What happens when you turn on a new iPhone

When you power on a new iPhone for the first time, the device walks you through a series of setup screens before you can use it. These screens ask for your Apple ID, Wi-Fi password, face or fingerprint recognition, and payment method. The whole process takes 10 to 20 minutes if you have your passwords ready, and you can pause and come back to it later if you need to.

You do not need to visit an Apple Store or call anyone — the iPhone guides you through each step on its own screen. If you get stuck on any screen, you can swipe back to the previous one or restart the setup process entirely by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Have your Apple ID and password ready before you start, because the setup process asks for it early and you cannot skip this step.
  • Connect to Wi-Fi on the first setup screen — the iPhone cannot read updates or restore data without an internet connection.
  • Face ID or Touch ID setup is optional during initial setup but recommended, since you will need one or the other to unlock your phone and authorize purchases.
  • If you have an old iPhone, you can transfer your apps, photos, and settings during setup using either a wireless transfer or an iCloud backup.
  • The iPhone will read and install software updates after setup is complete, which can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on your internet speed.

Gather your information before you start

Before you turn on the iPhone, collect the passwords and account details you will need. You need your Apple ID (the email address you use for iTunes, iCloud, or the App Store) and its password. If you do not have an Apple ID, you can create one during setup, but it is faster to create one beforehand at appleid.apple.com.

You also need the password for your Wi-Fi network. If you do not know it, you can find it on your router or ask whoever set up your Wi-Fi. Have this information written down or in a notes app on another device, because you will enter it on the second or third setup screen.

If you are transferring data from an old iPhone, have that phone nearby and charged. You will need it during setup to transfer your apps, photos, messages, and settings wirelessly.

Turn on the iPhone and connect to Wi-Fi

Press and hold the power button (on the right side of the phone) until you see the Apple logo. The first screen you see will say "Hello" in multiple languages. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to continue.

The next screen asks you to select your language and region. Choose the language you want to use and tap the region where you live. Then you will see the Wi-Fi screen. Tap your network name from the list and enter your Wi-Fi password. If you do not see your network, make sure your router is on and you are within range.

If you do not have Wi-Fi available, you can use a cellular connection instead, but this will be slower for downloading apps and updates later. Tap "Set Up Cellular" if you want to use this option.

Sign in with your Apple ID

After Wi-Fi connects, the iPhone asks you to sign in with your Apple ID. Enter the email address associated with your Apple ID and tap Next. Then enter your password and tap Sign In. If you do not have an Apple ID, tap "Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it?" and follow the prompts to create one.

The iPhone will ask if you want to use the same password for your Apple ID and your iPhone lock screen. You can choose to use the same password or a different one. Using the same password is simpler if you only have a few passwords to remember.

If you have two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID (which Apple recommends), you will need to enter a verification code sent to another device you own. This adds a security step but protects your account if someone learns your password.

Set up Face ID or Touch ID

The next screen offers to set up Face ID (facial recognition) or Touch ID (fingerprint recognition). You can set up either one, both, or skip this step entirely. If you skip it now, you can set it up later in Settings > Face ID & Passcode or Settings > Touch ID & Passcode.

To set up Face ID, hold the iPhone in front of your face and follow the on-screen instructions to move your head in a circle. The camera scans your face and creates a digital map. To set up Touch ID, place your finger on the home button (or power button on newer models) and follow the prompts to scan your fingerprint from multiple angles.

Face ID and Touch ID make it faster to unlock your phone and authorize purchases in the App Store. If you do not set one up during initial setup, you will need to enter your passcode every time you unlock the phone.

Transfer data from your old phone or restore from backup

If you have an old iPhone, the setup screen will ask if you want to transfer your data. You have two options: Quick Start (wireless transfer) or restore from an iCloud backup. Quick Start is faster and easier — hold your old iPhone next to your new one, and they will communicate wirelessly to transfer your apps, photos, messages, and settings.

If you do not have your old phone nearby, you can restore from an iCloud backup instead. This requires that you previously backed up your old iPhone to iCloud. Tap "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in with your Apple ID, then select which backup you want to restore.

If you are setting up a brand-new iPhone and do not have an old phone or backup, tap "Don't Transfer" and continue. You can read your apps from the App Store later, and any photos or documents stored in iCloud will read automatically once you sign in.

Complete remaining setup screens

After data transfer, the iPhone shows several more screens asking about Siri (voice assistant), analytics, and display settings. You can turn Siri on or off, choose whether to send usage data to Apple, and select your preferred display brightness. None of these choices are required — you can change them all later in Settings.

The final screen says "Welcome to iPhone" and invites you to tap "get your free guide." After you tap this, the iPhone will begin downloading and installing the latest software updates. This can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on your internet speed. Do not turn off the phone during this process.

Once updates finish installing, your iPhone is ready to use. Your apps will begin downloading in the background, and you can start using the phone when ready while this happens.

What to do if setup gets stuck or you need to restart

If a setup screen freezes or stops responding, try swiping back to the previous screen and then forward again. If that does not work, you can restart the entire setup process by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This erases everything on the phone and returns it to the factory state, so you can start setup over from the beginning.

If you get an error message about your Apple ID or Wi-Fi connection, check that you entered your password correctly and that you are still connected to Wi-Fi. If the error persists, restart the iPhone by pressing and holding the power button until "Slide to Power Off" appears, then slide to turn it off. Wait 10 seconds and press the power button again to turn it back on.

If you cannot get past a specific screen no matter what you try, you can contact Apple Support through the Apple Support app (if you have another device) or visit apple.com/support to schedule a call or chat with a technician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip setup and do it later?

You can pause setup at almost any screen and come back to it later, but you cannot fully skip it. The iPhone requires you to connect to Wi-Fi and sign in with an Apple ID before you can use most features. If you want to stop partway through, press the home button or swipe to the home screen, and the setup screens will reappear the next time you restart the phone.

What if I do not have an Apple ID?

You can create one during setup by tapping "Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it?" on the sign-in screen. You will need a valid email address and a password. Creating an Apple ID takes about two minutes, and you can use it when ready to sign in to your new iPhone.

Do I need to set up Face ID or Touch ID?

No, both are optional. If you skip them during setup, you will unlock your iPhone with a passcode instead. You can set up Face ID or Touch ID later in Settings, or you can continue using a passcode indefinitely. However, you will need one of these methods to authorize purchases in the App Store.

How long does the software update take after setup?

Updates typically take 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your internet speed and the size of the update. You can use your iPhone while updates read and install in the background. Do not turn off the phone or disconnect from Wi-Fi during this process, as it can interrupt the update and cause problems.

Can I transfer data from an Android phone instead of an iPhone?

The iPhone setup process does not support direct wireless transfer from Android phones. However, you can use the Move to iOS app (available on Google Play) to transfer some data like contacts, calendar events, and photos. Apps and messages do not transfer this way — you will need to read apps from the App Store and set up messaging apps separately.