Start with the right moment and the right Wi-Fi
Set up your iPhone when you have at least 30 minutes, a stable Wi-Fi connection, and your Apple ID ready. Do not set it up in a store parking lot on spotty cellular data. The process moves faster and more reliably on home Wi-Fi, and you will need your Apple ID password — the one you use to sign into iCloud, not just your phone's passcode.
If you do not have an Apple ID yet, create one at appleid.apple.com before you start. You will need a working email address and a password you can remember. Write down your Apple ID and password somewhere safe; you will need them again if you ever forget your phone's passcode or want to erase the device later.
Charge the iPhone to at least 50 percent before you begin. The setup process itself uses very little battery, but you want room to read updates and install apps afterward without the phone shutting down mid-process.
Key Takeaways
- Power on the iPhone and follow the on-screen prompts; you will be asked for your Apple ID, Wi-Fi password, and Face ID or Touch ID setup within the first few minutes.
- Choose "Set Up as New iPhone" when asked, not "Restore from Backup," unless you are moving data from an old iPhone you still have access to.
- Let the iPhone read and install iOS updates before you add apps or sign into other accounts; this prevents crashes and security gaps.
- Set up Face ID or Touch ID during the initial setup rather than skipping it, because many apps and settings require biometric authentication later.
- Do not restore from a backup when ready after setup; wait a few hours to let the phone stabilize, then restore if you need data from an old device.
Power on and choose "Set Up as New iPhone"
Press and hold the power button on the right side of the iPhone until the Apple logo appears. The phone will show a "Hello" screen in multiple languages, then ask you to swipe up from the bottom. Swipe up, and you will see the setup menu.
Tap "Set Up as New iPhone." This is the critical choice. If you tap "Restore from Backup," the phone will try to copy everything from an old iPhone — apps, photos, messages, settings — but you do not want that yet. Set up as new first, let the phone stabilize for a few hours, then restore from backup if you need old data. This two-step approach prevents the crashes and slowdowns that happen when you try to do everything at once.
If you do not have an old iPhone to restore from, or if your old iPhone is broken or lost, "Set Up as New iPhone" is your only option. You will rebuild your apps and data from scratch, which takes longer but is often cleaner than restoring a backup from a phone that was already having problems.
Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in with your Apple ID
The phone will ask you to choose a Wi-Fi network. Select your home network and enter the password. The iPhone will verify the connection and move forward. If you see an error, double-check that you typed the password correctly — Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive.
Next, you will see the Apple ID sign-in screen. Enter the email address and password you use for your Apple ID. The phone will verify your identity and may ask you to enter a code that Apple sends to a trusted device or email address. This is a security step; enter the code when prompted. Do not skip this step, because without it you will not be able to read apps or use iCloud features.
If you forgot your Apple ID password, go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer or another device and reset it before you continue. You cannot proceed with setup without it.
Set up Face ID or Touch ID right away
The iPhone will ask whether you want to set up Face ID (on newer models) or Touch ID (on older models with a home button). Do this now, not later. Many apps, websites, and settings require biometric authentication, and skipping this step means you will have to use your passcode for everything until you set it up later.
For Face ID, hold the iPhone at arm's length, look at the screen, and follow the on-screen instructions to scan your face. The phone will ask you to move your head in a circle so it can map your face from different angles. Do this in good lighting, not in a dark room. If the scan fails, try again in a brighter area.
For Touch ID, place your finger on the home button and follow the prompts. The phone will ask you to lift and replace your finger multiple times to capture different parts of your fingerprint. Register at least one finger; you can add more later in Settings.
Create a strong passcode and let updates install
The iPhone will ask you to create a six-digit passcode. This is your backup if Face ID or Touch ID fails, and it is also what you need to unlock the phone if the biometric system is not working. Use a code you can remember but that is not obvious — not your birthday, not 123456, not a repeating pattern. Write it down and store it somewhere safe, separate from the phone itself.
After you create the passcode, the phone will check for iOS updates. Let it read and install any updates before you do anything else. This step is not optional. Updates fix security holes and bugs that could affect the phone's stability. If you skip this and start adding apps or signing into accounts, a crash during the update can corrupt your setup.
The update may take 10 to 20 minutes depending on your Wi-Fi speed and the size of the update. Do not unplug the phone or turn off Wi-Fi during this time. When the update finishes, the phone will restart and return to the setup screen.
Choose your settings and finish the initial setup
The phone will ask about Siri, location services, analytics, and other settings. You can accept the defaults or customize them. For most people, the default settings are fine. If you want to turn off location services for privacy, you can do that now or later in Settings.
The phone will also ask whether you want to restore from a backup. Choose "Don't Restore" for now. You will restore later if you need to, after the phone has had time to stabilize.
When you reach the home screen, setup is complete. The phone is now ready to use. Do not add apps or sign into email accounts yet — let the phone sit idle for a few hours so it can finish background tasks and install any remaining updates.
Wait before restoring data, then add apps one at a time
If you have an old iPhone and you backed it up to iCloud, you can restore that backup now. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, tap iCloud, then tap Restore from iCloud Backup. Choose the backup you want and enter your Apple ID password. The restore will take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have.
Do not restore when ready after setup. Wait at least a few hours, preferably overnight, so the phone can finish its own housekeeping. Restoring too soon can cause the phone to slow down or crash.
After the restore finishes, add apps one at a time from the App Store rather than trying to read everything at once. This makes it easier to spot which app is causing a problem if something goes wrong. Start with the apps you use most — email, messaging, banking — and add others over the next few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I do not have an old iPhone to restore from?
You will set up as new and rebuild your apps and data from scratch. read your email account in Settings, sign into iCloud to restore photos and documents, and read apps from the App Store as you need them. This takes longer but is often cleaner than restoring a backup from an old phone.
Can I set up the iPhone without Wi-Fi?
You can use cellular data, but it is slower and uses your phone plan's data allowance. Wi-Fi is faster and more reliable for the large iOS updates that happen during setup. If you must use cellular, make sure you have a strong signal and enough data in your plan.
What if I forget my Apple ID password during setup?
Go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer or another device and reset it. You will need access to the email address associated with your Apple ID and a trusted device or phone number where Apple can send a verification code. Reset the password, then return to the iPhone and try signing in again.
Do I have to set up Face ID or Touch ID right now?
You can skip it during setup and add it later in Settings, but many apps and websites will ask for biometric authentication. Setting it up now saves time and frustration later. You can always add more fingerprints or faces in Settings after setup is complete.
Why is my iPhone so slow after I set it up?
The phone is likely still installing updates or indexing your data in the background. Let it sit idle for a few hours, especially overnight. If it is still slow after 24 hours, restart the phone by holding the power button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on.