Nothing is more satisfying than peeling the protective cling film off a new phone and marveling at how much faster and not-yet-scratched it is than your old device. Excited by the prospect of that new device? The steps outlined here can help you make sure your $1,000+ handheld computer has the best shot at a long lifespan.
The first step of setting up a new device starts with cleaning up your old phone. If you’re planning on trading in your old device at the time of purchase, you’ll want to do these steps in advance.
While some operating systems will automatically move unused apps to the cloud, if you can’t remember why you downloaded something in the first place, you might want to permanently delete it. Likewise, duplicate photos and videos take up valuable space (even if that space is in the cloud). Cleaning out digital ephemera can seem like an overwhelming task, but consider it a screentime activity that’s healthier than doomscrolling.
Make sure your data is backed up to the cloud right before you leave your home wifi network so it can be transferred to your new device.
Once that new device is in hand, you’re going to want to protect it—and your investment.
You’re going to drop this thing. So take a nice long look at the design of your device and then seal it up in a case and screen protector. Pro tip: Periodically remove your phone from the case and wipe it down to ensure that you’re not creating unsightly scratches under the cover.
While a case provides some protection against drops and damage, loss can still happen. But Verizon Mobile Protect can provide the peace of mind you need, with protection and coverage against loss, damage (including liquid damage), and post-warranty malfunctions. Consider it your safety net against potentially shelling out $500 for repairs or $1000+ for a replacement.
Verizon Mobile Protect also includes Pro on the Go same-day delivery and setup, meaning the help comes to you so you won’t be without your device for long. You also get 24/7 premium tech support, no deductible, and no limit on how many times you can get your screen fixed. Simply put, it’s the total package. Verizon Mobile Protect open enrollment only happens for a limited time—it’s open now but ends May 26th for Verizon customers.
Another benefit from Verizon is its new Best Value Guarantee. New and existing subscribers can lock in their mobile or home internet plan pricing for three years—and even get a new smartphone. Check Verizon’s site for all the details.
Now that your phone is updated and protected, keeping it that way is the name of the game. In addition to good data hygiene and, well, phone hygiene, these device best practices can make a difference in getting your phone to go the distance.
If you’re one of the 64 percent of Americans that have never used a password manager, a new phone is a good excuse to get started—you can organically save your login credentials as you begin using apps and services on the new device. If you started setting up your phone’s native password manager and gave up, this is the time to consolidate all of that data into the existing system or in a third-party password manager.
Every parent has handed a device to their child in a moment of desperation. Limit the amount of digital damage your tyke can do by enabling Guided Access or App Pinning to keep them locked into a digital playpen. You can go even further by customizing a focus mode just for them, turning off notifications, locking them to a single page of apps, and more.
The most important thing to remember when trying to extend the life of your phone’s battery is that lithium ion batteries hate surprises. Temperature swings, excessive fast charging, and constantly keeping your battery at 100% charge will quickly degrade the chemicals making that juice. Luckily, you can offload much of this work to your phone’s OS by ensuring that you’ve set your phone to optimize its charging behavior in Battery Settings where you can set a charge ceiling, optimal charging hours, and more.
These basic steps should get you most of the way to a phone that stays fresh, fast, and out of the landfill for as long as possible.
Learn more about Verizon Mobile Protect.
