How to set up your new Android phone

The excitement of getting a shiny new smartphone and seeing the welcome screen for the first time never seems to get old for many of us. Still, the dreaded restoration process that follows manages to take away some of this magic. Google has simplified this process with options such as the built-in data transfer tool and Google One cloud-based backups.

Before you begin to set up your new phone

We have a comprehensive tutorial on ways to back up your old phone and restore the data on the new one. But here, we touch on a few examples to ensure nothing important is left behind.

Android’s built-in backup tool covers the basics, such as contacts, call history, SMS, apps, and device settings. You might also consider the SMS Backup & Restore app to keep your call details and text messages safe and sound. Regarding photos and videos, Google Photos is an excellent cloud-based option that we highly recommend for ease of use.

If you use WhatsApp, you can manually back up your chats or save them online using Google Drive. You might have apps that require an offline backup for security reasons, including some two-factor authentication (2FA) apps. As for music, many of us subscribe to online streaming platforms such as Spotify and YouTube Music. You don’t need to worry about anything here. And before moving to a new phone, keep offline backup files in a safe location that only you can access.

How to set up your new Google Pixel smartphone

The steps outlined in this guide to set up an Android phone are for a Google Pixel 7 smartphone running Android 13. The screens may have slight variations on other devices and older Android versions. However, the setup options should be similar, if not identical.

You can go through the third-party Android smartphone manufacturers section at the bottom for additional details on non-Google devices. With that out of the way, we can now look at the initial setup process for your new Google Pixel device.

Get started by running through the wireless setup options

1. From the Welcome to your Pixel screen, tap the Get started button to begin the initial setup process.
2. Change your preferred device language or select Accessibility > Vision settings for more options. For example, you may need to adjust your display settings if the on-screen text is too small. Alternatively, enabling Select to Speak or TalkBack can benefit those with a vision impairment.

3. Connect your device to a mobile network via your wireless carrier if needed. Otherwise, tap Skip to continue.
4. Insert your physical SIM card or use an eSIM by tapping the Download a SIM instead option. With the eSIM feature becoming widely adopted by wireless carriers, now might be a good time to give it a shot if your device supports it.

5. Connect your device to your home Wi-Fi network to help with the restore and update process.
6. Choose the Set up offline option in the lower-left corner of the screen if you don’t want to use a Wi-Fi connection.
7. Wait at the Getting your phone ready screen while it prepares your device for the next steps.

Transfer your data from a previous device or cloud backup as needed

1. If you have an old device and want to transfer the data from it to your new one, tap the Next button to continue. To start fresh without moving anything from a previous device, tap the Don’t copy option to skip this part.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your old device and transfer the data and Google account to your new one.

3. To use a cloud-based Google One backup, tap the Can’t use old device option. Before continuing, sign in with your Google account and have a backup saved from your previous device. Go to Settings > System > Backup on the old device to find more details about this feature.

Disable unnecessary features and accept the legal terms for your Google account

1. Sign in to your primary Google account when the screen pops up. Tap the Skip option to use the device without a Google account. You won’t have access to the Google Play Store or other Google apps and services until you sign in.

2. Accept the initial terms of service for your Google account by tapping the I agree button.
3. On the Google services page, scroll down and disable any features you don’t want to use by flipping the switch to the off position. We recommend disabling Use location, Allow scanning, and Send usage and diagnostic data. Turning these features off during the setup can reduce the amount of data you share with Google, which is helpful for privacy-focused users.

4. Tap the Accept button to save your changes.
5. Confirm the additional legal terms for your Google account by tapping the I accept button.

Set up your PIN and fingerprint security settings

1. Set a PIN to secure your device, tap the Next button, then tap Confirm to continue. You can also tap Screen lock options for other security choices, including a pattern or password.
2. If you don’t want to use any additional security options, tap Skip to move on.
3. From the Set up Pixel Imprint screen, scroll down or tap the More button to reach the bottom of the page.

4. Tap the I agree button, then follow the on-screen instructions to add your fingerprint for increased device security. If you don’t want to use or add a fingerprint, tap the No thanks button to skip this part. When you unlock your device later, you’ll enter the PIN, pattern, or password you set up earlier instead of a fingerprint.

Finish the final part of the initial setup process to reach your homescreen

1. On the Continue setup screen, tap the Continue button to finish the last few steps of the initial setup. If you tap the Leave & get reminder button, it asks you to do this part later but gets you to the homescreen faster.
2. Set up Google Assistant, Google Pay, and additional device settings.

3. If you’re new to Pixel, opt into the tips and tricks info for your device by tapping the Yes, I’m in button.
4. Select the dark or light theme option, then tap the Next button.

5. Learn about gesture navigation by tapping the Try it button or tap Skip to move on.
6. From the All set screen, swipe up from the bottom to go to your homescreen.

7. You’ve completed the initial setup process for your Google Pixel device.

If you restored your device using a Google One backup, those saved apps should be in the process of installing from the Google Play Store.

Check the ‘Finish Pixel setup’ notification if needed

After getting to your homescreen, the handful of essential apps from the setup should have started installing. From here, Google may want you to check out some of its additional Pixel features or to finish up anything left from the initial setup.

You’ll get a notification to get these last few things sorted, so you can start using your new phone. Some extra options might include the Now Playing feature for identifying nearby songs offline, the always-on display, or adding another email account to your device.

Update your apps on the Google Play Store

After wrapping up the initial setup process, you might have dozens of app updates waiting to be installed from the Google Play Store. They’ll likely update automatically. However, updating them immediately instead of waiting is recommended.

Since many preinstalled apps are often outdated on a new device, keeping them up-to-date ensures they run at optimal performance with minimal issues. To see if you have any available app updates for your device, do the following:

1. Open the Google Play Store and sign in to your Google account.
2. Tap your profile icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
3. Tap Manage apps & device.
4. Under the Updates available section, tap the Update all option.

5. Your apps begin updating automatically.

Install the latest system update

Google Pixel smartphones get monthly updates that enhance security and often include fixes for specific issues. This helps maintain overall device stability. You should automatically receive the newest system update but manually checking is always an option to be sure.

To see if you have a new update waiting to be installed, go to Settings > System > System update. If one is available, it starts the download and lets you know when it has finished the installation. You can also continue to use your phone like normal during the update.

How to set up your new phone on Samsung, OnePlus, and other smartphone brands

There’s a chance Google didn’t make your new Android phone. For a Samsung, OnePlus, or Xiaomi phone, you may see additional screens and options during the setup process than what you get on a Pixel. They could range from a user account for automatically signing you into the first-party apps to slyly getting you to agree to show ads on the device.

As a general rule of thumb, you can skip anything optional without worrying about it breaking something on your phone. And be wary of the pre-checked (often promotional) options that brands like Samsung and Xiaomi may slip in (as highlighted in the included screenshots).

Samsung device setup with One UI

OnePlus device setup with OxygenOS

Xiaomi device setup with MIUI

Setting up a new Android smartphone has become easier over the years

With Google’s robust backup mechanism, moving to a new Android smartphone has become more user-friendly. For example, rebranding and pushing the cloud-based Google One backup feature was a step toward simplifying the user experience. At the same time, you can continue your usual tasks without interruption while your data is restored in the background. As Android continues evolving, we can expect the setup and restore process to become more streamlined than it is.

Now that your new Google Pixel smartphone is ready, you might be interested in learning about the often-overlooked system settings shortcut widget. We have a guide that goes over the five essential shortcuts for your Google Pixel’s homescreen to enhance your overall experience.