Doing this ensures that your contacts, calendars, text messages, call history, wallpaper, apps, and a few other system settings will make the jump to your new device. It will take some time for your old phone to upload everything, especially if you haven't backed up recently.

If you're switching from an iPhone, install the Google Drive app. In the Google Drive app on your iPhone, go to Settings, Backup, and choose everything you want to save and move across to your new phone. You should also go to your iPhone Settings, head to Messages, and toggle off iMessage as well as Settings and then FaceTime to toggle it off, otherwise, you might miss calls and texts on your new phone.

Folks with any two-factor authentication (2FA) apps, like Google Authenticator, should check the app's instructions for transferring accounts (do not wipe your old phone until you have done this!)

Put your SIM card in your new phone (skip this step if you’re using an eSIM) and hold down the power button to turn it on. (You can also insert your SIM card after you've set up your device.) You’ll be greeted with a series of setup chores. This is where you’ll set your language preferences, connect to your home Wi-Fi network, and enter your Google account details. This is the same as your Gmail address and password. If you're using an eSIM you will get the chance to set that up here too, and you may have to scan a QR code provided by your carrier. 

Set up security features like the device unlock passcode and the fingerprint unlocking feature, if your phone offers it. You may get the option to set up Google Pay and some other perks, depending on your phone. Lastly, you can decide if you want to use Google Assistant and set up voice commands if you do.

Signing in to your Google account makes it easy to set up a new phone from there. Things like contacts, calendars, and text messages that are tied to your Google account—whether you stashed them there from the web or your old phone—can flow onto your new device after you log in. You will be prompted to choose what you want to restore from your most recent backup. This is a great opportunity to scan your app list and ditch any old apps or games you don't use anymore.