I set up every new Android phone with the same 7 essential apps, leaving social media behind

Setting up a new Android phone is a hassle, particularly because you can't transfer app data between devices. When I change phones, my priority is to restore my usual routines and workflows as swiftly as possible. This begins with installing essential apps that take precedence over social media apps. 1Password is the first app I install on each new phone.

It stores all my login credentials and other crucial information about my digital life, such as bank account details, IDs, secure notes, and more. Without 1Password, I wouldn't be able to log in to my banking apps, secondary Google accounts, or food delivery apps. After installing 1Password, I enable autofill. This feature allows the app to automatically fill in login credentials across apps and websites, simplifying the setup process on a new phone.

I rely heavily on 1Password, and I strongly advise installing it on any new device. Pixel Search is another crucial app I install on every new Android device. Initially designed as a search feature for non-Pixel devices, it has evolved into a unified search app on Android. Pixel Search significantly reduces the number of taps and keystrokes needed to access apps, enabling me to open them almost instantly.

It even allows me to start conversations in WhatsApp or Google Messages directly from its search results without opening the apps first. Gemini Notebook has become my preferred app for reading, writing, and research. Acting as my second brain, it allows me to save and organize important references, links, PDFs, and files. With the volume of projects I handle daily, I can't imagine using an Android phone without it.

It has become an integral part of my workflow, so I install it on new phones before any social media apps. BuzzKill is the next app I install on a new phone. It helps me manage the numerous notifications I receive throughout the day by setting rules around their behavior. BuzzKill silences repetitive alerts and ensures that important notifications from my family and colleagues resurface, preventing me from letting the notifications control me.

MacroDroid is another app that has become essential for me. I use it to create various automations that run in the background and trigger based on specific actions or conditions. These automations make my phone smarter and more efficient, allowing me to focus on what truly matters. LocalSend is an app I install on every new phone because it simplifies sharing files or images wirelessly between devices.

It eliminates the need for creating accounts or opening web pages, ensuring that transfers happen instantly when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Lastly, managing files across various local and remote services is crucial for me. With LocalSend, I have full control over my files, whether stored on my phone, Google Drive, OneDrive, or NAS.

This app streamlines file management and ensures that I can access my data effortlessly, regardless of the device I'm using.