BlackBerry Z10 standing

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Congratulations! You've unboxed your brand-spanking-new BlackBerry Z10 - the plastic covering is peeled and the software is in its pristine, fresh-from-the-factory state. You almost don't want to defile its purity, but before long the possibilities become impossible to resist and eventually overwhelming. Take a deep breath, bro. We've got the hit list of the first ten things you should do to set a solid foundation with your shiny new BlackBerry Z10.  

Charge your battery

BlackBerry Z10 battery

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to go crazy with overcharging a new lithium-ion battery, but considering how much you're going to be using it on unboxing day, you'll want to make sure it's topped up. In general, you should avoid draining the Z10 completely if you can help it, and charge periodically through day-to-day use. Regardless of usage, your battery life will go down over time, but if you want to limit how much of a dent is put in by charge cycles, snag a spare battery and swap out regularly. 

Ten tips and tricks to extend your BlackBerry Z10 battery life
Check out the BlackBerry Charger Bundle!

Set up accounts

Adding accounts to BlackBerry Z10

Obviously you want to start getting e-mail and other messages right away. There are hooks for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo!, Evernote, Box, and Dropbox built right into the system settings. If you've got more specific account requirements, there are also options for generic IMAP, POP, CalDAV, CardDAV, Exchange ActiveSync, and Balance-enabled work accounts, too. Of course, the very first account you'll need to set up is a BlackBerry ID if you don't already have one.

Read our step-by-step guide on how to set up accounts on the BlackBerry Z10

Lock it down

BlackBerry Z10 device passwords

A simple unlock code can make all the difference if your beloved BlackBerry Z10 falls into the hands of ne'er-do-wells. It's an easy enough precaution to take, even if it makes things slightly more annoying on a day-to-day basis. BlackBerry Protect can also help you take care of a lost phone, or even track it down via GPS. Once you've done that, you may even feel confident enough to store other passwords on there through Password Keeper. 

How to set a BlackBerry Z10 device password
Using Password Keeper on BlackBerry 10

Install BlackBerry Link

BlackBerry Link

The desktop software for BlackBerry is an invaluable addition for making sure your device data is backed up and synced. Link can help you manage storage, install OS updates, and otherwise get the very best out of your BlackBerry Z10. 

Download BlackBerry Link
How to back up and restore your BlackBerry Z10 with Link

Load your music

Listening to music on the BlackBerry Z10

The BlackBerry Z10 is a fine music machine, and can handle a locally-stored collection as well as streaming from the cloud. The BlackBerry Z10 comes with a set of fine earbuds if you don't have any already, and universal search makes it very easy to find that particular track you're looking for. 

Check out the best music apps for BlackBerry 10
Find out how to format a 64 GB microSD card for the BlackBerry Z10
How to purchase music from BlackBerry World
How to enable music shortcuts in BlackBerry 10

Practice typing

Typing on the BlackBerry Z10

Now, the BlackBerry Z10 keyboard will take a little bit of getting used to. There are some new gestures here that will be pretty unfamiliar to you, even if you've spent a lot of time with the PlayBook keyboard. That's okay, we've got plenty of guides to help you get the most out of the BlackBerry Z10 virtual keyboard. Pound out a few test e-mails, and start training that keyboard. Remember, it learns based on usage, so add custom words to the dictionary get used to swiping

Get a head start with these BlackBerry Z10 keyboard tips
How to add words to your personal dictionary
How to enable multiple languages for the BlackBerry Z10 keyboard

Pick up apps

BlackBerry World on the BlackBerry Z10

Now that all of the out-of-the-box software is set up, you'll want to see what else is out there. Lucky for you, we've had some time to find the very best that BlackBerry World has to offer. The games selection is absolutely great, and you'll find plenty of more productive apps out there for whatever your needs may be.

Check out our top BlackBerry Z10 apps and games
The best productivity and utility apps for the BlackBerry Z10
The best social apps for the BlackBerry Z10
The best news apps for the BlackBerry Z10

Personalize!

Notifications on BlackBerry 10

Start loading up wallpapers and setting up ringtones to really make the BlackBerry Z10 your own. It's easy enough to, and really makes the world of difference when you start bumping into other Z10 owners in the wild. It's useful too once you start setting up custom profiles for specific circumstances. 

Peruse our massive wallpaper gallery
Find new ringtones
How to use custom ringtones and alerts on the BlackBerry Z10
How to change notification profiles on your BlackBerry Z10

Start sideloading

Sideloading on the BlackBerry Z10

There's a whole sordid sexy underground of sideloading Android apps onto the BlackBerry Z10, and it can open up a whole range of options for those looking for more than what BlackBerry World has to offer. For those that were really entrenched in the Android ecosystem, this may be an absolute necessity. Even those that are only mildly curious shouldn't be worried about things being too complicated. Once you download the right software and know how to put your device into development mode, it's quite easy. 

Here's how to sideload Android apps onto the BlackBerry Z10 on PC
Here's how to sideload Android apps onto the BlackBerry Z10 on Mac
Making your way around Android apps on the BlackBerry Z10
How to back up and convert your Android device apps for the BlackBerry Z10

Get protected

BlackBerry Z10 case

You'll want to get some protection on your BlackBerry Z10 early on. Nothing sucks more than dinging up your new phone the first week after getting it. We've got plenty of screen protectors and cases to chose from, so go ahead and find some the fit your style.

Shop BlackBerry Z10 accessories

 

After all of that you're good to go! Let us know how you're doing with your new BlackBerry Z10 in the comments, and be sure to hop in the forums if you've got any questions. 

Log into the BlackBerry Z10 forums!

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