Switch to Android in 5 Easy Steps - Unlocked Android A to Z

Transfer your mobile life to Android’s welcoming arms – you’ll never look back. Here’s how to do it…

Whether you’re taking the plunge into the world of smartphones (believe us, you’ll never look back) or migrating from another smartphone operating system, switching to Android makes a lot of sense. Top-end devices such as the LG G3 offer the very best of mobile technology, while Android’s open nature also means there’s a handset for every budget.

So, how do you get into Android and get up and running with the OS? Read on to find out…

1 Choose your phone

This is the fun part – tech shopping. Android is open for tech companies to stick it in their phones and give it whatever twist they like, so the Android world is one of interface innovations and high-end wizardry. For Stuff magazine’s money, the LG G3 is smartphone royalty, with its eye-popping 5.5-inch Quad HD display, fantastic photography skills, and premium metal design. If you’re switching to Android, you could do a lot worse.

2 Import your contacts

You don’t have to use Google Mail on an Android device, but to make full use of the device you’ll at least need a Google account. Whatever email service and phone you’re currently using, hunt around for the option to export your whole contact book as a vCard or .CSV file. Then go to your Contacts in Google Mail on your desktop, and click ‘Import contacts…’ on the left-hand column.

If you set this up before you set up your phone, all you’ll need to do is enter your Google account details when you first turn on your new phone, and all your contacts will load into the device.

3 Access your photos

If you’re switching to Android from an OS that offers a Google+ app, then you’re laughing when it comes to getting your photos onto your new phone. You just need to download Google+ from the app store on your old phone and sign in with your Google account. Head straight to the menu, then tap the settings icon. Go to ‘Camera and Photos’ and turn ‘Auto Backup’ on. Your photos will then all be saved to the cloud – and when you turn on your new Android phone and log in, your pics will already be in your photos app.

If your current OS doesn’t have a native Google+ app, find an auto cloud backup up app that has versions for both Android and your OS. OneDrive or Dropbox should do the trick.

4 Transfer your music

Storing music on your phone is a little bit 2007, so switching to Android is the perfect time to put your music in the cloud. Handily, Google’s got an app that will do just that. Head to your computer, and download and install Google Play Music Manager. Fire it up, point it to where your songs are stored on your hard drive, and sit back and relax while your tunes are uploaded. Google Play Music will store up to 20,000 songs free of charge, and you can listen to them using the Play Music app on your new Android phone.

5 Get your apps

There’s no way of simply moving your old apps from a different OS onto your new phone – they’re not compatible. The good news is that many of the apps we use all the time are free, and available on Android as well as other platforms, so you can just download the Android version and get on with your life. What’s more, paid subscription apps such as Netflix won’t require another payment – just download them and sign into the same old account.

The Google Play Store has more than 1.3 million apps – so it’s pretty painless to leave your old OS behind and get stuck in to Android…