Introduction

There is nothing quite as exhilarating as unboxing your very first, new flagship-level smartphone, especially one such as the Samsung S23 Ultra. The S23 Ultra is nothing short of a beast that carries with it all the latest technology on displays, super-powerful camera systems, and ultra-premium experiences. But for it to handle and be handled, it needs to be put down right.

The following is an elaborate guide that targets setting up the Samsung S23 Ultra and how you can remake the best use with the said new device, whether you are a techy or a first-timer on a Samsung device.

1. Unboxing and Initial Setup S23 Ultra

a) Unboxing the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Before we get into the setup, let’s spend a few minutes on the unboxing experience. Samsung usually sends its flagship phones in those really sexy, clean boxes that exude luxury when one lifts off the outer covering and pulls it open, and it will welcome you to the beautiful S23 Ultra lying there, with some of its essential accomplices: a charging cable, a SIM ejector tool, and some user manuals.

b) Switch on Your Device

Pressing the power button at the right side will boot the phone for the first time. You will need to press and hold it until you will see the appearing Samsung logo. After that, the device will start to boot itself, and you will see the welcome screen.

First Impressions: This model definitely knows how to tug at your heart when it steps right out of the box. Sleek, curvy, ravishing large AMOLED screen, and an overall premium feel that is just inviting you towards the features—this thing does it. You feel like you’ve got a slice of the future sitting right there in the palm of your hand.

2. Language and Region Settings

a) Set Display Language

Preferred Language

The first set in the fast setup process just after switching on is the selection of your Preferred Language. The S23 Ultra from offers a lot of languages which one can use from all over the world. Scroll down the list and tap on a desired language.

b) Choose Your Region

It will now ask you for your region. Now, this according to me is a very important option, since it could basically affect many things in your phone, right from setting the time zone, regional settings, and access to the many apps and services. The right region definitely keeps many inconveniences away for some other time.

Personal Tip

I have misselected another regional set up when setting the phone, and now some applications will not be found in the Samsung Galaxy Store. I will thereby be forced to reset the phone so that I can make the changes. So double-check the selection when doing this thus saving time.

3. Connecting to Wi-Fi

a) Finding a Wi-Fi Network

Then, select your language and region. You are to connect to a Wi-Fi network through which the device will download the software update and set online services. The searching process is automatic. From the list, choose the name of your network, then input the password given by your network.

Even then, you are getting problems at Wi-Fi connectivity; ensure that your router is okay and you must have entered the right password. Switching off and then on, the turning on and off the Wi-Fi of your phone usually fixes the problem.

Now, My Story:

During setting up, I equally had a problem for I could not do it from my home. I moved closer to the router, and immediately, the strength became stable. It is such an easy way to deal with that problem but might save you the headache.

Data Transfer from your Old Device

a) Using Samsung Smart Switch:

Samsung has made transferring your previous data to your new device easy and fast using the Smart Switch app. Move way more than just contacts: transfer over photos, messages, and apps from one old device to a new one. All you have to do is open up and let the Samsung Smart Switch app do its thing.

Download Smart Switch: Download and install the Smart Switch app only from the Google Play Store or the Galaxy Store .

Connect the Two Devices: You may connect the old device to the S23 Ultra through USB, over Wi-Fi, or to avoid any physical connection at all, you can easily place the two devices close to each other for a wireless transfer.

Select What to Transfer: Next, it will prompt you to select the data that you wish to transfer. Then go on. Depending upon the amount of data, this may take a minute, or at the maximum even an hour.

b) Manual Data Transfer

In more layman words, you can also keep a backup of your data on Google Drive or Samsung Cloud and restore it later on your S23 Ultra.

Personal Story:

So, actually, I was using Smart Switch from the old phone to the new one, and it was a very speedy process, and then I had all applications and pictures on my new phone in about 2 minutes. Pretty easy, mostly because Samsung made this fully seamless, comfortable, and not a single app had to be reinstalled manually.

5. Samsung Account Setup

a) Use of a Samsung Account

Create/ Sign in to Samsung Account: This is the most crucial setup and via a Samsung account, one can have many other choices which are purely for only Samsung, like Samsung Pay, Galaxy Store, Samsung Cloud, and one more thing of importance is that one also has the choice to share data between various devices of Samsung.

