What happens when you turn on a new iPhone

When you power on a new iPhone for the first time, it walks you through a series of setup screens. These screens ask for your Apple ID, your Wi-Fi password, your face or fingerprint, and whether you want to restore your data from a previous phone or start fresh. The whole process takes 10 to 20 minutes if you have your passwords ready, and you can pause and finish later if you need to.

The setup screens appear in a specific order, and skipping one is harder than completing it. Most people get stuck at the Apple ID step because they have forgotten their password, or at the Wi-Fi step because they do not know their network name. This guide walks you through each screen in the order you will see it, and explains what to do if you get stuck.

Key Takeaways

  • Have your Apple ID and password ready before you start, because you cannot skip this step — if you do not have an Apple ID, you can create one during setup.
  • Your Wi-Fi network name and password are required during setup, so find them before you begin or have your router nearby.
  • You can restore your data from a previous iPhone using iCloud, or start with a blank phone and add apps later.
  • Face ID or Touch ID setup is optional but recommended, because it lets you unlock your phone and approve purchases without typing your password each time.
  • If setup freezes or you lose your internet connection, force restart the phone by pressing and releasing the volume up button, pressing and releasing the volume down button, then holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.

Gather your passwords and information before you start

Before you turn on the iPhone, collect three things: your Apple ID (usually an email address), the password for that Apple ID, and your Wi-Fi network name and password. If you do not have an Apple ID, you can create one during setup, but it is faster to create it beforehand on a computer or another device.

Your Wi-Fi network name is the name that appears when you look for networks on any device — it is not the same as your router model or your internet provider's name. If you do not know it, look at the sticker on your router, or ask whoever set up your internet. Your Wi-Fi password is different from your internet account password; it is the code you type when you first connect a device to your network.

If you are moving data from an old iPhone, have that phone nearby and make sure it is charged. You will not need to unlock it during setup, but you will need it to be powered on so the new phone can connect to it wirelessly.

Power on the iPhone and choose your language and region

Press and hold the side button (the power button) until you see the Apple logo. The phone will show a "Hello" screen with a slider at the bottom that says "slide to set up." Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

The phone will ask you to choose a language and a region. Tap the language you want to use, then tap the region where you live. These choices affect how dates, numbers, and measurements appear on your phone, and you can change them later in Settings if you make a mistake.

Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in with your Apple ID

The phone will show a list of Wi-Fi networks. Tap your network name. If you do not see it, make sure your router is powered on and within 30 feet of the phone. Type your Wi-Fi password and tap "Join." The phone will take 10 to 30 seconds to connect.

Next, you will see a screen that says "Sign in with your Apple ID." Tap "Have a free Apple ID or forgot it?" if you need to create a new one, or enter your email address and password if you already have one. If you cannot remember your Apple ID password, you can reset it on another device by going to iforgot.apple.com, or you can skip this step and sign in later — but many features will not work until you do.

After you sign in, the phone will ask whether you want to use two-factor authentication. This is a security feature that sends a code to your other Apple devices when someone tries to sign in to your account. Tap "Continue" to turn it on. You will receive a code on a device you already own; type that code into the new iPhone.

Restore your data or start fresh

The phone will ask "Quick Start or Manual Setup?" If you have an old iPhone nearby, you can hold it next to the new one and let them transfer your data wirelessly. This is called Quick Start. If you do not have an old phone, or if you want to start with a blank phone, tap "Set Up Manually."

If you choose Quick Start, point the old phone's camera at the animation on the new phone's screen. The phones will connect automatically. The old phone will ask you to confirm that you want to transfer data; tap "Continue" on the old phone. The transfer takes 5 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have. Leave both phones plugged in and close to each other during this time.

If you choose Manual Setup, the phone will ask whether you want to restore from iCloud (Apple's cloud storage) or set up as new. If you have backed up an old iPhone to iCloud, you can restore that backup now. If you are starting fresh, tap "Set Up as New iPhone." You can add your apps and data later from the App Store.

Set up Face ID or Touch ID

The phone will ask you to set up Face ID (facial recognition) or Touch ID (fingerprint recognition). You do not have to do this now — you can skip it and set it up later in Settings — but it is faster to do it during setup.

For Face ID, hold the phone in front of your face and follow the on-screen instructions. Move your head in a circle so the phone can see your face from different angles. The phone will ask you to do this twice. For Touch ID, place your finger on the home button (if your model has one) or the side button, and follow the on-screen instructions. You can add up to five fingerprints.

After you set up Face ID or Touch ID, the phone will ask you to create a passcode — a four-digit or longer code that unlocks the phone if facial or fingerprint recognition does not work. Write this down and store it somewhere safe. If you forget it, you will have to erase the phone and start over.

Complete the final setup screens

The phone will show several more screens asking about Siri (voice assistant), analytics, and other features. You can turn these on or off; none of them are required. Tap "Continue" on each screen. The phone will then show your home screen with a grid of app icons.

At this point, setup is complete. Your phone is ready to use. If you chose Manual Setup, you will need to read your apps from the App Store — search for each app by name and tap the cloud icon to restore it. If you restored from a backup, your apps should already be there, though some may take a few minutes to read in the background.

Troubleshooting common setup problems

If setup freezes on any screen, force restart the phone. Press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. The phone will restart and return to the setup screen where it stopped.

If you lose your Wi-Fi connection during setup, the phone will pause. Reconnect to your network and tap "Continue." If your network keeps disconnecting, move closer to the router or restart the router by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in.

If you cannot sign in with your Apple ID, make sure you are typing your email address and password correctly. If you still cannot sign in, go to iforgot.apple.com on another device to reset your password, then try again on the iPhone. If you do not have access to the email address associated with your Apple ID, you will need to create a new Apple ID during setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up the iPhone without Wi-Fi?

No. The iPhone requires an internet connection during setup to sign in to your Apple ID and read security updates. You can use a cellular connection if you have a SIM card installed, but Wi-Fi is faster and more reliable. If you do not have Wi-Fi available, ask a friend or family member if you can use theirs, or go to a coffee shop or library.

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 an email address and a password. The email address becomes your Apple ID, so use one you check regularly. You can also create an Apple ID on a computer at appleid.apple.com before you start setup.

Can I skip setup and do it later?

You can pause setup at most screens by pressing the home button or swiping down, but you cannot fully skip it. The phone will return to the setup screen the next time you restart it. It is faster to complete setup all at once than to stop and start multiple times.

What if I restore from a backup and my apps do not appear?

Apps from your backup read automatically, but it can take several hours if you have many apps or a slow internet connection. Leave the phone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi. If an app does not appear after a few hours, open the App Store, search for it by name, and tap the cloud icon to read it manually.

Do I have to set up Face ID or Touch ID during setup?

No. You can skip these screens and set up Face ID or Touch ID later in Settings under "Face ID & Passcode" or "Touch ID & Passcode." However, you must create a passcode during setup — the phone will not let you skip this step.