Get started with your new Windows Phone

Today is Three Kings Day, and it is likely that some of you have been brought a nice shiny Windows Phone. Many will be version 8 phones, a Lumia 920 (if you've been lucky), a Lumia 820 or one of the HTC: 8X or 8S. Some Windows Phone 7 may still fall. For this reason, from Xataka Windows we want to guide you through the first steps of configuring your phone, from the first power on.

Initial setup

As we turn on our Windows Phone, the first thing we see is the welcome screen.Pressing start, we will begin the configuration. We choose the language (if you change the choice, the phone will restart) and we will have to read and accept the terms of use of Windows Phone along with the privacy statement.

Once this is done, we arrive at the settings screen. We have two options, either the recommended one or customize the settings one by one. Here we can decide if improvement data is sent to Microsoft about the phone, keyboard and WiFi, if we activate mobile data and if we want to download updates automatically. Then, we adjust region, date and time and log in with our Microsoft account.

If you don't have an account, you can create one now or sign in later (if you don't sign in, you won't be able to download apps or sync anything with the cloud). You will have to wait a while until the rest of the applications are installed, and you will have finished with the initial configuration.

Adjusting the phone to your liking

"Now we have our Windows Phone ready to work, and I imagine that the first thing you will do is go to Settings>"

"From there you can change all aspects of the phone. Although it is best that you explore everything that is available for yourselves, some recommendations: go to tones and sounds to set the tone that you like the most and to deactivate some system sounds such as those of the keyboard or the lock screen, adjust in subject>"

"I would also turn on battery saver, which will give you some precious hours when your phone is running low on power. Also, remember that in the Applications section you have more settings for specific system applications."

Synchronizing contacts and mail

If you have all your information in your Microsoft account, it is very likely that all your contacts, emails and calendar events have already been synchronized. But you probably want something else, like adding social media accounts or other email accounts .

"Adding more email accounts (Microsoft, Google or Yahoo) is very simple. Simply go to the mail application and, in the bottom bar, press Add mail account. There you can add more accounts and say what you want your phone to synchronize: mail, calendar and/or contacts. Remember that you can link them to have a single inbox on the phone."

"In Contacts you can add social network accounts. You only have to go to the configuration section and, at the end of everything, press add an account. From there you can add your Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts so they&39;re close at hand on the phone. Normally, Windows Phone will link the accounts of your contacts in each social network in a single entry, although in some cases (different names or different emails) you will have to do it by hand."

Customizing the home screen, apps, and games

Applications, applications, applications . What would a phone be without apps? In Xataka Windows we reviewed the essential applications for your Windows Phone, and you can also review the rest of the entries to see what other little wonders we have talked about.

"Of course, games couldn&39;t be missing either. If you go to the Xbox Games application>"

"And now, with everything installed, let&39;s take advantage of one of Windows Phone&39;s best features: the Start screen. You can pin new apps from the list by keeping your finger on the one you want and pressing pin to start. You can also do the same from Games."

While on the home screen, hold your finger on a tile to move, unpin, or resize it with the bottom right arrow. In Windows Phone 8, some apps support extended tiles, so you can make them bigger to show more information.

The first synchronization with the computer

Now all you have to do is load the music to your mobile. It is as simple as connecting it to the computer and following the steps of the wizard. With Windows Phone 7, it will ask you to download Zune, and with Windows Phone 8 the sync app. From there you can choose the music from your computer, either from individual files or from the iTunes library, and add it to the application.

"

You will have to give the phone a name, which will identify it each time you connect it. Then, tap sync in the app (Zune syncs automatically so you don&39;t have to tap anything) and wait until your phone is fully charged. To access all the music later, you just have to go to the Música> application."

Final Tips

By now you should be fully familiar with your phone, customized to your liking. Just a few final tips to get more out of Windows Phone. First things first, about the battery.

Modern batteries handle partial charges well, although it is best to allow them to fully charge each cycle. Make sure that they never fully discharge, and remember that the heat does not do them too well either. By following these tips, you will ensure that your phone's battery lasts longer and does not break down so quickly.

Also, a tip about the system itself: explore and tinker as much as you can. Whenever you download a new app, look for the settings section to see what else you can do with it. Also remember that holding down an item usually brings up a context menu that will give you more useful options.

We hope these tips help you enjoy your new arrival Windows Phone. And, as always, if you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to leave them in the comments. Oh, and one last thing: if what they have given you is a computer with Windows 8, in a while you will have the corresponding guide in Xataka Windows.