As somebody who assessments telephones for a residing, my SIM card not often stays in the identical system for greater than a month.
On common, I’ve switched to a brand new smartphone round 10 occasions prior to now yr, and on greater than 50 events within the final 5 years. That’s rather a lot!
In 2025, switching from one Android cellphone to a different is less complicated than ever earlier than. Merely join your two units (wirelessly or by way of USB-C) and nearly every little thing shall be dealt with for you. The one factor you actually need to fret about is messaging apps corresponding to WhatsApp, which require a separate backup.
Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply your work is completed when you land on the house display screen. In some ways, it’s solely simply begun.
The method of fine-tuning and tweaking every little thing 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 whole to finish. If you happen to’re following alongside, be sure you 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 cellphone. The method might range in case you’re utilizing one other sort of Android cellphone, and it is vitally totally different in case you’re on an iPhone.
Nonetheless, whatever the handset you’re utilizing, it’s value reviewing these choices earlier than you agree into your cellphone an excessive amount of.
Arrange WhatsApp and restore backup
Each time I change telephones, WhatsApp is the app I’m most anxious about. It’s the one one I exploit that may’t be accessed on any system with a username/e mail deal with and password, because it have to be registered to your important cellphone.
Shifting your SIM card over doesn’t change something; it have to be finished manually. Basically, you must again up in your previous cellphone (often to Google Drive), log in in your new cellphone (together with validation), then load the backup that’s simply been accomplished.
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If you happen to get any messages throughout this time, it’s unhealthy information – they gained’t be transferred. Nevertheless it’s the perfect you are able to do.
After that is full, I all the time really feel rather a lot calmer.
Uninstall or disable undesirable apps
Bloatware is an issue that impacts all telephones lately, simply in various quantities. Even in case you’re capable of cease non-compulsory apps from being downloaded throughout setup, there’ll nearly definitely be some pre-installed ones that you just don’t need to use.
If you happen to’re fortunate, you’ll have the ability to uninstall them within the normal approach, similar to you’ll for any app from the Play Retailer.
However lots extra, together with first-party apps, have to be disabled. That is what I do for the YouTube app, which is a standard supply of distraction for me.
On Google Pixel telephones, press and maintain the app you need to disguise, then faucet ‘App information’ 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…attention-grabbing options as to what the default apps needs to be.
Let’s simply say I’d a lot moderately use Chrome as a substitute of Samsung Web and Google Pockets as a substitute of Samsung Pockets. Fortunately, it’s simple to alter 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 totally different choices to regulate, together with ‘Residence app’ if you need a unique launcher.
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Flip off Google Uncover feed subsequent to house display screen
You’ve in all probability used Google Uncover earlier than, even when the identify means nothing to you.
It’s the scrollable record of articles you see by default each time you open Chrome in your cellphone or the Google app. Or, maybe most annoyingly, each single time you swipe proper from the house display screen of your Android cellphone.
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 attention-grabbing or informative (corresponding to one from Tech Advisor), however I don’t have to have entry to the feed instantly from the house display screen.
Identical to opening a social media app, swiping to the Uncover feed grew to become one thing I did on impulse, with out actually pondering, resulting in hours of wasted time. I’d moderately be extra intentional with the way in which I exploit it, so it needed to be switched off.
On Google Pixel telephones, press and maintain any empty house on the house display screen and select ‘Residence settings’. From there, make sure that the ‘Swipe to entry Google app’ toggle is disabled.
On Samsung Galaxy telephones, press and maintain any empty house on the house display screen, 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 supplied by the superior vibration motors on many telephones. I’m not one in every of them.
I wish to preserve my cellphone on silent more often than not. On the events after I’m anticipating a name, the ringtone is completely fantastic. I actually don’t have to ‘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 doable. 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 doable and disable ‘Vibration sound for incoming calls’
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Flip off system sounds
Identical to the vibrations, system sounds are completely pointless for me. I don’t want my cellphone to make a noise after I lock it or plug the charger. And I believe everybody is aware of how annoying it’s when somebody’s cellphone 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 doable, 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 through the years, however it’s the one I preserve coming again to for its traditional design, ease of use and vary of customisation choices.
Nonetheless, 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 a substitute, head to the Play Retailer and obtain the app. As soon as put in, open it and comply with the on-screen button to Settings. Allow the toggle subsequent to ‘Gboard’, then faucet ‘OK’ to substantiate. Lastly, faucet ‘Default keyboard’ on the prime of the display screen and choose the opposite choice – for me, that’s ‘English (UK)’.
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Add face unlock or fingerprint (if not finished throughout setup)
Most telephones immediate you to enrol your fingerprint sensor or face through the setup course of, however not all the time each. I discover alternating between the 2 to be most handy, with face unlock extra handy however fingerprint typically safer (although some Android telephones, together with latest Pixels, have a safe 3D face unlock).
To arrange your fingerprint or face on a Pixel cellphone, head to Settings > Safety & Privateness > Machine Unlock > and select ‘Fingerprint’ or ‘Face’. Whichever you select, you’ll be prompted to enter your lock display screen PIN first. Observe the on-screen directions to finish setup.
On a Samsung Galaxy cellphone, head to Settings > Lock display screen and AOD > Display lock and biometrics, then enter your lock display screen PIN. To arrange face unlock, select ‘Face recognition’, then ‘Register face’. For a fingerprint, select ‘Fingerprints’ after which ‘Add fingerprint’.
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Sign up to all mandatory apps
That is the worst step of the lot, and it’s one I all the time dread. Whereas all of your apps have been transferred out of your previous cellphone, nearly none of them have stored you signed in. First-party Google ones are just about the one exception.
It may appear pointless to signal into each app as quickly as you’ve arrange a brand new cellphone. Nevertheless it’s the one strategy to assure you keep away from being signed out when you actually need to make use of an app now.
Working late and wish a fast taxi? Being logged out of Uber will gradual you down rather a lot. Approaching the ticket barrier, then realise you’re logged out of your tickets? Stress. Need to rapidly examine how a lot cash is in your checking account? A ten-minute evaluations course of turns into a nightmare.
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Belief me, I’ve been there. The additional couple of minutes of trouble whilst you’re sitting on the couch will undoubtedly repay when you might want to entry an app urgently. It’s simply not well worth the danger.
Customise the house display screen
For me, the lock display screen isn’t one thing I spend an excessive amount of time fascinated by. I not often spend quite a lot of seconds it, so I’m typically glad to stay with a lot of the defaults.
However the house display screen? Now that’s a unique story. I’ve to get every little thing wanting good, or I’ll find yourself annoyed each single time I open my cellphone. Until you’re transferring between telephones of the identical model, your structure won’t ever be saved.
On Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy telephones, long-press any empty house on the house display screen. From there, you’ll discover choices to alter the wallpaper, regulate themes, add widgets and dive into extra in-depth settings. That’s earlier than you get to the in depth customisation choices supplied by a brand new launcher, of which there are heaps on the Play Retailer.
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Nonetheless, my tastes are fairly primary. Only one important house display screen, with a couple of widgets and my most-used apps, and I’m very glad.
Verify for software program updates
The software program that your cellphone runs out of the field isn’t essentially the newest model. It would’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 practically 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 working the very newest model. Assuming it’s not model new, this provides you the perfect likelihood of avoiding bugs and different vulnerabilities whereas with the ability to get pleasure from the entire 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 cellphone will in all probability inform you if an replace is accessible, because it often checks routinely within the background, however you may faucet ‘System replace’ (Google) or ‘Obtain and set up’ (Samsung) to do that manually.
