By Tamlin Day Updated 10/18/2022

There's nothing quite like that moment when you open an Apple box and see your fresh new iPhone for the first time, but what comes next? We'll teach you how to set up a new iPhone with a new Apple ID or with an existing Apple ID and data from an older device. Whether you're a first-time user or upgrading your current iPhone to a new device, we've got you covered. Read on to learn how to transfer data to a new iPhone, restore your settings from iCloud, or create your very first Apple ID for your brand-new iPhone.

Related Article: How to Back Up Your iPhone to iCloud

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What's in the Box?
How to Set Up Your New iPhone If You're Starting from Scratch
Preparing Your Apple Watch to Pair with a New iPhone
Use iPhone Quick Start to Transfer Data to a New iPhone
iCloud Backup Method
How to Transfer Data to New iPhone without iCloud Using Finder
How to Transfer Everything from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud Using iTunes

What's in the Box?

A few years ago, Apple revealed that its status as carbon neutral wasn't enough. As a result, the industry leader plans to make all of its product lines carbon neutral by 2030. This 10-year plan could be a marketing spin on a money-saving decision or could indicate a softer side to the world's largest manufacturer of tech products; but regardless of the reasons behind the choice, it still affects consumers of iPhones and other Apple devices.

If you've just purchased a new iPhone, you may open the box to find that there's no charging adapter and no Apple earbuds. With brand-new iPhones, you'll see a USB-C to Lightning cable and your iPhone, but you'll be without the two most ubiquitous in-box accessories. Apple has removed the two items on the assumption that, because of their ubiquity, they won't be missed. Sending iPhones without those items means the boxes are smaller, the packaging is less wasteful, and the accessory waste is dramatically reduced. All good steps; but if you're a first-time Apple buyer, you'll need to get your hands on an Apple-approved USB-C charging adapter STAT if you plan to use wall outlets to charge your iPhone (charging accessories that don't meet certain standards can be very dangerous to your devices).

How to Set Up Your New iPhone If You're Starting from Scratch

If this is your first iPhone, the setup process will be straightforward. Before we get started, there are a few things to consider. If you've ever used iTunes in the past, whether on a PC, Mac, or an iPod, then you already have an Apple ID. Using that Apple ID to complete this process will sync your device with any music or apps that you bought with your existing Apple ID. If you haven't created an Apple ID yet, or if you want to start over from scratch, we'll cover that as well. We'll also go over a headache-proof method for transferring some of your most valuable data, such as contacts, from an Android phone to your iPhone.

If you are transferring a SIM card from an existing device, do that first. If you bought a new iPhone 14, you will not need to transfer your SIM card to your new phone. The iPhone 14 line uses eSIM, and none of these phones are compatible with physical SIM cards. If you bought any other model of iPhone, you can transfer your SIM card to your new device and/or contact your carrier to verify whether you'll need a new SIM card.
If you want to move data from an Android, Windows, or Blackberry device, visit your app store and download the Move to iOS app to your old phone.

Turn on your new iPhone by pressing and holding the side button on the upper-right side of the iPhone. If the screen stays black, you may need to charge your device and try again in a few minutes.
Once your iPhone has turned on for the first time, you will see the word "Hello" cycle through in several languages. If your iPhone has a Home button, press it to continue. If your iPhone doesn't have a Home button, then just tap the screen.

Tap the language you'd like to use on your iPhone, then tap the country or region where you live.
Next, you'll see the Quick Start screen. If this is your first smartphone or you are transferring data from a non-Apple device, tap Set Up Manually.

Choose your Wi-Fi network to continue or tap Use Cellular Connection if you'd rather use your data plan.
The Data & Privacy disclaimer will now appear. Tap Continue to move to the next screen.

Next, you'll be prompted to set up either Touch ID or Face ID, depending on your model of iPhone. Follow the prompts to set up your ID.
You can create a 6-digit passcode, or tap Passcode Options. Whichever Passcode Option you pick, you'll be prompted to re-enter the passcode on the next screen.

If you tap on Passcode Options, you will be able to choose alternatives such as 4-Digit Numeric Code (the least secure), Custom Numeric Code, or Custom Alphanumeric Code (the most secure).
On the Apps & Data screen, tap Set Up as New iPhone or Move Data From Android.

If you are migrating from Android, open the Move to iOS app on your old device and follow the prompts to complete the migration.
Whether or not you've migrated from Android, the Apple ID sign-in will be the next screen. Here, you can sign in with your existing ID.

If you don't have one, you can create one by tapping Forgot Password or Don't Have an Apple ID to create an ID.
Once you've created and/or signed in with your Apple ID, you'll be given a set of prompts regarding Siri voice recognition, Apple Pay, Location Services, etc. You can set these options up now or opt to set them up later.

Preparing Your Apple Watch to Pair with a New iPhone

Before we continue, if you have an Apple Watch paired to an existing iPhone then you'll need to follow these steps to be able to pair your watch to your new iPhone. Regardless of which method you choose to transfer your data, you'll need to first back up your old iPhone and then unpair your Apple Watch from that device.

