7 Steps to Take Immediately When You Buy a New Android Phone

21st November 2024

2 minutes read

7 Steps to Take Immediately When You Buy a New Android Phone

If you own an Android phone or have just purchased one, these 7 steps will help you make your phone as useful, smart, and personalized as possible.

While the exact steps may vary depending on the phone model, the following guide provides a general idea of what to look for.

Update Your Android Version

Update your phone’s software to ensure you’re using the latest version, with bug fixes and potentially new features.

To do this, open Settings, scroll down, and select About Phone. Tap on Version at the top to check for updates. If a newer version is available, download and install it, then restart your phone.

Update Installed Apps

Updating your apps ensures a bug-free experience and access to the latest features.
Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile picture, and choose Manage apps and device. Under the Updates available section, click on Update all to refresh all your apps. For individual updates, go to Manage, select the desired app, and tap the update icon.

Remove Unwanted Apps

Many Android phones come with pre-installed apps. If you don’t plan to use them, it’s best to disable or delete them to save space and resources.

Go to Settings > Apps > Manage apps, find the unwanted app, then tap Disable or Uninstall.

Add Emergency Information

Android allows you to add emergency details so that people can contact your loved ones if needed. You can also display a custom message on your lock screen to make it easier to return your phone if it’s lost or stolen.

To add emergency contacts, navigate to Settings > Safety & emergency, tap Emergency contacts, and add the desired individuals. For a custom lock screen message, go to Settings > Lock screen > Edit Lock Screen, enter your message, and save it.

Enable Developer Options

Developer Options is a hidden menu in Android that allows advanced configurations like enabling USB debugging or adjusting animations.

To activate it, go to Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number seven times. You’ll then see Developer Options in the Settings menu.

Set Up Backups

Backups are crucial as they allow you to restore data in case of loss or errors. For example, you can back up photos and videos to Google Photos.

To enable backups, go to Settings > System > Backup & Reset, then turn on Back up my data. For Google Photos, open the app, tap your profile picture, and enable backups.

Customize the Home Screen

Make your phone more user-friendly by personalizing the home screen and quick settings area.
Long press on the home screen to access customization options. You can change the layout, add widgets, update wallpapers, and tweak other settings to suit your preferences.