Have you got a shiny new Android phone? If so, perform a few things on your phone to ensure it runs as smoothly as you expect it to and is as useful as you want it to be. Let me show you what to do on your new phone.

Update the Android Version

Since your phone was made, Google might have released newer Android versions. This calls for a software update on your phone to ensure you’re running the latest and the greatest version of Android. Updating Android ensures you have the latest bug fixes and possibly new features.

To do that, launch Settings on your phone. Scroll down and choose “About Device.” Select the version option at the top to find the latest updates.

Allow your phone to check for the latest version. If a newer version is available, download and install the available updates. Then, restart your Android phone.

Update the Installed Apps

It’s possible the pre-installed apps on your phone have their newer versions available. In this case, you should update your apps to enjoy a bug-free experience and possibly have newer features in the apps.

To do that, launch the Google Play Store on your phone. In the top-right corner, tap your profile picture and choose “Manage Apps & Device.” To update all your installed apps, in the Updates Available section, tap “See Details” and select “Update All.”

To update individual apps, open the “Manage” tab, select the app to update, and tap the update icon.

Disable or Delete Unwanted Apps

Many Android phones come with certain preloaded apps. If you don’t plan to use these apps, it’s a good idea to disable or delete these apps. The reason I say disable is because some apps can’t be deleted; you can only disable them.

To do that, on your phone, navigate to Settings > Apps > App Management. Find the app you don’t want, tap it on the list, and select “Disable” or “Delete.” If you choose the former option, select “Disable App” in the prompt. If you choose the latter option, select “OK” in the prompt.

Then, enter your passcode to continue.

Later, if you want a disabled app back, tap the “Enable” option. If you deleted the app, reinstall the app from the Google Play Store.

Add Emergency Details

You can add emergency details to your phone so you can reach out to those people when needed. You can also display a custom message on your phone’s lock screen so people can return your phone if it gets stolen or lost.

To add emergency details, head into Settings > Safety & Emergency. Tap the “Emergency Contacts” option and choose the people to add. Tap “Medical Info” and select “Add” to add medical details.

To display a custom message on the lock screen, head into Settings > Lock Screen > Edit Lock Screen. Type and save the message you’d like to display on the lock screen.

Change the Default Apps

You can set default apps so certain file types automatically launch with certain apps. For example, you can choose the default web browser, so all your web links automatically open in your preferred web browser app.

To do that, head into Settings > Apps > Default Apps. Select an option on the list and choose the default app. For example, to set the default web browser, choose “Browser App” and select the web browser you want to make the default.

And that’s it.

Enable Developer Options

Developer Options is a hidden Android menu that allows you to tweak various phone options. For example, you can enable USB debugging in this menu and communicate with your using ADB from your computer. You can also change animation and various other options from this menu.

To activate that menu, head into Settings > About Device > Version. Tap “Build Number” seven times, and it’ll say you’re a developer. Then, navigate to Settings > System Settings, and you’ll see the newly unlocked “Developer Options” menu.

You’re set.

Set Up Google Wallet or Other Payment Options

Most Android phones allow you to pay with a tap using the NFC technology. In this case, you’ll have to set up a payment app like Google Wallet on your phone.

To do that, launch your preferred payment app, such as Google Wallet. Add your credit or debit card details and customize any options you want in the app. You should then be ready to make contactless payments using your phone.

Set Up Backups

Configuring backups is extremely important as this allows you to restore your data when something goes wrong with your phone. You can back up photos and videos to Google Photos and other items to Google.

To turn on Google backup, go to Settings > System Settings > Back Up and Reset and enable “Back Up My Data.”

To activate Google Photos backup, launch the Photos app, tap your profile picture in the top-right corner, choose “Backup,” and enable the toggle.

Customize the Home Screen and Quick Settings

To make accessing your favorite apps and options easier, customize your Android phone’s home screen and Quick Settings area.

To tweak the home screen, tap and hold on the home screen. You’ll see various options in the bottom bar, allowing you to change how the home screen looks and functions. For example, you can change the grid layout of the screen, add widgets to the screen, change the screen wallpaper, and so on.

To add or remove tiles from the Quick Settings area, pull down twice from the top of your phone’s screen. At the bottom of Quick Settings, tap the pencil icon. Then, select what tiles you want to add or remove from the area. That’s it.

And that’s what you can do on your newly purchased Android phone to make it as useful, smart, and yours as possible. Happy using your new phone!