This is how I setup my Android phone (both new, as well as if I factory reset an existing device). I have also listed a looooooong list of apps that I use:
Backup (before formatting the phone)
Here is the list of data/apps/config that I backup before I factory reset an Android device:
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- Whatsapp:
- Open Whatsapp and backup/sync Whatsapp messages to Google Drive
- Optionally, copy entire Whatsapp folder manually on laptop. Or just copy Images/Videos/Documents/Audio/GIFs folders from Whatsapp to laptop
- Backup data from Internal storage:
- InternalStorage/DCIM/
- InternalStorage/Pictures/
- InternalStorage/Whatsapp/
- Backup data from SD card (if needed):
- SD-card/DCIM/ (if camera app is saving photos onto SD card)
- Backup/Save open tab URLs in Chrome on Android: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/193858
- Backup names of installed apps (preferably by adding them to this blogpost)
- Backup SMSes locally (or to Gmail, using an app listed below): SMS Backup & Restore (backup to local storage) OR SMS Backup+ (backup SMS logs to Gmail)
- Backup Automate workflows etc.
- Whatsapp:
Install Android custom ROM and GApps
Install Android
- Flash some “lightweight” ROM.
- Flash OpenGApps ARM version (preferably “Pico”).
- On first boot, login to Google Account; And finish Android onboarding.
- Optional: Move `SD-card/Whatsapp/` from SD-card to Internal Storage.
Disable pre-installed apps:
- Default “Email” app (if any)
- Default “Internet” app (if any)
- Default “Exchange” app (if any)
- Default “Calender” app (if any)
Setup Android
- Enable Developer options (by repeatedly clicking on Build number (under “About phone”)
- If more than one SIM card, select default sim for “Data”, “Calls” and “SMS”.
- Optional: Set external SD card as default location to install apps
- Root device (if ROM is not pre-rooted already; If it is pre-rooted, Select Developer options > Root access > Apps only
- Enable “USB Debugging” under Developer Options.
- Disable “Auto-update apps over wifi” in Play Store settings
- Install Google Camera modded apk for your device (from https://www.xda-developers.com/)
- Install and setup Greenify
- Install Island to be able to run two instances of same app (“Dual apps”)
- Setup Find my Device
Apps
Apps which might already be installed on most custom ROMs
- Calculator
- Clock (with Alarm)
- Contacts/Phone
- File Manager
- FM Radio
- Gallery
- Messaging/SMS
- Music player
Core apps that you need to install
- Open source App store: FDroid
- Apps to block ads: AdAway or DNS66 (from F-droid)
- Tiny Flashlight (if torch feature isn’t available already)
- Gmail
- Google Calendar
- Google Maps
- Google Chrome
- Truecaller
- ZIP viewer
- Splitwise
- (Google) Drive
- Google Docs
- Dropbox
- Gboard
- No Screen Off
- Play Games
- Quora
- Notifications History
- Strava
- Mi Fit (for Mi Band)
Marketing:
- Andlytics
- Buffer
- Canva
- Crowdfire
- FatRank
- Google Ads
- Google Analytics
- Play console
- Playbook (by Google)
- Primer (by Google)
- SERPMojo
- YT Studio
Professional Networking:
- CohortPlus
- Nodd
- Shapr
Payments, Banking and Personal Finance:
- Artos
- BHIM
- Google Pay
- Paytm
- PhonePe
- Coinbase
- Zebpay
- DBS India
- HDFC
- iMobile by ICICI
- YONO by SBI
- Suryoday Bank
- Fincare Bank
- Payback
- MyWay Wealth
- Paytm Money
- Zerodha Kite
- Zeta
Social:
- Facebook Lite
- Messenger Lite
- Meetup
- Telegram
Media and entertainment:
- Airtel Xstream
- Hotstar
- Netflix
- Prime Video
- AltBalaji
- Zee5
- SonyLIV
- Voot
- Youtube Music
- Shazam Lite
- Videoder
- Youtube go (to download Youtube videos)
- Youtube
Work:
- Slack
- Hangouts
- (Google) Meet
Knowledge:
- Goodreads
- Google News
- Google Play Books
- Inoreader (RSS Reader)
- Materialistic (Hacker News client)
- Medium
- Castbox
- Audible
- ProductHunt (Web app)
Transportation:
- Bounce
- Drivezy
- Ola cabs
- Ola Lite
- Rapido
- Uber
- Vogo
- Yulu
- Zoomcar
Todo, Calendars and more:
- Google Calendar
- Wunderlist
- Gtasks
- Gtasks license (app)
- Workflowy
Food and Grocery:
- Swiggy
- UberEats
- Zomato
- Dunzo
- Bigbasket
- Grofers
- Prime Now
Smart home
- LG SmartThinQ (for LG smart washing machine)
- Smart Life (for smart bulbs and switches)
- Mi Home (for Mi Wifi Repeater)
- Google Home (for Google Home mini)
Tech:
- Automate
- Busybox
- ConnectBot
- FakeGPS
- JuiceSSH, SSHDroid
- Linux Deploy
- MacroDroid
- VNC Viewer (RealVNC)
- RepetitouchPro
- Hacker’s Keyboard
Island:
I install two instances of these apps:
- Dunzo
- Olacabs
- Uber
- Rapido
- Suryoday Bank
- Fincare Bank
- Paytm Money
- Whataspp
Travel apps
- Booking.com
- Airbnb
- TripAdvisor
- ATM locator: TBD
- Download Offline maps in Google Maps
- Ixigo
India only Apps
- Airtel
- Amazon India
- Flipkart
- BookMyShow
- Playo
- Redbus
- Olx
- Myntra
- ACT Fibernet
Image Editors
- TinyPlanetGlobePhoto
- Paletta
- Pixaloop
- PICNIC
Add android Widgets on homescreen
- No Screen Off
- Torch
- Truecaller
- Calender
Add Responsive Websites or PWA icons
- Uber
- ProductHunt