As somebody who checks telephones for a dwelling, my SIM card hardly ever stays in the identical system for greater than a month.
On common, I’ve switched to a brand new smartphone round 10 occasions previously 12 months, and on greater than 50 events within the final 5 years. That’s so much!
In 2025, switching from one Android telephone to a different is less complicated than ever earlier than. Merely join your two units (wirelessly or by way of USB-C) and virtually the whole lot will probably be dealt with for you. The one factor you really want to fret about is messaging apps resembling WhatsApp, which require a separate backup.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply your work is completed when you land on the house display. In some ways, it’s solely simply begun.
The method of fine-tuning and tweaking the whole lot to your liking is painstaking, however the excellent news is you’ll solely have to do that as soon as. It additionally avoids any annoying surprises additional down the road.
However be warned – these 11 steps take me round an hour in complete to finish. In case you’re following alongside, be sure to put aside loads of time.
They’re additionally particular to me, and I’ve solely outlined the strategies on a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy telephone. The method could fluctuate should you’re utilizing one other sort of Android telephone, and it is vitally completely different should you’re on an iPhone.
Nevertheless, whatever the handset you’re utilizing, it’s price reviewing these choices earlier than you agree into your telephone an excessive amount of.
Arrange WhatsApp and restore backup
Each time I swap telephones, WhatsApp is the app I’m most apprehensive about. It’s the one one I take advantage of that may’t be accessed on any system with a username/e-mail handle and password, because it should be registered to your fundamental telephone.
Shifting your SIM card over doesn’t change something; it should be performed manually. Primarily, you need to again up in your outdated telephone (often to Google Drive), log in in your new telephone (together with validation), then load the backup that’s simply been accomplished.
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In case you get any messages throughout this time, it’s dangerous information – they gained’t be transferred. However it’s the perfect you are able to do.
After that is full, I at all times really feel so much calmer.
Uninstall or disable undesirable apps
Bloatware is an issue that impacts all telephones lately, simply in various quantities. Even should you’re in a position to cease elective apps from being downloaded throughout setup, there’ll virtually actually be some pre-installed ones that you just don’t need to use.
In case you’re fortunate, you’ll have the ability to uninstall them within the typical method, identical to you’ll for any app from the Play Retailer.
However lots extra, together with first-party apps, should be disabled. That is what I do for the YouTube app, which is a typical supply of distraction for me.
On Google Pixel telephones, press and maintain the app you need to conceal, then faucet ‘App data’ after which ‘Disable’. On Samsung Galaxy units, it’s a step faster – simply press and maintain after which select ‘Disable’.
Ignore any warnings about it not functioning as supposed – that’s precisely what you need.
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Edit default apps
I’ve lately switched to the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, and it has some…fascinating options as to what the default apps ought to be.
Let’s simply say I’d a lot quite use Chrome as an alternative of Samsung Web and Google Pockets as an alternative of Samsung Pockets. Fortunately, it’s simple to vary these, and even the entire launcher if you wish to.
On each Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy telephones, head to Settings > Apps > Default apps. There are seven completely different choices to regulate, together with ‘Residence app’ if you need a distinct launcher.
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Flip off Google Uncover feed subsequent to house display
You’ve most likely used Google Uncover earlier than, even when the title means nothing to you.
It’s the scrollable checklist of articles you see by default each time you open Chrome in your telephone or the Google app. Or, maybe most annoyingly, each single time you swipe proper from the house display of your Android telephone.
The articles that seem listed below are extremely curated and based mostly in your shopping historical past or different exercise. These can typically be actually fascinating or informative (resembling one from Tech Advisor), however I don’t must have entry to the feed immediately from the house display.
Similar to opening a social media app, swiping to the Uncover feed turned one thing I did on impulse, with out actually pondering, resulting in hours of wasted time. I’d quite be extra intentional with the best way I take advantage of it, so it needed to be switched off.
On Google Pixel telephones, press and maintain any empty house on the house display and select ‘Residence settings’. From there, ensure that the ‘Swipe to entry Google app’ toggle is disabled.
On Samsung Galaxy telephones, press and maintain any empty house on the house display, then swipe proper. Flip off the toggle on the prime of the web page that’s labelled ‘Media web page’.
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Flip off vibrations
Some individuals love the life like haptic suggestions provided by the superior vibration motors on many telephones. I’m not considered one of them.
I wish to preserve my telephone on silent more often than not. On the events once I’m anticipating a name, the ringtone is completely fantastic. I actually don’t must ‘really feel’ each button press or faucet on the keyboard.
Fortunately, they’re simple sufficient to disable.
On Google Pixel telephones, head to Settings > Sound and vibration > Vibration and haptics and ensure the toggle labelled ‘Use vibration and haptics’ is turned off.
On Samsung Galaxy telephones, head to Settings > Sounds and vibration. First, open ‘Name vibration’ and slide ‘Name vibration depth’ right down to the bottom attainable. Then, do the identical in ‘Notification vibration’ for ‘Notification vibration depth’ and ‘System vibration’ for ‘System vibration depth’. Lastly, open ‘Vibration depth’, transfer all 4 sliders to the bottom attainable and disable ‘Vibration sound for incoming calls’
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Flip off system sounds
Similar to the vibrations, system sounds are completely pointless for me. I don’t want my telephone to make a noise once I lock it or plug the charger. And I believe everybody is aware of how annoying it’s when somebody’s telephone makes a noise each single time they faucet the keyboard.
