Device Setup · Melbourne

New Phone or Tablet? We’ll Set It Up Right — at Your Home

Most Melbourne stores hand you a new phone with the basics done. The important stuff — contacts, photos, email, apps, accessibility — is left for you to figure out. We come to your home and do it properly.

iPhone & iPad Android & Samsung Data transfer Seniors welcome All Melbourne suburbs
Updated April 2026 5 min read iPhone & Android both covered

You’ve got a new phone. The Telstra or Optus store did the basic setup. But your photos aren’t there. Your emails aren’t working. The contacts are missing. Half the apps from your old phone didn’t come across.

Sound familiar? We hear this every week.

The stores do the minimum. Getting a phone actually ready to use — with everything from your old one, set up the way you want it — takes time. Time the store doesn’t have. That’s where Fixable comes in.

What “setting up a phone properly” actually involves

Here’s everything a real setup covers. Most people don’t realise how much goes into it.

Apple ID or Google accountSign in properly so everything syncs and backups work
Contacts transferredEvery name and number from the old phone, on the new one
Photos moved acrossNothing left behind on the old device
Email connectedGmail, Outlook, or your provider’s email — on the phone and working
WhatsApp transferredChat history and contacts moved to the new phone
Accessibility settingsText size, brightness, hearing aid pairing, voice control
Important apps set upMyGov, Medicare, banking, FaceTime, Zoom, streaming
Backup switched oniCloud or Google Photos — so this never has to be done again

That’s a proper setup. Not a basic one. And it’s exactly what Fixable does, at your home, before we leave.

Real story — Glen Waverley: A grandmother received a new iPhone 16 from her daughter for Christmas. The Telstra store got her started but her photos — four years of grandchildren and holidays — weren’t on the new phone. She couldn’t find them. When Fixable visited, they were sitting in iCloud the whole time. We moved everything across, set up FaceTime so she could video-call her daughter in Sydney, and walked her through the new gestures. Two hours well spent.

iPhone and iPad vs Android — what’s different

📱
iPhone & iPad (Apple)
  • Apple ID recovery and two-factor setup
  • iCloud backup and restore
  • FaceTime and iMessage activation
  • Quick Start (phone-to-phone transfer)
  • Apple Watch pairing
  • AirPods and hearing aid setup
  • Screen Time and accessibility settings
  • MyGov, Medicare and banking apps
🤖
Android & Samsung (Google)
  • Google account setup and sync
  • Google Photos backup activation
  • Samsung Smart Switch data transfer
  • WhatsApp full transfer with history
  • Google Pay and digital wallet setup
  • Home screen and widget setup
  • Accessibility: large text, magnification
  • MyGov, Medicare and banking apps

Switching from Android to iPhone — or the other way

This is the trickiest setup. Different systems don’t always talk to each other easily.

Switching from Android to iPhone is common in Melbourne right now. Many older residents whose children use iPhones make the switch so FaceTime works properly between them.

What transfers and what needs a workaround
Android Samsung / Google 📇 Contacts 📸 Photos 💬 WhatsApp 📧 Email 🎵 Music 📱 Apps ✓ Transfers ✓ Transfers ⚠ Workaround ✓ Transfers ✗ Repurchase ✗ Re-download iPhone Apple iOS 📇 Contacts 📸 Photos 💬 WhatsApp 📧 Email 🎵 Music 📱 Apps

Contacts, photos and email transfer cleanly. WhatsApp needs a specific backup method. Paid apps can’t transfer — they need to be re-purchased on the new platform.

💡 WhatsApp transfers between Android and iPhone: WhatsApp introduced an official transfer tool in 2022. But it only works while both phones are present, connected, and the process runs correctly from the start. If it fails halfway through, chat history can be lost. Fixable runs this process with both phones side by side to make sure nothing is left behind.

Why the store setup isn’t enough

Every week across Melbourne, Fixable visits homes where a new phone is sitting on the table — and the person using it still can’t find their photos, still doesn’t have their emails, and still hasn’t figured out the new gestures.

