How to Set Up Your New Android Phone (2025)
Welcome to your shiny new Google-powered mobile device. It will be up and ready in no time with these handy tips. If you’ve just unboxed a new Android phone, you’re probably excited to play with it. There’s a little bit of setup to deal with first, but don’t worry—whether it’s a Samsung Galaxy or a Google Pixel, the process of getting started with Android is nearly the same on all devices and blessedly simple.
What you want to have before you get started:
- Your old phone (not essential, but it’s a good idea to have it on hand)
- Your SIM card (not required for eSIM activation)
- Your Wi-Fi details (home network and Wi-Fi password)
- Your Google account details (you can set up an Android phone without a Google account, but you need one to use Google services and get the best from it)
If you have your old phone, it’s also worth tracking down a USB-C cable so you can connect your old phone to your new one to quickly copy data.
First, Back Up Your Old Phone
For a seamless transition from your old phone to the new one, start by backing up your old handset. (This is crucial if you intend to get rid of your old phone before you get the new one.) The simplest way is to back up your data to your Google Account. Menu options can differ a little from phone to phone.
Whichever path you take, make sure the backup option is toggled on when you get there and tap Back up now. Doing this ensures that your contacts, calendars, text messages, call history, wallpaper, apps, and a few other system settings will make the jump to your new device. It will take some time for your old phone to upload everything, especially if you haven’t backed it up recently.
To navigate the backup process on different devices, use the following paths:
| Phone Model | Navigation Path |
|---|---|
| Google Pixel | Swipe down from the top of the screen twice and select the cog icon, or open the Settings app in the app drawer, and tap System, then Backup. |
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings, Accounts and backup, and Backup and restore. |
Switching from an iPhone
If you’re switching from an iPhone, you may want to install Google's Android Switch app or the Google Drive app. With the Switch app, you can follow the onscreen prompts, but if you opt for the Google Drive app, here's what to do:
- Open the Google Drive app on your iPhone.
- Go to Settings and Backup.
- Choose everything you want to save and move across to your new phone.
You should also go to your iPhone Settings, head to Messages, toggle off iMessage, and go to Settings, FaceTime to toggle it off so you don’t miss calls and texts on your new phone.
Additional Backup Precautions
Folks with any two-factor authentication (2FA) apps, like Google Authenticator, should check the apps’ instructions for transferring accounts (do not wipe your old phone until you have done this!) If you use any messaging apps, like WhatsApp, back up your chats on your old phone by going to Settings, Chats, and Chat backup.
Setting Up Your New Android Phone
Put your SIM card in your new phone (skip this step if you’re using an eSIM) and hold down the power button to turn it on. (You can also insert your SIM card after you’ve set up your device.) You’ll be greeted with a series of setup chores, starting with selecting your language and region preferences.
Depending on your new Android phone, you may be able to copy data from your old device directly. While you can do this via Wi-Fi, connecting the two phones with a cable is the fastest, easiest, and usually the most comprehensive way to copy your old data (especially photos and videos), so we recommend doing that if you’re given the option.
If you are switching from an iPhone to an Android phone, for example, you can transfer contacts, photos, videos, and calendar events via Wi-Fi, but you must use a cable if you want to transfer messages (SMS, iMessage, WhatsApp), apps (assuming they are available in the Play Store), music (non-DRM only), and notes.
Folks who don't want to copy data directly (or can't) should sign in to their Google account and choose the most recent device backup to restore to the new phone. Things like contacts, calendars, and text messages that are tied to your Google account—whether you stashed them there from the web or your old phone—can flow onto your new device after you log in. You can choose what you want to restore from your most recent backup. Treat it as an opportunity to scan your app list and ditch any old apps or games you no longer use.