Disabling these utterly is simple.
On Google Pixel telephones, head to Settings > Sound and vibration, then scroll to the underside of the web page. Disable the toggles labelled ‘Dial pad tones’, ‘Display locking sound’, ‘Charging sounds and vibration’ and ‘Faucet and click on sounds’.
On Samsung Galaxy telephones, head to Settings > Sounds and vibration > System sound. Slide ‘System sound quantity’ to the bottom attainable, then disable the toggles labelled ‘Contact interactions’, ‘Dialling keypad’, ‘Samsung Keyboard’, ‘Charging’ and ‘Display lock/unlock’.
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Set up and allow Gboard (if mandatory)
Google’s Gboard is the default keyboard on most Android telephones. I’ve examined loads of options over time, however it’s the one I preserve coming again to for its traditional design, ease of use and vary of customisation choices.
Nevertheless, on Samsung telephones, the Samsung Keyboard is enabled by default. It has some helpful options, together with integration with Galaxy AI writing instruments, however it feels cluttered to me.
To make use of Gboard as an alternative, head to the Play Retailer and obtain the app. As soon as put in, open it and observe the on-screen button to Settings. Allow the toggle subsequent to ‘Gboard’, then faucet ‘OK’ to verify. Lastly, faucet ‘Default keyboard’ on the prime of the display and choose the opposite possibility – for me, that’s ‘English (UK)’.
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Add face unlock or fingerprint (if not performed throughout setup)
Most telephones immediate you to enrol your fingerprint sensor or face in the course of the setup course of, however not at all times each. I discover alternating between the 2 to be most handy, with face unlock extra handy however fingerprint usually safer (although some Android telephones, together with current Pixels, have a safe 3D face unlock).
To arrange your fingerprint or face on a Pixel telephone, head to Settings > Safety & Privateness > System Unlock > and select ‘Fingerprint’ or ‘Face’. Whichever you select, you’ll be prompted to enter your lock display PIN first. Observe the on-screen directions to finish setup.
On a Samsung Galaxy telephone, head to Settings > Lock display and AOD > Display lock and biometrics, then enter your lock display PIN. To arrange face unlock, select ‘Face recognition’, then ‘Register face’. For a fingerprint, select ‘Fingerprints’ after which ‘Add fingerprint’.
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Register to all mandatory apps
That is the worst step of the lot, and it’s one I at all times dread. Whereas all of your apps have been transferred out of your outdated telephone, virtually none of them have saved you signed in. First-party Google ones are just about the one exception.
It might sound pointless to signal into each app as quickly as you’ve arrange a brand new telephone. However it’s the one approach to assure you keep away from being signed out when you really want to make use of an app now.
Working late and wish a fast taxi? Being logged out of Uber will sluggish you down so much. Approaching the ticket barrier, then realise you’re logged out of your tickets? Stress. Wish to shortly examine how a lot cash is in your checking account? A ten-minute opinions course of turns into a nightmare.
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Belief me, I’ve been there. The additional jiffy of problem whilst you’re sitting on the couch will undoubtedly repay when you could entry an app urgently. It’s simply not definitely worth the danger.
Customise the house display
For me, the lock display isn’t one thing I spend an excessive amount of time interested by. I hardly ever spend quite a lot of seconds it, so I’m usually completely happy to stay with many of the defaults.
However the house display? Now that’s a distinct story. I’ve to get the whole lot trying good, or I’ll find yourself pissed off each single time I open my telephone. Except you’re shifting between telephones of the identical model, your format won’t ever be saved.
On Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy telephones, long-press any empty house on the house display. From there, you’ll discover choices to vary the wallpaper, modify themes, add widgets and dive into extra in-depth settings. That’s earlier than you get to the intensive customisation choices provided by a brand new launcher, of which there are heaps on the Play Retailer.
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Nevertheless, my tastes are fairly primary. Only one fundamental house display, with a couple of widgets and my most-used apps, and I’m very completely happy.
Verify for software program updates
The software program that your telephone runs out of the field isn’t essentially the newest model. It’d’ve been packaged up weeks earlier than, otherwise you would possibly’ve had it sitting in your house for some time.
After I’ve spent almost an hour on the steps above, ready for a software program replace is the very last thing I need to be doing, however there’s nothing like the sensation of operating the very newest model. Assuming it’s not model new, this offers you the perfect likelihood of avoiding bugs and different vulnerabilities whereas having the ability to take pleasure in all the very newest options.
On Google Pixel telephones, head to Settings > System > Software program updates. On Samsung Galaxy telephones, head to Settings > Software program replace.
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Your telephone will most likely let you know if an replace is out there, because it usually checks mechanically within the background, however you may faucet ‘System replace’ (Google) or ‘Obtain and set up’ (Samsung) to do that manually.