If you’ve got yourself a shiny newAndroid smartphone- it could be for the first time because you’ve switchedfrom an iPhone, or you’ve just upgraded after years with an older model - there’s plenty to get sorted and discover. In this guide, we review the essentials and some other bits and pieces we think are worth mastering in the latest software versions.
It’s worth noting there are plenty of different manufacturer skins layered over that Android core, like those from Samsung, Oppo/OnePlus and Xiaomi, and there’s a limitless level of customisation you can apply from Google Play or other third-party sources.
Few Android devices are alike, but all Android devices have the same foundation. So, starting at the beginning, here’s how to master your Android phone.
Sort out your Google account
To use Android, you need to use a Google account because all the essential services like Play Store, Gmail, Maps, calendars, contacts, YouTube and Photos run through a Google account.
Getting your account in order is something you can do from your PC before you sign in to your new device, letting you use the big screen and keyboard to get things straight.
Google incorporates a contacts system within Gmail on your desktop browser. If you have lots of contacts, import them into Google Contacts and manage them there. Managing them on a computer makes getting everything correct much faster before you start.
If you have your contacts in another form, there are easy ways to import them to Google, as well as scan for duplicates and so on. As your Android life progresses, it’s worth popping back to your core Google contacts list to check that everything is still nice and tidy. You can always head tocontacts.google.comto get a grip.
If you’re thinking of saving contacts to the SIM card and moving them over, it’s not worth the effort: it’s better to find the software to import them from your old phone to your PC to feed them to Google then. It will make your life easier in the future.
Master transfer tools, or just use Google
With phones running Android 13 or later, there’s an early part in the phone setup process that asks if you want to transfer your content over from your phone. Using a cable (or wirelessly), you can transfer contacts, photos, messages and other media - including matching apps - even if you’re coming from an iPhone.
Many manufacturers also offer separate transfer tools to help you move old content to new places. For many, it’s one of the options when you set up a device for the first time.
Android also has the option to restore a previous backup or set up a device from scratch.
Generally speaking, if you’ve been using Android previously, those items associated with your account will move over without a hitch. Just make sure you back up your old phone before you start the process - it should include all your calls and SMS messages, but other messaging apps - like WhatsApp - will have to be set up separately, using their own backup processes.
Transferring photos and videos
You might wish to move things like photos to a cloud service if you want to preserve them. This has the added advantage of being a backup if you lose your phone.
Google Photosis the obvious choice for Android users because it’s associated with your account. You just have to install the app and sign in if it’s not already on your device.
Head to the menu to Settings > Backup & Sync, and you’ll find all the options to back up photos. It’s good to have backup turned on all the time, so your photos are always there, even if you lose your phone.
You can also installGoogle Photos on the iPhone, again providing a way to back up photos on your iOS device. This will immediately back up local photos, but if you have been using an iPhone for some time, you might have to download photos from iCloud - for which you’ll probably have to use a PC and additional software.
Other photo options are OneDrive from Microsoft or Dropbox, as both offer photo backup options and are widely accessible across platforms.
You could also save to a microSD card and move it across if you have the hardware to support it - but again, moving to the cloud means you have a backup off your phone, and you can access photos via a browser on your PC.
Turn off all those sounds and vibrations.
New phones like to buzz, click and beep at every touch. For some reason, manufacturers think that you want to constantly know that you’ve touched it, and all these things can be annoying and can even slow the phone down.
Once you’ve sorted some of the basics, tame those notifications and unwanted vibrations. You’ll thank us in the long run.
On a standard Android phone (Pixel, Nokia, Moto), head into Settings > Sound & Vibration. Here, you’ll be able to turn off screen locking, touch sounds, and vibrate on tap.
If you want to edit the keyboard vibrations, head into Settings > System > Languages & Input > On-screen keyboard, then select your keyboard and head into preferences, and you can turn off things like vibrate on keypress.
Sadly, manufacturers who make their own skin move these things around and change the location of these settings, as do different versions of Android. But head into the sounds section, and you’ll see a world of options.
