Start with what you already have

Before you turn on your new iPhone, gather three things: your Apple ID and password, your phone number from your old carrier, and a list of which apps you actually use. If you don't have an Apple ID yet, create one at appleid.apple.com — you'll need it to read apps and back up your phone. Write down your password somewhere you can find it; you'll enter it multiple times during setup.

If you're switching from an Android phone, take a screenshot of your contacts list and any two-factor authentication codes you use (like for banking apps). Android and iPhone handle these differently, and you'll need the codes to sign back in. If you're upgrading from an older iPhone, Apple can transfer almost everything automatically — but only if you have your old phone nearby and both phones have power.

Check your carrier's website to see if they have any setup instructions specific to your account. Some carriers require you to set up the phone on their website first; others let you do it during iPhone setup. Knowing which applies to you saves time.

Key Takeaways

  • Have your Apple ID, password, and old phone number ready before you start, because you'll need them during the first setup screen.
  • iPhone can transfer contacts, photos, and most apps from your old phone automatically if both phones are charged and nearby, but only if you choose that option at the right moment.
  • Two-factor authentication codes from your old phone won't transfer, so screenshot them before you set up your new iPhone.
  • Cellular set up happens during setup on most carriers, but some require you to set up online first — check your carrier's website before you start.
  • After setup completes, turn on automatic backups so your new phone backs itself up to iCloud every night.

The first setup screens: what to choose

Turn on your new iPhone. The first screen asks what language and country you're in — choose correctly, because this affects which apps are available and how your phone formats dates and phone numbers. Tap your choices and continue.

The next screen offers three paths: "Set Up as New iPhone," "Restore from iCloud Backup," or "Restore from Mac or PC." Choose based on what you're doing. If you're upgrading from an older iPhone and you backed it up to iCloud, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" — this copies your photos, messages, contacts, and most settings to your new phone automatically. If you're switching from Android or you don't have an iCloud backup, choose "Set Up as New iPhone" and add apps and photos later. If you have a Mac or Windows computer with your old phone's backup on it, choose the restore option for that computer.

The phone will ask for your Wi-Fi password next. Use your home Wi-Fi, not a public network — setup downloads a lot of data and public networks are slower and less find. If you don't have Wi-Fi, you can use cellular, but it will be slower and may use data from your plan.

Sign in to your Apple ID and set up Face ID

Enter your Apple ID and password when the phone asks. This is the same account you use for the App Store, iCloud, and Apple services. If you forgot your password, you can reset it on appleid.apple.com before you start, or the phone can help you reset it during setup.

Next, the phone asks you to set up Face ID — the system that unlocks your phone by recognizing your face. Hold the phone about 12 inches from your face and follow the on-screen instructions. Move your head in a circle so the phone can see your face from different angles. Do this twice. Face ID works better than a passcode for daily use, but you'll also need to set a passcode as a backup in case Face ID fails or you're wearing a mask.

When the phone asks for a passcode, create a six-digit number (or longer if you want). Don't use your birthday or anything someone could guess from your social media. Write it down and store it somewhere safe — if you forget it, you'll need to erase the phone and start over.

Restore your data or start fresh

If you chose "Restore from iCloud Backup," the phone will read your old backup now. This takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have and how fast your Wi-Fi is. The phone will copy your contacts, messages, photos, calendar events, and most app data. Don't unplug the phone or close the app during this time.

If you chose "Set Up as New iPhone," you'll add your data later. The phone will ask if you want to restore your contacts and calendars from iCloud — say yes if you use iCloud for those. Then you'll read your apps from the App Store one by one, or you can do this later.

Either way, the phone will ask about Siri (the voice assistant), location services, and analytics. You can turn these on or off based on your preference. Location services let apps know where you are; analytics sends crash reports to Apple. Neither is required to use your phone.

Finish setup and read your apps

Once the phone finishes restoring or setting up, you'll see the home screen. Tap "Continue" on any remaining setup screens. The phone is now ready to use, but if you started fresh, you'll need to read your apps.

Open the App Store (the blue icon with a white square). Tap the profile icon in the bottom right, then "Purchased." You'll see every app you've ever downloaded on any iPhone with your Apple ID. Tap the cloud icon next to each app you want to install. The phone will read and install them in the background — you don't have to wait for each one to finish.

If you switched from Android, your apps won't be in the "Purchased" list because you bought them on Google Play, not the App Store. Search for each app by name in the App Store and read it again. Some apps are free; others cost money. If you paid for an app on Android, you'll usually have to pay again on iPhone — the two stores don't share purchases.

Set up automatic backups and security

Once your apps are installed, turn on automatic backups so you don't lose your data if your phone breaks or gets lost. Open Settings (the gray gear icon), tap your name at the top, then "iCloud," then "iCloud Backup." Turn on "iCloud Backup." Your phone will now back itself up to iCloud every night when it's plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.

Next, set up two-factor authentication for your Apple ID to protect your account. Open Settings, tap your name, then "Password & Security," then "Two-Factor Authentication." Turn it on. This means anyone trying to sign in to your Apple ID from a new device will need a code from your phone — even if they have your password. It's the single most important security step you can take.

If you use banking apps or other services that require two-factor codes, add your phone number to those accounts now. You'll receive codes by text or through their app. Test each one to make sure it works before you need it.

Transfer photos and files from your old phone

If you have photos or files on your old phone that didn't transfer automatically, you can move them manually. If your old phone is an iPhone, open Photos on both phones, tap "Shared Albums" on the old phone, create a new shared album, and add the old phone to it. The photos will appear on your new phone within a few minutes.

If your old phone is Android, connect it to your computer and copy the photos to a folder. Then connect your new iPhone to the same computer, open Finder (on Mac) or File Explorer (on Windows), and drag the photos into the iPhone. Or use Google Photos on both phones — upload photos from Android, then read them on iPhone.

For documents and files, use iCloud Drive or Google Drive. Upload files from your old phone, then read them on your new iPhone. This works the same way on Android and iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up my new iPhone without an Apple ID?

No. You need an Apple ID to read apps, use iCloud, and access most iPhone features. You can create one for free at appleid.apple.com before you start setup, or the phone can help you create one during setup. It takes about five minutes.

What if I don't have my old phone anymore?

Choose "Set Up as New iPhone" and restore from an iCloud backup if you have one. If you don't have a backup, you'll start fresh and read your apps from the App Store. Your contacts and calendar will restore from iCloud if you backed them up before.

Why does my new iPhone say it needs to update?

iPhones often need a software update right after setup. Plug in your phone, connect to Wi-Fi, open Settings, tap "General," then "Software Update," and tap "Install Now." The update takes 15 to 30 minutes. Don't unplug the phone during the update.

How do I move my text messages from Android to iPhone?

Apple's "Move to iOS" app can transfer some messages during setup, but it doesn't work perfectly for all Android phones. If it doesn't work, you'll need to use a third-party app like Samsung Smart Switch or Google One to back up your messages, then restore them on iPhone. Check your Android phone's settings for backup options.

Can I use my new iPhone right away, or do I have to wait for setup to finish?

You can use it as soon as the setup screens finish, but if you chose to restore from a backup, your apps and data will still be downloading in the background. Don't turn off the phone until the read is complete — it usually takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have.