Getting a new phone usually means we want to start using and playing around with it right away. It is a normal reaction whenever we buy something new. But when it comes to personal gadgets like smartphones, there are some things that you should do right away for your security’s sake. The last thing you want to happen is someone sniffing around your phone and exploiting your private data or any sensitive information about you. So before you start installing all your apps and logging into all your accounts, here are some of the things that you should do right after you get your new smartphone:

Passcode Protection

While most people reading this would think that this step is a no-brainer, you’d be surprised by how many people still skip registering a passcode in their phones. That’s why we still can’t stress enough how crucial this first step is in the grand scheme of things. Something as simple as setting up a passcode is already an excellent way of deterring anyone who wants to try and get into your phone. Even if they do break through your initial security measure, it will still buy you enough time to contact your phone manufacturer or service provider to deactivate your device.

Fortunately, setting up a passcode or a password is the easiest thing to do on this list. So much so that most modern smartphones already ask you to make one upon its startup while setting up your phone. Just make one, and you’ll have a more secure phone in just a few seconds.

Once you’ve made your passcode or password, the next thing you should do is remember it. So many people forget their phone’s passwords that it renders it useless. They get locked out and unable to use their smartphone. To avoid forgetting your password, it’s best that you write it down or type it into a file and store it somewhere safe and secure but still accessible to you. By remembering your password, you avoid many inconveniences that can hinder you from using your phone. But if you still get locked out of your phone for some reason, you can always visit a local shop that repairs phones like Samsung and Apple and get it fixed in a jiffy.

Download and Install Updates

Not many people know this, but most phones don’t always have the latest software installed. Smartphones only have the software installed by the manufacturers from the day they get shipped out from the factory. Depending on what batch of units you get, your new smartphone might not have the latest updates that it needs to function at its best.

There are many reasons you would want the latest software updates on your phone. Security and optimization are two of the biggest ones. Security updates can help you gain more security features on your phone than previous versions of the software may not have had. On the other hand, optimization updates can help your phone perform better while using less power. It provides your phone with better battery life. It can also offer new features and better app compatibility.

All of these add more value to your smartphone, so make sure to download and install the latest updates so that you can maximize its capabilities. And more importantly, get more value for your money.

Backup Your Data

One of the most overlooked things when setting up a smartphone is setting up a backup. Most of us only think about it when it’s far too late. Only when we’ve lost precious photos, videos, and memories we can never replace, suddenly get deleted, gone forever, do we regret not having set up a backup for all of them. This could all be avoidable if we just started a backup drive somewhere, anywhere, before we started using our phones.

There are many ways to set up a backup for your phone. The two primary methods are online cloud storage or manually saving the files. You can link it to your phone to another device like an external hard drive or on your personal computer.

If you’re not too keen on backing up files yourself, then you can opt for online cloud storage. For iPhones, you can avail of iCloud storage. It’s Apple’s native backup system for all their devices. For Android phones and anything else, there are many third-party cloud storage services to choose from, and most of them are compatible with iPhones too. The most popular cloud storage choices are Google drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft one drive. But there are many others that you can choose from that best fit your needs and budget.

But if you’re a bit more tech-savvy and want complete privacy for your data, then you can opt to create a backup of your phone’s files yourself. All you need is a computer or an external drive, and it’s just a matter of transferring the files from your phone to another source to make a backup.

Either of these methods will work great. What’s important is that you start a backup as soon as possible so you can avoid losing any of your files.

Closing Remarks

Whatever phone you decide to get, follow these tips that we’ve shared that you should do before you start using it. These will help you minimize any problems you can have with your phone in the future, ultimately extending your phone’s life while helping you maximize its capabilities.