Your first-day checklist

Step 1 of 3 · Access and copying

Establish account access before moving your information

Begin by identifying where your important information actually lives. Your address book might belong to a Google Account, pictures might exist only on the previous handset, and a messaging service might maintain its own backup. These are separate sources, not one universal package. Write a brief private checklist of what you need: contacts, photographs, conversations, documents and access to essential services. During the welcome process, read the account and copying choices carefully. If this is an employer-managed or supervised device, follow the organization's or family's instructions rather than treating it as an unrestricted personal phone.

Know the difference between signing in and copying

A Google sign-in makes account-based services available; it does not by itself reproduce every item stored elsewhere. Android's copying and backup options can help carry supported information between devices, while individual apps may require additional recovery steps. Separating those jobs makes missing items easier to investigate. For example, an empty calendar could mean the wrong account is selected, whereas an absent local document could mean it was never included in the transfer. Before making changes, confirm the complete email address you intend to use. Keep access to any second verification method available throughout the process, especially if approval requests normally appear on the previous handset.

The three taps

Add account. Use the Google sign-in offered by the welcome screens. If you have already reached the home screen, search Settings for accounts and locate Add account, then select Google. Account-section headings vary across Android devices. Enter the intended address, complete the authentication requests, and read any account choices before accepting them. Establish a screen lock when prompted, with a PIN or password you can recall reliably. Biometric access, when supported, is a convenience rather than a replacement for remembering that credential.
Copy apps & data. When setup presents this option, choose the source and connection method that fit your situation. Follow the displayed cable or wireless instructions rather than assuming either method is available. Inspect the proposed contents, omit unwanted apps, and identify the correct backup if several are listed. Allow the process to finish without unnecessary interruptions. Once you reach the home screen, installation and restoration can still require additional time, so an immediately incomplete app collection is not a reason to erase either device.
Account sync. Find the accounts area in Settings, choose your Google Account and locate its synchronization controls. Examine the available categories instead of assuming every service is enabled. Then inspect the results in the relevant apps: find a familiar contact, locate a calendar entry and open an important document. Check photographs separately using the service or storage location you normally use. If something is absent, first confirm the account and source rather than repeatedly starting transfers or deleting information.

Preserve your fallback: postpone erasing, selling or handing over the previous handset. Confirm access to essential email, messaging, financial services and verification tools first. Some services require a fresh sign-in or their own transfer procedure. Never share passwords, recovery codes or approval prompts with someone offering to complete setup for you.

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