It’s not because they’re not smart. It’s because in-store setup is rushed. Staff have the next customer waiting.

A proper setup takes one to two hours. There’s no shortcut.

Real story — Doncaster: A couple both upgraded from older Samsung phones at the same time. The store moved their contacts. Nothing else. When Fixable visited, neither phone had photos backed up, neither had email set up, and the husband’s WhatsApp history — six years of family group chats — wasn’t on the new phone. We recovered everything from his Google account backup. It was all still there. Just waiting to be connected.

Seniors and accessibility setup — this is where we take extra time

Phone setup for older Melbourne residents is different. It’s not just about getting the data across. It’s about making the phone easy to use every day.

Fixable spends extra time on:

  • Text size — larger, easier to read without glasses
  • Display brightness and contrast — easier on the eyes
  • Hearing aid Bluetooth pairing — for Phonak, Oticon, ReSound and others
  • Emergency contacts and Medical ID — visible on the lock screen without a password, critical for safety
  • Simplified home screen — just the apps that matter, not 40 confusing icons
  • MyGov and Medicare apps — set up with two-factor authentication done properly
  • FaceTime or WhatsApp — video calling with family, tested and working before we leave
  • Voice assistant setup — Siri or Google Assistant for hands-free use
A note on MyGov: Setting up MyGov on a new phone in Melbourne requires the old phone to be present during the process — it uses the old phone’s number for two-factor authentication. If the old phone is gone, there’s a different recovery process. Always keep the old phone handy until MyGov is confirmed working on the new one.

What happens during a Fixable visit

  1. We check both the old and new device are present and accessible
  2. We back up the old phone first — before touching anything — so nothing can be lost
  3. We transfer contacts, photos, messages and WhatsApp
  4. We set up email, accounts and the apps you actually use
  5. We configure accessibility settings at your preference
  6. We walk you through the key gestures and features
  7. We confirm everything works before we leave
  8. We answer every question you have — no time limit

Most visits take one to two hours. Bring us a cup of tea and we’ll make sure everything is right.

Frequently asked questions

What does in-home phone setup in Melbourne include?

Fixable’s phone setup visits cover Apple ID or Google account setup, email, Wi-Fi, contacts and photos transfer, WhatsApp transfer, accessibility settings, important apps including MyGov and Medicare, and a full walkthrough before we leave. Everything — not just the basics.

Can you transfer everything from my old phone to a new one?

Yes. We transfer contacts, photos, messages, apps and account settings — iPhone to iPhone, Android to Android, or switching between the two. We do this with both phones present so you can see everything is there before the old phone is wiped.

Can you help with Apple ID problems?

Yes. Apple ID issues are one of the most common reasons Melbourne residents call us. We recover locked Apple IDs, set up two-factor authentication correctly, and make sure iCloud backup is running so your data is protected going forward.

Can you set up a new iPad at home in Melbourne?

Yes. iPad setup is part of our phone and tablet service. We connect Wi-Fi, Apple ID, email, FaceTime, iMessage, accessibility settings, and any apps you use — including MyGov, Medicare, and banking apps. Same process, same thoroughness.

Do you help seniors set up new phones and tablets in Melbourne?

Absolutely — this is one of our most requested services for older Melbourne residents. We configure larger text, simplified home screens, hearing aid Bluetooth pairing, emergency contacts, and spend as much time as needed showing you how everything works. Your pace, your comfort, no rushing.

How much does phone setup in Melbourne cost?

$89 per hour, no call-out fee. Most phone setup visits take one to two hours depending on how much needs to be transferred and configured. We give you an honest estimate when we arrive — and we don’t leave until everything is working properly.

New phone or tablet that needs a proper setup?

Fixable visits your Melbourne home and sets it up right — everything transferred, everything working. $89/hr, no call-out fee.

About Fixable: Friendly, patient in-home IT support across all Melbourne suburbs — phones, tablets, computers, Wi-Fi and more. Always plain English, no call-out fee. Call 0435 955 429 or visit fixable.au