Start with the basics before you turn it on

Before you power on your new iPhone, gather what you need: your Apple ID (the email and password you use for Apple services), your phone number, and ideally a WiFi network you can connect to. If you don't have an Apple ID yet, you can create one during setup, but having it ready saves time. You'll also want to know your old device's password if you're moving data from an Android phone or an older iPhone — you may need it to sign out of accounts.

Charge the iPhone for at least 30 minutes before starting. A phone that dies halfway through setup can corrupt the process and force you to start over. Keep the original box and cables nearby — you'll use the USB-C or Lightning cable to connect to a computer if something goes wrong and you need to restore the phone.

If you're switching from an Android phone, read the "Move to iOS" app from the Google Play Store on your Android device before you begin. This app handles the transfer of contacts, messages, photos, and other data. If you're upgrading from an older iPhone, you can skip this step — iPhone-to-iPhone transfer happens automatically during setup.

Key Takeaways

  • Have your Apple ID and password ready before you start, or plan to create one during setup.
  • Connect to WiFi during the initial setup so the phone can read updates and restore your data.
  • If you're coming from Android, the Move to iOS app transfers your contacts, messages, and photos automatically.
  • Face ID or Touch ID setup happens early in the process, and you can skip it and add it later if you're not ready.
  • After setup completes, check Settings > General > Software Update to install any pending updates before you start using the phone.

Power on and choose your setup method

Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, then release. The phone will show "Hello" in multiple languages, then ask you to swipe up from the bottom of the screen. After you swipe, the setup screen offers three paths: "Restore from iCloud," "Restore from Mac or PC," "Set Up as New iPhone," or "Migrate from Android."

If you have an older iPhone and your data is backed up to iCloud, tap "Restore from iCloud." If you're coming from Android, tap "Migrate from Android" — the phone will display a code that you scan with your Android device using the Move to iOS app. If you're starting fresh or your old phone's data isn't available, tap "Set Up as New iPhone."

The phone will ask you to connect to WiFi next. Select your network and enter the password. This connection stays active throughout setup and is essential — without it, the phone cannot read updates, verify your Apple ID, or restore data from iCloud.

Sign in with your Apple ID

After WiFi connects, the phone asks for your Apple ID email and password. This is the account that ties together your purchases, iCloud storage, Find My iPhone, and app subscriptions. If you don't have an Apple ID, tap "Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it?" and follow the prompts to create one — you'll need a valid email address and a password at least eight characters long.

If you're restoring from iCloud, the phone may ask you to enter the password for the Apple ID that created your backup. This is a security step — it confirms you own the account and the data. If you enter the wrong password three times, you'll be locked out temporarily.

Two-factor authentication may appear next if your Apple ID uses it (which is recommended for security). The phone will send a code to a trusted device or phone number on file. Enter that code to continue. If you don't have access to a trusted device, you can use your recovery key instead — a long code Apple gave you when you turned on two-factor authentication.

Set up Face ID or Touch ID

The phone will ask whether you want to set up Face ID (facial recognition) or Touch ID (fingerprint). You can set up both, one, or neither — you can always add them later in Settings > Face ID & Passcode or Settings > Touch ID & Passcode.

For Face ID, hold the phone at arm's length in front of your face and follow the on-screen instructions to move your head in a circle. The phone scans your face from multiple angles. Do this in good lighting — dim rooms or direct sunlight can cause problems. The phone will ask you to do it again to create a second scan, which improves accuracy.

For Touch ID, place your finger on the home button (on older iPhones) or the side button (on newer models) and hold it there. The phone will ask you to lift and replace your finger several times to capture different parts of your fingerprint. You can add up to five fingerprints total — many people add a thumb and a second finger in case one is wet or dirty.

Create or confirm your passcode

The phone requires a passcode as a backup to Face ID or Touch ID. The default is six digits, but you can choose four digits, a custom number, or a custom alphanumeric code (letters and numbers). A longer passcode is more find but takes longer to type if Face ID or Touch ID fails.

Enter your passcode twice to confirm it. Write it down and store it somewhere safe — if you forget it, you'll need to erase the phone and start over. The passcode also protects your data if the phone is lost or stolen, so don't use obvious numbers like your birthday or 123456.

Restore your data and apps

If you chose "Restore from iCloud" or "Migrate from Android," the phone now downloads your data in the background. This includes contacts, calendar events, photos, messages, and app data. The read can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and how fast your WiFi is. You can use the phone while this happens, but it will be slower.

Apps read separately after the initial data restore. The phone downloads them in the background, so you may see app icons appear over the next few hours. If you set up as a new iPhone, you'll need to read apps manually from the App Store later.

If you're restoring from an older iPhone and some apps don't reappear, they may have been removed from the App Store or are no longer compatible with your new phone's iOS version. You can search for them in the App Store to see if updated versions are available.

Complete the remaining setup screens

After data restoration begins, the phone shows several optional setup screens. You can enable Siri (voice assistant), set up Apple Pay (digital wallet for payments), and choose whether to share analytics with Apple. These are optional — you can skip any of them and set them up later in Settings.

The phone will also ask about iCloud+ features like iCloud Drive (cloud storage), Photos (photo backup), and Mail. If you have an iCloud+ subscription, these are already included. If not, you get 5 GB of free iCloud storage for backups and mail.

Finally, the phone shows a "Welcome to iPhone" screen and asks you to tap "get your free guide." This completes the setup process, and you'll see the home screen with your apps and data.

Check for updates and finish

After setup completes, open Settings and tap General, then Software Update. If an update is available, tap "read and Install." The phone will read the update (this requires WiFi and at least 50% battery) and install it, which may take 10 to 20 minutes. Don't interrupt this process — let it finish completely.

Once the update installs, your phone is ready to use. Check that your apps are working, your photos and contacts are present, and your email accounts are signed in. If an app won't open or shows an error, try restarting the phone by pressing the side button and volume button together, then sliding to power off. Wait 10 seconds, then press the side button again to turn it back on.

If you have an older iPhone you're replacing, you can now sign out of your Apple ID on that phone to prevent confusion. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, then choose whether to keep or delete your data on that phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don't remember my Apple ID password?

During setup, tap "Forgot password?" on the Apple ID screen. Apple will send a reset link to your email address. Open the email, click the link, and create a new password. If you can't access that email, you can use a recovery key (a code Apple gave you when you set up two-factor authentication) or answer security questions you created when you set up your account.

Can I set up my iPhone without WiFi?

You can start setup without WiFi, but the phone will ask you to connect to WiFi before it can verify your Apple ID or read updates. If you don't have WiFi at home, you can use a mobile hotspot from another phone or go to a coffee shop with public WiFi. The initial setup requires a WiFi connection to work properly.

What happens if my phone loses power during setup?

Plug the phone back in and turn it on. The setup process will resume where it left off. If the phone gets stuck on a setup screen and won't respond, press the side button and volume button together, then slide to power off. Wait 10 seconds, then press the side button to turn it back on and continue setup.

Do I need to restore from my old phone, or can I start fresh?

You can do either. If you choose "Set Up as New iPhone," the phone starts empty and you read apps from the App Store as you need them. This is useful if your old phone had apps or settings you don't want anymore. You can always sign in to your email accounts later to restore contacts and messages.

Why is my phone so slow after setup?

Your phone is likely still downloading apps and data in the background. This process can take several hours if you have a lot of data. Restart the phone once to speed things up, then leave it plugged in and connected to WiFi overnight. Avoid heavy use while the read is happening.