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Android Guides

12 Android Settings Worth Changing on a New Phone

Ten minutes of setup that make a new Android phone faster, safer and less annoying.

Arjun Rao · Android guides writer
· 2 min read
Quick answer

On a new Android phone, change these first: turn on automatic backup and Find My Device, review app permissions (especially location, camera, mic), enable Data Saver if on a limited plan, set a strong screen lock and Play Protect, turn off ad personalisation and unnecessary bloatware, and switch on scheduled Do Not Disturb. Ten minutes now saves a lot of hassle later.

Key points
  • Enable Find My Device and automatic Google backup immediately.
  • Set a strong PIN/biometric lock and confirm Play Protect is on.
  • Review location, camera and microphone permissions app by app.
  • Turn off ad personalisation and reset your advertising ID.
  • Disable pre-installed bloatware you’ll never use.

A new Android phone arrives tuned for the manufacturer’s convenience, not necessarily yours. Ten minutes of setup makes it faster, more private and far less annoying. Here are twelve changes worth making before you forget the settings exist.

Security and recovery first

  1. Strong screen lock. A 6-digit PIN or password plus fingerprint/face. Skip a 4-digit PIN.
  2. Find My Device. Settings → Security → Find My Device — on. This lets you locate, lock or wipe a lost phone.
  3. Automatic backup. Settings → Google → Backup — on, so contacts, messages and app data are safe from day one.
  4. Confirm Play Protect. Play Store → profile → Play Protect — ensure scanning is enabled.

Privacy

  1. Review permissions. Settings → Privacy → Permission manager. Check who has location, camera and microphone, and dial back anything that doesn’t need it. Set location to “only while using the app.”
  2. Kill ad personalisation. Settings → Privacy → Ads → delete or reset your advertising ID.
  3. Turn off unnecessary “usage & diagnostics” data sharing if you’d rather not send it.

Performance and battery

  1. Disable bloatware. Settings → Apps — uninstall or disable the pre-installed apps you’ll never open. Fewer background apps, more speed.
  2. Data Saver (if you’re on a limited plan) — Settings → Network → Data Saver, plus Wi-Fi-only updates in the Play Store.
  3. Adaptive Battery / Battery optimisation — on, so Android limits background drain from apps you rarely use.

Everyday quality of life

  1. Scheduled Do Not Disturb overnight — Settings → Sound → Do Not Disturb → schedule. Fewer 2am buzzes.
  2. Turn off notification nagging from apps that over-notify — long-press any notification → turn off that channel. Reclaim your attention.

One thing not to do

Don’t rush to install a “setup” or “booster” suite that promises to optimise everything. The settings above, built into Android, do the job without ads or background drain. And if any app during setup tells you to sideload an APK or enable “Unknown Sources,” don’t — see our APK safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the first thing to set up on a new Android phone?

Security and recovery: a strong screen lock, Find My Device (Settings → Security → Find My Device), and automatic backup to your Google Account. If the phone is lost on day one, these are what save you.

Should I turn off ad personalisation?

If you value privacy, yes. Settings → Privacy → Ads → “Delete advertising ID” (or reset it). It limits cross-app ad tracking with no downside to how the phone works.

How do I get rid of pre-installed bloatware?

Settings → Apps, select the app, and Uninstall if allowed, or Disable if not. Disabling stops it running and updating even when it can’t be fully removed.

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