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How to set up a new Android phone

Get your new Android device dialled in with our step-by-step guide.

Congrats on your new Android phone! We bet you've just unboxed it and can't wait to start calling, messaging, gaming, and snapping some Instagram-worthy photos with it.

But before you start playing on your fancy Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, or whatever Android phone you've just got — you'll want to make sure you've set it up properly. Otherwise, you might not get to enjoy all its great features to the fullest. And you'll definitely want to transfer important data from your old phone over to your new one to save yourself lots of time and stress too.

Fortunately, we've got all the advice you need for a smooth transition to your new Android mobile.

Pre-setup checklist:

It'd be a really good idea to have the following stuff to hand before you start setting up your new device:

Your old phone: This is so that you can transfer your existing data to your new handset.
Your SIM card: Want to keep the same phone number? Then make sure you've got this (but don't worry if you're using an eSIM).
Wi-Fi network and password details: Have these ready when your new phone prompts you to connect it to Wi-Fi.
Google account info: To get the most out of your new Android phone and Google services, you'll want to make sure you're logged into your Google account from the get-go.
Chargers for your old and new phones: We strongly recommend fully charging both your old mobile and brand new Android smartphone before beginning the setup process.

Back up your old phone's data

Don't banish your old phone to the draw where all your other old gadgets gather dust just yet. You'll need to back up your previous phone's data before firing up your new handset to make the switch as seamless as possible.

This will ensure that all your contacts, apps, photos, messages, and more of your important data loads up on your new device without a hitch.

Android users

If your old phone runs on Android, then the best way of backing up its data is by using Google Drive. This cloud storage service is built into all Android devices by default. And while some brands have their own backup and restore apps to help you transfer data between old and new devices — Google Drive is the most universal method.

As you'll find out, this will make it much easier to get your new Android phone up and running. So, here's how to back up most Android phones by using Google Drive:

Open your settings, navigate to 'Google', and select 'Backup'. If your old phone's a Samsung, go to 'Accounts and backup' instead.
You'll see a 'Backup to Google Drive' option with a toggle. If you have a Google One* expanded storage plan, it might say 'Backup by Google One' instead.
Make sure the toggle next to it is on, then tap the 'Back up now' button below.
If you never backed up your old phone before, this could take quite a while (make sure it's plugged into your charger so it doesn't run out of juice before the backup has finished).
Once your backup has completed, it will be saved and findable in Google Drive.

*Google One is a subscription service that gives you more cloud storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. As you only get 15GB of free storage with Google Drive, this is a good shout if you're planning on backing up your new Android phone on the reg.

iPhone users

If you're changing it up big time and moving from an iPhone to an Android handset, just follow these steps instead:

If you haven't got the Google Drive app, download it, open it, and log into your Google account (create a Google account if you don't have one already).
Tap on the menu icon in the top-left of your screen and select 'Settings'.
Choose 'Backup' and then select all the data you want to save and move across to your new Android phone.

It's also a good idea to head to Messages and FaceTime in your iPhone's settings app. This is so you can toggle off both iMessage and FaceTime to ensure that you don't miss messages and calls on your new Android phone (as iMessage and FaceTime are iPhone-exclusive features).

Tech tip: Do you use any two-factor authentication apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator? If you plan on wiping your old phone after setting up your new one, whether that's because you're selling it or passing it onto a family member, you'll first need to transfer your Authenticator account(s) manually (Google Drive can't do this for you).

And if you've got WhatsApp, then it'd be a very good idea to back up all your chats on your old device too. You can do this in your phone's settings.

Transfer data to your new Android phone

Time for the big moment. It's understandable if you're feeling a bit daunted about moving your precious data across to your new Android phone, but remember — it's all backed up in Google Drive. All you're doing is copying the data from your old phone onto your new device so that they're essentially like for like.

Before you start, make sure you've fully charged your new Android phone, inserted your SIM card (eSIM users can skip this step), and turned it on.

From Android to Android

Here's how to transfer data from Android to Android by restoring from a Google Drive backup:

After turning on your new phone, follow the on-screen instructions to choose your language, connect to your Wi-Fi network, and download your eSIM from your carrier (if you don't have a SIM card).
You'll then be asked to 'Copy apps & data'. Select 'Next'.
Tap on 'Can't use old device?' and log into your Google Account.
On the 'Restore data from an old device' screen, choose the backup you recently created on your old phone.
You might be asked to type in your old phone's passcode on your new phone to proceed.
Choose which data from your backup that you want to restore on your new device, then select 'Restore'.

