My tips for setting up an Android phone the first time and using as little battery as possible

Now that we’ve removed the wrapping paper from the year and more than one Android will have emerged from beneath the packaging we all received, it’s time to get to work configure them in the best way possible. After years of experience and hundreds of cell phones, I have a series of settings and processes that guarantee better cell phone use; from more storage to better autonomy.

These days are perfect for new things, for holding for the first time in our hands the gifts that have been so carefully sought for us. And of course, any technological device requires initial configuration in order to prepare it for use. In addition, this configuration is the most important of all: depending on how well it is done, this is how the device will work. This particularly concerns smartphones, I was able to verify it; This is why I make identical settings on all my phones, whether they are mine or for analysis purposes.

Initial setup is more important than it seems

I’m a pretty lazy person who usually puts off tasks under the guise of “I’ll do it later.” But I have found that with cell phones, this strategy ends up leading to disaster: Restrictive configuration should be done at the beginning, even if it is lazy. For this reason, I spend over an hour on initial settings every time I get any new cell phone; Just as I proceed in the same way with each of them that they allow me to configure.

Since I compare all phones to find out the pros and cons of each model, the initial setup I do on smartphones, both for review and personal purposes, is always the same. This ensures a seamless experience and maximize optimization from the start.

I perform a series of steps during the initial setup to leave the mobile exactly in my style. In fact, this customization is so precise that I can do tasks identical to those I have at home: receive and send WhatsApp and Telegram messages, access X, watch my TikTok or play my usual games.

In addition to unifying the experience, the configuration process makes it possible to limit unnecessary consumption as much as possible for amplify autonomy to the maximum of what the terminal allows. Always as far as possible, we already know that each Android can be a world.

Let’s dive in: I’ll detail my step-by-step setup process below.

I restore the backup of an already optimized Android

Since Android allows you to restore an old mobile when starting the new one, always I download a copy which is already optimized and which I use daily. So I have the same applications and hopefully some will already have the login and their data; which saves me a lot of work.

I usually have the other Android on hand so a USB C is enough to restore it to the new phone. It’s a fairly quick process to which you then have to add the corresponding download of the applications.

I get rid of as much bloatware as possible

After starting the mobile from scratch, prevent the Assistant from being activated by voice In order to use as little battery as possible (while improving privacy at the same time), I go to the application settings to eliminate everything that is superfluous. Bluntly: application I don’t want, application that goes away. As far as possible, of course.

Here are the steps:

• Go to Android Settings.
• Go to “Applications”.
• List system apps and go app by app, entering each one to remove or freeze it.
• Kill all the games and third party apps you don’t want, duplicate Google apps, freeze all Meta apps (there are usually three and they are always active) and do this with all bloatware.
• Delete apps if you can, or if they are system apps, try disabling them.

You should proceed carefully, although the mobile phone should not allow you to delete or freeze an essential application. After eliminating the bloatware on the first boot, I ensure a better experience, more available storage and extended battery life.

I organize offices the same way

To avoid that feeling of not knowing where things are, which lasts a few weeks after the premiere, I always organize my desks the same way. I activate the application drawer (essential for me), put two folders (essential apps and games) and complete with shortcuts to what I use the most. Complete with a weather widget that also shows the time, this is one of my pet peeves: Today Weather is my favorite weather app. Believe it or not, organizing your desks saves time and battery; If only because it costs less to return to the usual.

I remove background usage of all apps except messaging

To save as much phone battery life as possible on first boot, I limit background usage to all but essential apps; which are WhatsApp, Telegram, Messages, Phone… These apps I need to receive notifications instantly. In fact, I even delete the notifications from the rest: the cell phone should disturb as little as possible.

The process is as follows:

• Go to Settings and enter Apps.
• Go to “Battery Usage by App”. Or a similar message, text may vary.
• Access each app by unchecking the “Allow background use” option.

After these meticulous steps, I find myself with a mobile phone optimized and very similar to the rest of those I already own. This usually takes just under an hour; time to which must be added the restoration of applications with their accounts, a tedious process that I try to reduce by depending as little as possible on the added services. After years of experience in initial setup, I can assure you that The more you devote to the first settings, the longer the phone will last.. Although it may seem lazy, the first setup is really important.

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