Choose the best Android Keyboard.
Most new Android phones these days come with Gboard pre-loaded, but some - like Samsung - use their own. And you might find that you have a keyboard that’s not great. You can use any keyboard on Android, and there areloads on Google Play.
However, if you just want speed and simplicity, then you’ll find that Gboard - the Google Keyboard - is actually one of the best out there. It’s the stock Android keyboard, so it already comes on many devices. If you’ve not got it, then it’s a must.
Changing keyboards is pretty simple. In most cases, when you’ve downloaded a new keyboard, just top on “open” in Google Play or tap the notification, and you’ll launch into the setup.
Dump the junk apps
Some manufacturers will include apps you don’t want or need on your phone. Some will be pre-installed games, some services or other things that the company has decided to include with their phones whether you want them or not - and some will be where the manufacturer thinks that its version of an app is better than a stock Android app. In most cases, this is unwanted bloatware.
You’ll often be able to delete these apps during setup - or opt out of installing them.
Otherwise, you might have to manually remove them by long-pressing on the app icon in the app drawer and selecting uninstall. Some can’t be uninstalled, so you might want to create a folder for junk apps and move them all there so you’re not always looking at them.
Google offers its own version of thePhoneandMessagesapp, which you might want to install instead of those offered by the manufacturer. Once you open them, you’ll be prompted to make them your default.
Which is the best Android browser?
Many browsers are available for Android, each offering a range of different options. The stock browser is Chrome, and that’s the best Android browser for many people, as it syncs with Chrome on the desktop and gives easy access to your Google history for a seamless experience.
However, when you’re looking at a new device, you might find that you have another browser, likely one that has been tinkered with by the device manufacturer. More often than not, you can ignore it and go straight for Chrome. If you have more than one browser installed, the phone will ask you which to open until you select a default. Often, you just have to tap the message that pops up, and you’re done.
Get to your settings faster
Swiping down the notifications bar will give you access to various hardware toggle shortcuts. It’s here you may turn off things like Bluetooth or WiFi quickly and easily. Many manufacturers edit this area, so Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo and Pixel devices all look different, but they all work in the same way.
Swipe down with two fingers, and it will take you straight to those toggles, or swipe down twice to get the whole thing open.
The top tip here is to long-press the quick setting, and you’ll go to the full menu for that area. For example, if WiFi is causing you problems, long press on the quick setting icon, and you’ll go through to the full WiFi menu.
If you want to head to the full setting menu, tap the cog in the notifications area when you swipe down rather than trying to find the option in the apps tray.
Data not working?
Smartphones are complex beasties, and sometimes things just stop working. The bars say you have full reception, but nothing moves; you can’t get that site to load or that tweet to send.
Try flipping the phone into Aeroplane/Airplane mode and back again. This will sever your connection and re-establish it; hopefully, things will start moving again. You can get to Aeroplane mode via the quick settings grid mentioned above. Just find the little toggle that looks like a plane.
WiFi not working?
Just like cellular data, sometimes WiFi goes on the blink. Often, just opening the quick settings, toggling WiFi off, and then back on again will re-establish the connection. Some phones have an option to switch to cellular if WiFi performance is poor automatically, and usually, you’ll get a notification if that happens, for example, when streaming a movie.
Watch out for phones clinging on to weak WiFi networks. Sometimes, when you leave home, for example, you’ll still be connected to that network, which will explain why things might be slow as you’re walking down the street.
Customise your Android home pages
The homepage is in front of the queue when it comes to customisation. Your new phone will probably come with a range of shortcuts and widgets spread across a number of pages.
If you don’t want them, delete them with a long press and drag them to the trash can. You can also usually delete the pages they’re sitting on: there’s no need to have seven home pages if they’re all empty.
Different versions of Android and different manufacturers have slightly different approaches to home page customisation. Normally, a long press on the background wallpaper or a pinch on the background will get you started, but it differs from device to device.
If you’re just struggling with wallpaper suggestions, then try the AndroidWallpapers appor browse our gallery of wallpapers you could use.
