How to Set Up a New Motorola Phone

Setting up a new (or freshly reset) Motorola phone takes about 15 minutes. Have your Wi-Fi password and Google account details ready, and charge the phone to at least 20% before you start.

Quick steps: Turn on → choose language → Start → connect to Wi-Fi → sign in to Google → set a PIN → accept Google services → choose navigation style and theme → Finish.

Turn on and choose a language

  1. Motorola phone with the Power button highlighted
    Step 1

    Turn on the phone

    Press and hold the Power button until the phone turns on. Make sure the battery is at least 20% charged.

  2. hello moto welcome screen with Start highlighted
    Step 2

    Choose your language

    On the hello moto screen, tap the language, choose your preferred language from the list, and tap Start.

Connect to a network

  1. Connect to mobile network screen with Skip highlighted
    Step 1

    Set up the SIM (or skip)

    If the SIM card screen appears, insert or set up your SIM now, or tap Skip to do it later.

  2. Set up using another device screen with Skip highlighted
    Step 2

    Skip copying from another device

    When asked to Set up using another device, tap Skip. (You can copy apps and data later.)

  3. Connect to Wi-Fi screen with the network list
    Step 3

    Choose a Wi-Fi network

    Select your Wi-Fi network. If it isn’t listed, tap See all Wi-Fi networks.

  4. Wi-Fi password entry with Connect highlighted
    Step 4

    Enter the Wi-Fi password

    Enter the Wi-Fi password and tap Connect.

  5. Privacy and security screen with Accept and continue highlighted
    Step 5

    Accept privacy & security terms

    Review the terms and tap Accept & continue.

  6. Who are you setting this phone up for screen
    Step 6

    Choose who the phone is for

    If asked who you’re setting the phone up for, tap For myself.

Sign in to Google

  1. Google sign-in screen with the email field highlighted
    Step 1

    Enter your Google email

    Enter your Gmail address or phone number and tap Next. No Google account? Tap Create account and follow the steps.

  2. Google password screen with Next highlighted
    Step 2

    Enter your password

    Enter your password and tap Next.

  3. Google terms screen with I agree highlighted
    Step 3

    Agree to Google’s terms

    Review the terms and tap I agree.

Secure your phone

  1. Set a PIN screen
    Step 1

    Set a PIN

    Enter a PIN for your screen lock and tap Next.

  2. Re-enter your PIN screen with Confirm highlighted
    Step 2

    Confirm the PIN

    Re-enter the PIN, tap Confirm, then tap Done.

  3. Unlock with your fingerprint screen with Skip highlighted
    Step 3

    Fingerprint (optional)

    Set up fingerprint unlock now, or tap Skip to do it later in Settings.

Google services and backup

  1. Copy apps and data screen
    Step 1

    Copy apps & data (optional)

    If the Copy apps & data screen appears, choose an option — or Do it later to set up as a new phone.

  2. Google services screen with Accept highlighted
    Step 2

    Accept Google services

    Review the Google services options (such as location) and tap Accept.

  3. Google services backup screen with Turn on backup highlighted
    Step 3

    Turn on backup

    Tap Turn on backup to back up your photos and device data to your Google account.

  4. Select a default search engine screen
    Step 4

    Choose a search engine

    Tap Next, choose your preferred search engine and tap Next.

  5. Continue setup screen
    Step 5

    Continue setup

    Tap Continue.

  6. Let contacts nearby find and share with you screen
    Step 6

    Nearby contacts sharing

    Choose whether nearby contacts can find you and share content (Quick Share) — for example, tap No thanks.

  7. Review additional apps screen with OK highlighted
    Step 7

    Review additional apps

    Review the list of additional apps that will be installed and tap OK.

Motorola settings

  1. Stay up to date screen
    Step 1

    Motorola updates

    Tap Sign up to get Motorola news and offers, or Skip.

  2. Smart lock screen setup
    Step 2

    Smart lock screen

    Tap Next to set up Smart lock screen recommendations (you can change this later).

  3. Indus Appstore setup screen
    Step 3

    Indus Appstore

    Tap Continue to set up Indus Appstore, or Skip.

  4. Navigation style screen with gesture and button options
    Step 4

    Choose a navigation style

    Choose gesture navigation or 3-button navigation and tap Next.

  5. Theme selection screen
    Step 5

    Choose a theme

    Choose Light, Dark or Transition and tap Next.

  6. Hello Moto setup complete screen with Finish highlighted
    Step 6

    Finish

    Tap Finish to complete setup.

  7. Explore your Moto screen
    Step 7

    Start using your phone

    Setup is complete. Go to the Home screen and start exploring your Motorola phone.

Frequently asked questions

How do I transfer data from my old phone to a new Motorola?

During setup, choose Copy apps & data and follow the steps to connect your old phone with a cable or wirelessly. You can also restore from your Google backup by signing in with the same account.

Can I set up a Motorola phone without a Google account?

Yes — tap Skip on the sign-in screen. You won’t be able to use the Play Store or Google backup until you add an account later.

Still having problems? It may be a hardware fault. Check the Motorola spare part prices for your model, or compare battery and display replacement costs.

Related Motorola guides

See all 24 Motorola guides →

Steps and screenshots based on Motorola's official Set up a new phone tutorial. Steps can vary slightly by model and Android version.