Make your new Android phone yours
Start with the information you want to keep, add a small selection of useful apps, then review the settings that affect interruptions, privacy and recovery. You do not need to finish everything in one sitting. Keep your old phone nearby until you have confirmed that important contacts, photos and account access are available on the new one. This guide focuses on phones with Google services; some instructions will not apply if those services are absent.
Three stages · transfer time varies with your connection and data · menu names differ by phone maker and Android version
Begin with your accountThe three steps
- 01Connect your account and choose what to carry over
Connect your account and choose what to carry over: sign in with the intended Google Account, review the transfer choices and confirm the information that matters most.
- 02Build a small app collection around your routine
Build a small app collection around your routine: choose from everyday communication, travel, reading, video, activity and vehicle tools without installing every suggestion.
- 03Review five settings before you rely on the phone
Review five settings before you rely on the phone: consider notifications, battery behavior, permissions, app updates and Google's lost-device service.
Before you start
- Review the old phone's backup. Look for Backup in Settings and check which account is used and what information is included. If a manual backup option is available, use it before starting. Check photo backup separately, and consult individual apps for anything requiring its own transfer. A backup is not a promise that every file, conversation or sign-in will return.
- Prepare power and a connection. Charge both phones, keep chargers nearby and connect to trusted Wi-Fi. Have a suitable cable available if the setup flow offers a cable transfer. Leave enough time for copying and installation to continue without rushing. Do not disconnect devices during a transfer unless the on-screen instructions say it is safe.
- Gather account access details. Have your Google Account password, screen-lock details for the old phone and a working verification method available. Know how to access important email, banking and messaging accounts independently. Keep recovery codes private, and do not erase the old phone until you have confirmed that essential information and account access are working on the new one.
Which apps are covered
Step 2 is a menu, not a checklist: open the apps you use and skip the rest. Each app has its own page with where to get it, what to set first and what usually goes wrong.
- Gmail Google LLC
Bring email, inbox search, and Workspace conversations together with the official Gmail app on Android.
Set up → - Google Maps Google LLC
Google Maps combines directions, local place information, and saved lists for everyday travel and trip planning.
Set up → - YouTube Google LLC
YouTube brings video watching, channel subscriptions, and mobile content creation together on Android phones and tablets.
Set up → - Google Play Books & Audiobooks Google LLC
Read ebooks, audiobooks, comics, and manga in one library.
Set up → - Garmin Connect™ Garmin
Pair a compatible Garmin device to review activity and health information in one place.
Set up → - Drivvo - Car Expense Tracker Drivvo
Keep vehicle costs, fuel records, and maintenance details organized in Drivvo.
Set up →
How this guide is made
This guide is written from Android's and Google's public help pages, with app descriptions limited to information in their Google Play listings. It follows the general sequence of account access, app selection and settings review rather than presenting one phone's screens as universal. Menu names and available options differ by phone maker, Android version, region and account. Exact routes are used only for established controls; elsewhere the guide names a topic to find in Settings. Transfer results and app behavior depend on the devices, services and information involved, so the guide does not promise a complete copy of everything.
FAQ
Will copying my old phone bring across everything?
Not necessarily. During initial setup, review the available copy or restore choices and select the information you want. Supported information varies with the source device, Android versions and individual apps. Some app information is stored in a separate account, and some apps require their own transfer process. Work accounts may also have organization-specific rules. Afterward, inspect important contacts, photos, messages and files rather than relying only on a completion screen. Keep the old phone intact until essential information and verification methods are accessible on the new device.
What if my phone does not include Google Play or Google services?
The Google Account, Google Play and Google lost-device instructions may not apply. Use your phone maker's public help information for its account system, app store, backup and device-finding service. General topics such as permissions, notifications and battery settings remain useful, but their menus and behavior can differ. Do not assume that an app offered on Google Play is also available through your phone's store, or that the same transfer features exist. Review the official store listing and developer identity for each app you choose.
Can I stop now and complete the rest later?
You can return to app installation and most settings whenever you need them. Account access and transfer choices deserve more attention during initial setup because some restore options are offered there rather than from the home screen. If you skipped copying information, consult Google's or your phone maker's transfer guidance before resetting anything; later transfer options vary. Do not erase either phone merely to repeat a step without first protecting important information. For a short first session, prioritize account access, a secure screen lock and the apps you need immediately.