And that's it! All the data you chose to back up on your old phone will now be transferred over to your new Android.

Tech tip: It's also worth saying that there is a way to transfer data from your old phone to your new one directly via Wi-Fi if they’re compatible — without having to use Google or restoring from a backup. You can do this by placing both your phones next to each other and tapping 'Next' when asked to copy apps and data to your new phone.

Backing up your data to Google is a good habit to get into though, which is why we prefer the Google Drive backup and restore method.

From iOS to Android

Moving from an iPhone to Android can be slightly more complicated than going from Android to Android. But don't fret, there are a few clever ways you can do it:

Restore from a Google Drive backup: Yep, you can use this process we love to get loads of your iPhone's data onto your new Android. Just restore from that backup when prompted during the initial setup.
Connect your phones together with a cable: Use your old iPhone's cable to link up your two devices (you might need an adapter). When asked to copy apps and data, tap on 'Next' and follow the on-screen instructions. Then select the data you want to transfer to your new Android phone.
Wirelessly transfer data using Wi-Fi: You can also transfer contacts, photos, videos, and calendar events data from your iPhone to your new Android wirelessly via Google’s official Switch to Android app. However, we'd recommend the cable method above as it'll let you transfer more data, including your messages, apps, and music. Plus, it’ll be faster!

Is your new Android phone a Samsung Galaxy, by any chance? We've got loads of advanced tips on how to transfer data from iPhone to Samsung Galaxy.

Configuring your new Android phone

Before you transferred your data from your old phone to the new one, you would have been asked to complete a few initial setup chores like:

Selecting your language and location.
Agreeing to terms and conditions.
Connecting to your Wi-Fi network.
Signing into your Google account.

After finishing those and transferring your data, you'll have a few more steps to complete before you can start playing around on your new Android phone. This includes:

Choosing which Google services you want to use: Select whether you want to safely back up your data to Google Drive, allow apps to use your device's location for accurate weather and traffic reports, and much more.
Setting up security features: To stop others from using your phone without your permission, you can activate security features like face recognition, fingerprints, patterns, or just a regular password.
Switching on Google Assistant: Modern Android phones now have Google Assistant voice recognition built in. This lets you ask questions, get directions, and set things like alarms all by using your voice. Smart stuff!
Reviewing additional apps: Depending on the brand of your Android phone, it might give you a list of free apps it'll download automatically when Wi-Fi is available. You can untick apps you don't want installed if you prefer.

After you've completed all those steps, it can take a few minutes to finish setting up your phone so it's ready to use. You might also be asked to log into the account of your phone's maker, where it'll display some additional features unique to their devices.

Tap 'Finish' once you're happy, and then your home screen will appear. Now it's time to explore your new Android smartphone and have some fun!

Tech tip: Head to your settings and check for any system updates too. While likely installed during the setup process, it's still best to check that your new phone is running on the most recent version of Android. This is so you can enjoy all the latest features and keep your device super secure. Open the Google Play Store app and check for app updates there as well.

Adding accounts and customising preferences

To personalise your device even further and get the most from your new Android smartphone, you can add some additional accounts. While you've likely synced all your Google account data by this stage, you can also link to your Facebook, Dropbox, Skype, and a few other accounts you use for even more seamless integration on your new handset.

To add more accounts, just follow these steps:

Open up your new Android phone's settings.
Tap on 'Accounts' (this might be 'Passwords & accounts' depending on your device).
Choose the 'Add account' option.
Type in your login details for the account you're trying to add.

Alternatively, you could just open each of these apps individually and sign into them that way. Even though you've transferred data between your old and new phones, you'll still be required to log into most of your accounts on your new mobile.

Once you've sorted out your accounts, you can customise your brand-spanking-new Android as much as you like! Change the wallpaper to a beautiful sunset, add useful widgets to your home screen like the weather app and your music player, and enable gestures to navigate your phone more efficiently. There's loads of cool stuff you can tweak for a really personalised experience.