Tips for setting up and navigating a new smartphone

The feeling of unboxing and setting up your brand-new smartphone is coveted. However, it can get overwhelming for those who aren’t very tech-savvy or those who haven’t upgraded to a new phone in years. The process of setting up a new phone, while relatively simple, has transformed and evolved over the years, like all things tech. Additionally, things can be slightly more confusing for those who are switching operating systems. Those who have been long-term Android users may find it difficult to quickly grasp the set-up process on iOS and vice versa. We’re here to simplify the process for you. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to set up and navigate your brand-new smartphone. We will be covering both Android and iOS set-up processes.

How to set up my new Android phone?

The process of setting up an Android phone is relatively easy, but there are a few things you must keep in mind before getting started. The first step is to have a backup of the data on your old phone, so you don’t lose any of your important data. 

How to back up your old Android phone’s data?

The simplest way is to back up your data on your old phone is by using Android’s built-in backup tool. This will ensure all of your most important data such as contacts, call history, apps, SMS, and device settings will get ported over successfully. To do this, simply open your device’s Settings app. Select Google > Backup. Then, click on Back up now. Now, when you add your Google account to your new phone, everything that has been backed up will get transferred onto your new device. There’s also app-specific backup you can do, such as backing up your WhatsApp chats.

Tip: Remember to use Google Drive’s free 15 GB of storage to backup your photos and videos. You can buy additional storage if required. 

Get started with setting up a new Android phone

Note: We are setting up a phone running Android 14. The steps outlined below may differ slightly depending on your device or Android version.

Here are the steps to set up your new Android phone:

• Upon booting up the phone, you will be prompted to pick your preferred language. Pick English (India) or English (US/UK) as per your preference. Next, select your country or region. You can pick India here. 

• Now, insert your physical SIM card. If you have an eSIM, click on Download a SIM. 
• Next, connect to your Wi-Fi network. You can choose to Skip this step and set up your phone offline instead, but having an active internet connection will make things easier.

• Accept the Terms and Conditions and wait for your device to start up. If your phone asks you for permission to show ads or collect usage information, you can choose to deny that.
• If you want to transfer data from an old phone, click on Next on the Copy Apps & Data screen. You can also choose to skip this step.

• Now, connect your old Android device to your new Android device using a data transfer cable (most likely a Type-C to Type-C cable). You can also choose to transfer the data wirelessly as long as you are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Follow the on-screen instructions to transfer your data from your old phone.
• If you are migrating from an iPhone to Android, click on the “Switching from iPhone or iPad?” prompt. Then using the Data Restore Tool by Google, the phone will search and connect to your iPhone in the vicinity and copy your data.

• Next, log in to your Google account to sync your data and restore your Google backup. 

• You can proceed by setting up Google Assistant, adding another email account, setting up your fingerprint or face lock, choosing system navigation (buttons or gestures), and more. 
• And there you have it! You have completed the initial setup wizard and you can simply start using your phone at this point.

After the initial setup process, there are will multiple apps waiting to be updated from the Play Store. If these don’t begin auto-updating, you can click open Play Store and tap the profile icon on the top right side of the screen. Then click on Manage apps & device > Updates available > Update all. 

You must also check if there’s a new system update available. Go to Settings > System Update. The location of this will vary depending on your phone’s UI or skin, but you can simply search System Update in the search bar on the top. If there’s an update available, update it as soon as possible to enjoy the latest features. 

Another important step is to ensure your Google Play system build is up to date. To update Google Play services, open Settings > Security and privacy > Google Play system update. Your phone will check for a new Play system build and will show the ‘Download and Install’ button if there’s an update waiting for you. Once downloaded and installed, your phone will need to be restarted to implement the changes.

All the critical steps are now complete, you can begin playing around with your new phone’s settings, wallpapers, features, and more to customise it as per your preference now.

How to set up my new iPhone?

If you’ve just upgraded to a new iPhone or have ported over from an Android to an iPhone, this setup guide will take you through the process of setting up your spanking new device. Before you start, ensure you have your Apple ID and password because, unlike Android, you cannot complete a basic set-up of your phone without your Apple ID. 

How to back up your old iPhone’s data?

If you are trading up from your old iPhone, make sure you have backed up your data. To do this, ensure your old phone is running the latest software version. Just head to Settings > Software Update > Update Now. Next, you can back up your old iPhone in a few simple steps. Firstly, head over the Settings once again and choose your Apple ID profile. Now, navigate to iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back up now. Ensure to do this just before transferring to your new phone so that the backup is as fresh as possible. 

Getting started with setting up your new iPhone

To set up your new iPhone, follow these steps to ensure a seamless transition. We are using an iPhone 14 Pro Max for the purpose of this guide. Let’s get started:

• Simply press and hold the power button on the side to boot up your new iPhone. You will be greeted with the Hello screen here. Swipe up from this screen.

• Follow the on-screen instructions and pick a language and Country/Region. We have picked English and India respectively.
• On the next screen, you can choose the appearance of the text and icons on your new iPhone. Pick between Default, Medium or Large. You can also use the Accessibility Options here to guide you if you have a disability. 

• On the Quick Start page, you will be guided on how to transfer data from your old device. Simply bring your old iPhone next to the new one to complete the setup process. 
• If you don’t have an old iPhone, click on Set Up Without Another Device.

• Connect to the Wi-Fi on the next page and the phone will begin activating your new iPhone. This process could take a few minutes. 
• Next, the phone will ask you if you are setting up for yourself or for a child. For the purposes of this guide, we are opting for setting up for yourself.

• Now, you can proceed with setting up your Face ID and passcode. 
• If you haven’t used an old iPhone to import your data, you can choose to do it at this point. On the Transfer Apps & Data page, you can choose to import old data from an iCloud backup, another iPhone, from a Mac or PC, or from an Android. 

• If you are moving from an Android, the phone will prompt you to download an app called ‘Moved to iOS’ after which you can follow the on-screen instructions to continue the process. 
• Once done, you will need to log into your Apple ID or create one. Login or register and agree to the terms and conditions. 

• After that, you can enable or disable location services, choose between Light or Dark Display, set up Siri and more. Once all of that is out of the way, you need to simply Swipe Up to get started on your new iPhone.

Your iPhone is now rearing to go! Don’t forget to check for software updates on your new iPhone. Head to Settings > General > Software Update. Click on Update Now if there is a new version waiting for you. 

Your iPhone is ready and can be customised with widgets, custom lock screens, and more as per your preferences now.