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After transferring your data and signing in, update the phone, tune its battery settings, and review app permissions. Android menus vary by version and manufacturer, so treat the paths below as starting points and check your phone maker’s help page if a setting is named or located differently. These steps can improve your setup, but no universal battery-life gain is established.
How do I set up a new Android phone?
- Finish initial setup. Complete device transfer and account setup before reviewing settings.
- Install available updates. Check for Android system updates and Google Play app updates. The exact menu names vary by handset; consult the manufacturer’s support page if needed. Google includes both update checks in its battery troubleshooting guidance.
- Review battery use and privacy controls. Start with the settings below, then adjust them according to which apps and features you rely on.
How can I make my Android phone battery last longer?
Begin with the screen and apps that use the most power. Google lists several possible battery-saving measures, but their effect depends on the handset and how you use it.
- Choose a shorter screen timeout and lower brightness, or enable automatic brightness.
- Check the battery-use screen for apps using a lot of power. Restrict background use where it will not disrupt something you need.
- Consider Adaptive Battery and Dark theme if your phone offers them.
- Turn off keyboard sounds or vibration if you do not find them useful.
For exact settings and manufacturer-specific steps, see Google’s Android battery guidance.
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Battery Saver can stretch a charge, but may limit background activity, delay some apps or network connections, and reduce visual effects or other features. After turning it on, check whether time-sensitive messages, backups, and other functions still work as expected.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Keep the phone cool and charge sensibly
Heat speeds battery drain and can damage the battery, so avoid leaving the phone hot, especially while fully charged. Google says there is no need to train battery capacity by repeatedly charging from empty to full: “You don’t need to teach your phone the battery’s capacity by going from full charge to zero, or zero to full.” Use the adapter supplied with the phone when possible; another adapter may charge slowly or not at all and could damage the phone or battery. If the supplied adapter is missing or damaged, check the manufacturer’s guidance for a compatible replacement for your exact handset before buying one.
Which Android permissions should I turn off?
Turn off permissions an app does not need for the way you use it; there is no single list that is right for every phone or app. Open Privacy Dashboard—usually under Privacy or Security & privacy—and review recent access to permissions such as camera, microphone, and location. Revoke access that does not fit the app’s purpose.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
The history window depends on Android version: Google says the Privacy Dashboard shows seven days of activity on Android 13 and 24 hours on Android 12. See Google’s Privacy Dashboard instructions.
How do I stop apps from tracking my location?
Location controls work at several levels. Device Location, Location Accuracy, an app’s permission, and an app’s precise-versus-approximate access are distinct settings. To limit an individual app, review its location permission and choose the least access that still supports its purpose:
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
- Allow only while using: useful when the app needs location during active use.
- Ask every time: offers a prompt each time the app requests access, where available.
- Don’t allow: appropriate when location is not needed for the app’s function.
- Turn off precise location: where supported, this lets an app use approximate rather than precise location.
A navigation app may need precise location while giving directions; a game or social app may work without it. Google’s app location permission guide explains the available choices.
Decide whether to keep device Location on
Turning off device Location reduces location access for apps and services, but can also disable useful features such as location-based search, finding a lost phone, location sharing, earthquake alerts, and location-based time-zone features. Emergency location handling may still send a device’s location to emergency responders when an emergency number is called or texted. Google explains the device-level controls in its location settings guide.
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Understand Location Accuracy
On supported devices, Location Accuracy can use Wi-Fi access points, cellular networks, GPS, and sensors to estimate position, particularly where GPS is obscured. It is not the same as an app’s permission. If your aim is to limit precision without losing all location-based features, consider approximate access for individual apps rather than disabling device Location.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDoes turning off Usage & diagnostics stop Android updates?
No. Google says essential services, including Android version updates, remain available when Usage & diagnostics is off. The setting controls information shared with Google for diagnostics; it does not control data that individual apps may collect. The option is generally under Settings > Google > More > Usage & diagnostics, though labels can vary. See Google’s Usage & diagnostics instructions.
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Why not disable Google Play services?
Google Play services supports system management, including setup and update functions. Google describes related permissions that may include location, nearby devices, contacts, phone, call logs, and SMS, as well as use of identifiers, software versions, device attributes, IP address, SIM operator, and performance data for system-management functionality. These stated system purposes do not make disabling a core service a general privacy or battery recommendation. See Google’s explanation of Google Play services for system management.
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