lengthy password each time you use your phone is cumbersome. We advise a PIN for the majority of folks. You must use at least four digits, but for further protection, think about using six or more. Avoid using apparent PINs like your birthday or numbers like 1234 or 1379.
The amount of notification information that appears on your lock screen is also up to you. You can preview fresh texts, emails, and other notifications by selecting Show all notification content, but anyone with access to your phone can also see these. You may choose If you want the most privacy possible, hide important notification content or don't display any alerts at all. While weather notifications are not considered "sensitive content" by Android, SMS messages are.
What Android Can't Do for You
You have completed the initial setup after completing these steps. You might see a quick instruction on how to use widgets, change your background, and perform other fundamental tasks. However, following this, it's up to you to figure out what to do next using your own ways, which is where we come in.
You should make the following adjustments to your phone during setup.
Eliminate bloatware
You can have zero to hundreds of pre-installed apps that you don't want, depending on your phone and provider. On smartphones like HTC or Samsung models, which don't run stock Android, this is more of an issue. Additionally, carriers enjoy adding unnecessary pre-installed crap on their devices.
Since some of these apps are installed on your phone's system partition, you are unable to delete them. The best you can do is turn them off so they don't show up in your list of installed programmes. To do this, go to Settings > Apps and browse the selection. If you see one that is useless, press it and select Uninstall from the details screen that appears. You cannot uninstall apps that lack an Uninstall button, but you can disable them by selecting Disable in order to stop them from operating.
Check out how to remove bloatware without rooting for a more sophisticated technique.
App updates
After removing the useless programmes, you should check for updates on the already-installed applications that are genuinely helpful (like Chrome). Slide out the left menu from the Play Store application, then select My apps & games. You'll find them at the top of the Installed list if there are updates available. To obtain the most recent versions, tap Update All.
Make sure your apps are configured to update automatically after that so you won't have to do it all the time. Select Settings from the left menu. Make sure that Auto-update apps is selected and that only Wi-Fi updates are permitted. A limited data plan will cost you money if you select Auto-update apps at any time because it updates apps over mobile data. We advise staying away from this choice because app updates aren't really urgent.
When you do this, you may also look for system updates. When an update is due, your phone will alert you, but you can also check manually. To find new updates, go to Settings > About Phone > System Updates.
Make a Few Settings Mods
Android has several settings, and it is outside the purview of this guide to list them all. There are a few settings you should change on a new phone, even if many are based on personal preference:
You may set Android to alert you when you're approaching your data limit if you have a limited data plan. To establish a threshold, go to Settings > Data Usage and select Data warning. Be cautious when using this measurement because your carrier can do it differently than your phone. To stop some apps from consuming data in the background, you may also enable Data Saver in this location.
You can disable Adaptive brightness in Settings > Display if you find the adaptive brightness bothersome. Above this choice, or at any point, you can slide down from the top of the screen, you can manually adjust the brightness.
Under Settings > Sound > Do not disturb, you can schedule times when you don't want to get any notifications from your phone.
- By going to Settings > Users > Emergency information, you can add vital info about yourself as well as emergency contacts. If you add this, anyone can access it by pressing the Emergency button on your lock screen. This could help someone return your phone if you lose it, or provide important medical info in case of an emergency.
- Sick of typing your PIN or scanning your fingerprint when you're at home? You can disable your phone's lock in trusted places by going to Settings > Security > Smart Lock. Android offers five options, including keeping your device unlocked when it's at a certain location, on your person, connected to a certain Bluetooth device, or when it detects your face or voice.
Check out the top features in Google Photos that you might have missed to explore it more.
Install a Few Fantastic Apps
You've completed the setup and taken care of some minor inconveniences. It's time to start improving your device by installing the greatest apps on it.
We keep a list of the top Android applications as well as a few that everyone ought to download right away. You are welcome to look through those lists whenever you like, however we would like to suggest a few starter apps for new users:
To complement Android's built-in backup choices, G Cloud Backup is a reliable free option.
You can take quick surveys through Google Opinion Rewards to earn Play Store credits, which you can use to get paid apps for nothing.
One of the finest other launchers is Nova Launcher, which offers a lot more customization options than the built-in launcher.
Our preferred alternative to the default Messages app is Pulse SMS. It's free, has no advertisements, and if you pay a modest charge, you can even text from your PC.
- Pushbullet lets you instantly move files and content between your Android and PC.
- Swipe is the best way to use Facebook on Android, because the official Facebook app sucks.
- Zedge lets you download thousands of ringtones, wallpapers, and notification sounds for free
Even while some apps are fantastic, there are some well-known Android apps that you shouldn't download.
Android Is Prepared for Use
You basically only need that to set up your Android phone completely. Some of the other subjects, such as adding home screen widgets, choosing your default apps, and making your ringtone fantastic with video game sounds, weren't covered in this article. As they are not necessary to putting your phone in an useable state, those are subjects for another time. The beauty of the Android operating system is that you can keep modifying your phone and finding new ways to personalise it.
Check out some advanced Android tips and techniques once you've mastered the fundamentals to get more use out of your device. Additionally, we'd advise you to stay away from the largest Android novice blunders.
Which model did you purchase if you recently bought an Android phone? Please leave your advice in the comments for other novices!
