It’s always exciting to get your hands on a brand new smartphone, but transferring your entire digital life from one device to another is not always the easiest task. After all, we store so much important information on our phones these days that it can take a bit of time and effort to make sure nothing gets left behind during an upgrade. If you’re about to make the switch to a new device, here are seven great tips to help make the transition as smooth and secure as possible.
-
Check your backup settings.
Backing up your data is one of the most important things to do before switching phones, so it’s crucial that you know how and where your current device saves data. Although most smartphones today save things like contacts, pictures, and text messages to the cloud, some devices only store data on the phone itself. If your old device doesn’t offer a cloud backup option, you may need to manually download the data and files you want to transfer. Afghan Wireless subscribers can get more help and information on device backup settings at their local AWCC store.
-
Back everything
Your smartphone stores a huge amount of saved data. It’s easy enough to remember to back up the obvious things, like contacts and pictures, but take the time to do a thorough check of all apps and folders on your device to make sure you’re not missing anything less evident, like notes, to-do lists, or music or video files. Then, once you’ve backed everything up (whether through a manual download or using a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive), double check to make sure all your data has indeed been saved before you delete anything from your old device.
-
Note your privacy and other key settings.
When you make the switch to a new phone, you’ll automatically be back to square one—that is, the factory default—for settings like privacy and other preferences. Make sure to note which default settings you changed on your old phone so that you can replicate your choices on your new device. For example, you may have changed your privacy settings so that your phone automatically wipes out all data after a specified number of incorrect login attempts. Exact menu options on your new smartphone may be a bit different, but you should still be able to choose preferences that are more or less equivalent to the settings on your old device.
-
Make a list of your must-have apps.
Chances are there are at least a few apps on your old smartphone that you can’t live without. Make sure to note your favorite apps so that you can personalize your new device just like your old one. This is an especially important step to follow if you are switching between operating systems (for example, moving from an Android device to an iPhone), because not all apps are compatible with every operating system and you may need to find different equivalents for apps you were used to having on your old device. This is also a good opportunity to do an overall inventory of your apps and save space on your new phone by not replacing apps you never use.
-
Ensure your password manager is updated.
You’re probably used to accessing your e-mail and other sensitive data on your old phone without a second thought, but on your new device, you’ll have to log in to most of these apps for the first time. This means you’ll need to be sure of your login information, including passwords, before you switch devices. If you’re using a password manager—and there are plenty of free options available to help you securely manage all your different login codes—check to make sure it’s up-to-date so that when apps on your new phone prompt you to log in, you’ll have the information you need at your fingertips.
-
Check out some tutorials for your new device.
Experimenting and playing around with the setup and features of your new smartphone is the best way to get comfortable with it, but it can also help to check out some tutorials for tips and tricks on how to make the most of your new device. There are a huge array of videos, blog posts, and how-to tips available online for virtually every brand and model of smartphone; these can all give you great ideas on how to take advantage of cool new features or settings that your old phone might have lacked.
-
Wipe your old phone.
Once all your data has been backed up and transferred to your new smartphone, there is still one final step you can’t forget about: wiping your old phone clean. Make sure to delete all personal data and files from your old device, and restore all settings and preferences to the default option. Once the phone is free of sensitive data, you can consider donating it to a local charitable program if it’s still in good working order, or you can simply recycle it with the help of TechWaste Recycling Inc.