Sign In:

This tab is for signing in when one already has the Samsung Account by entering Email and Password

Create Account: In case that of not having one, you can create your account by following the procedures on the screen. You shall be signing in with your own Email address and setting a Password to use with the account.

You will then be capable of configuring your device once again using your Samsung account. Then, at your disposal will be backing your data up to Samsung Cloud, including contacts, events in your calendar, notes, and application data. It’s important, however, to keep on doing backups of your data so that when the time comes for you to reset your phone or get a new one, your data will be safe and every other thing reinstallable easily.

Personal Note:

Actually, even if it was just the Samsung account, it was already surprising for the second account. Well, it was relevant in a little way. But to expect more than doing a one-time set-up for all the data used on other Samsung devices, including automatic syncing, would really be much to ask from it. Not to mention the freebies or discounts Samsung occasionally gives through the account I have.

6. Biometrics and Security Configuration

a) Setting up the Fingerprint Scanner

The Samsung S23 Ultra also has an in-display fingerprint scanner. It’s easy and safe to set up. Just follow these simple steps:

Swipe downwards from the screen and tap Biometrics and security > Fingerprints.

Step 3: Enroll a Fingerprint. The icon will display a tap on the screen. Thereafter, follow the onscreen guidance. This will prompt you to place the finger on the screen a couple of times at different positions. This is to capture each and everything about your fingerprint.

Setting a Backup Password. In an event the fingerprint scanner might fail to identify your print then you must jot down a backup password, or PIN

b) Face-Unlock

S23 Ultra is also incorporated with an additional option of face unlock. Following steps will guide one in the process of setting it up:

Go to the Settings – Settings > Biometrics and security > Face recognition.

Turn on – Face recognition requires that you follow the prompts on the screen that will scan your face. It is recommended that you do it in a well-lit surrounding  .

c) Secure Folder

Secure Folder relatively strengthens the second line of defense in protecting sensitive information. This folder can store tons of stuff—files, photos, or apps—that will be locked through its password or biometric authentication set.

 Personal Experience

The in-display fingerprint scanner on the S23 Ultra is so responsive. I set this up in minutes, and it already looked more reliable compared to the previous models that I have handled. Its facial recognition feature is sugar to this startling feature, especially when I am in a position where I am not in position to use my hands.

7. Customizing Your Home Screen and Settings

a) Home Screen Layout

Most likely, the strong suit for Samsung’s One UI is its home screen. Add some widgets, move apps around, then even choose your preferred layout with the home screen.

 Widgets: Tap and hold on your home screen, then tap ‘Widgets’. You then scroll through what’s available to see what you need to use. That, and you can drag your favorite widgets right onto the home screen.

Home Screen Layout: Settings > Display > Home screen. Grid options,on /off with customization for icon size app drawer

b) Theme Management

Samsung stuffs its Galaxy Apps store with a tonne of Themes, Wallpapers and Icon packs to customise the phone:

Head to Galaxy Apps> long tap on home screen> Touch Themes.

Get new Themes, Wallpapers, and Icons: Plenty of them. Most are free and some may be premium. Apply a Theme: Just tap the apply button—yup, just one tap, and your phone comes to life with a new look, right before your very eyes. Customization Tip

I love customization, and this goes very well with the S23 Ultra—there’s very much to work with. I have set up a black-and-white minimalistic look on the phone, and boy, it does look gorgeous; it also adds a little to the life of the battery by keeping the screen pretty dim.

8. Configuring Apps and Notifications

a) Configuration Of Key Apps

Now that your phone is all set, the next order of business is to download all your favorite apps. Fire up Google Play Store or Galaxy Store to download all the apps that you normally use every day.

b) Notifications Management

In Samsung One UI, you do have some sort of leeway when it comes to methods in which notifications have to show up on your device:

Fire up Settings — To Settings > Notifications.

Customize Notifications: You can pick the applications you want to receive notifications from using the push method, their actions, either as banners or icons, and if they can be displayed on the Lock screen.

Personal Anecdote: I am just so weird when it comes to notifications. I really do not want to be bombarded with so much alert every minute. That is why I have spent quite a bit of time on