Cloud
Convenient and automatic. Watch the free space, or the backup will silently stop.
Notes on setting up and looking after a phone
A small personal knowledge base: what to do on day one, how not to lose your photos and how to keep the battery healthy. No ads, no sign-up.
First steps
- Update the system to the latest version before installing anything else.
- Set a six-digit passcode and turn on face unlock.
- Make sure device location for lost phones is enabled.
- Switch off notifications you do not need: fewer alerts means longer battery life.
Backups
Photos are what people lose most often. A cloud backup runs by itself while the phone charges on Wi-Fi. Every few months it is worth making a second, full backup to a computer over a cable.
Computer
A full copy over a cable. Turn on encryption so saved passwords are included.
Check it
A backup nobody has opened guarantees nothing. Once a year, confirm that it is recent.
Battery
- Do not leave the phone in the sun or in a car: heat is what damages a battery most.
- Keep optimised charging switched on.
- If capacity is below 80 percent and the phone shuts down in the cold, it is time for a new battery.
Common questions
The phone is slow after an update
For the first day the system rebuilds its search index and sorts photos. Leave it charging for a day or two; speed usually comes back.
Storage is full
Open the storage screen in settings: the largest items are listed first. Most often it is video and messenger history.
Verification texts do not arrive
Restart the phone and check that the sender is not blocked and the unknown-sender filter is off.