To unpair your Apple Watch from your old iPhone:

If you haven't already, make sure your old iPhone has a current backup.
Open the Watch app on your current iPhone and go to the My Watch tab.

Tap the name of your Apple Watch.
Tap Unpair Apple Watch.

Tap Confirm to finish unpairing your Apple Watch from your old device.

Use Quick Start to Transfer Data from an Old Device

By far the easiest method, Quick Starting an iPhone from an old device simply requires both your new iPhone and your old one, as well as a secure Wi-Fi connection. This method will transfer most of your settings with the least amount of hassle.

If you haven't already, make sure your old device has a current backup.
Transfer your SIM card to your new device and/or contact your carrier to verify whether you'll need a new SIM card. If you bought a new iPhone 14, you will not need to transfer your SIM card to your new phone. The iPhone 14 line uses eSIM, and none of these phones are compatible with physical SIM cards.

Make sure both devices are charged and in front of you. Make sure you've enabled Bluetooth on your old device.
Turn on your new device by pressing and holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.

Once your new iPhone has turned on for the first time, you will see the word "Hello" cycle through in several languages. If your iPhone has a home button, press it to continue. If your iPhone doesn't have a Home button, then just tap the screen.
Tap the language you'd like to use on your iPhone, then tap the country or region where you live.

Next, you'll see the Quick Start screen pop up on your old iPhone. Tap Continue below the option to set up manually.
Wait for an animation to appear on your new iPhone.

When prompted, hold your old iPhone over the new iPhone until you've centered the animation in the viewfinder.
Wait for the Finish on New [Device] message to appear.

Next, your new iPhone will ask for the passcode from your old iPhone. Enter that passcode.
Choose your Wi-Fi network to continue or tap Use Cellular Connection if you'd rather use your data plan. You should be aware that this method uses a lot of data and that a secure Wi-Fi network is recommended.

The Data & Privacy disclaimer will now appear. Tap Continue to move to the next screen.
Next, you'll be prompted to set up either Touch ID or Face ID, depending on your model of iPhone. Follow the prompts to set up your ID.

After you've set up either Face or Touch ID, re-enter your passcode or create a new passcode.
On the Apps & Data screen, select your preferred method to restore your iOS from the most recent backup.

Following the transfer, you'll be given a set of prompts regarding Siri voice recognition, Apple Pay, Location Services, etc. By default, these settings will be the same settings as your previous device. You can edit these settings now if you'd like to update any information such as your credit card or home address.
Keep the devices close to each other while your information is transferred. You'll be able to tell when the process is complete.

Restore an iOS Backup from iCloud

If you don't already have an iCloud account and a backup created, you can also use Apple's free option for temporary iCloud storage. This allows you to create a full backup that can be restored on your new device.

If you haven't already, make sure your old device has a current backup.
If you bought a new iPhone 14, you will not need to transfer your SIM card to your new phone. The iPhone 14 line uses eSIM, and none of these phones are compatible with physical SIM cards. If you bought any other model of iPhone, you can transfer your SIM card to your new device and/or contact your carrier to verify whether you'll need a new SIM card.

Turn on your new iPhone by pressing and holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears. If the screen stays black, you may need to charge your device and try again in a few minutes.
Once your iPhone has turned on for the first time, you will see the word "Hello" cycle through in several languages. If your iPhone has a Home button, press it to continue. If your iPhone doesn't have a Home button, then just tap the screen.

Tap the language you'd like to use on your iPhone, then tap the country or region where you live.
Next, you'll see the Quick Start screen. Tap Set Up Manually.

Choose your Wi-Fi network to continue or tap Use Cellular Connection if you'd rather use your data plan.
The Data & Privacy disclaimer will now appear. Tap Continue to move to the next screen.

Next, you'll be prompted to set up either Touch ID or Face ID, depending on your model of iPhone. Follow the prompts to set up your ID.
You can create a 6-digit passcode, or tap Passcode Options. Whichever Passcode Option you pick, you'll be prompted to re-enter the passcode on the next screen.

If you tap on Passcode Options, you will be able to choose alternatives such as 4-Digit Numeric Code (not very secure), Custom Numeric Code, or Custom Alphanumeric Code (the most secure).
On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup.

Sign in with your Apple ID and password. This will be the same Apple ID and password you used on your old device for services such as iTunes, the App Store, and iCloud.
When prompted, select your most recent backup. Make sure you have the right one by checking the date.

Apple will send a verification code to your old iOS or macOS devices, such as an iPad or a Mac. Enter that verification code on your new iPhone to continue. If you don't see a code on your other devices, tap Didn't Get a Code to prompt Apple to send a new code.
You may be prompted to sign in to iTunes or the Apple Store to finish restoring your previous purchases. If so, sign in again using your Apple ID.

Stay connected to Wi-Fi and wait for the restoration to finish.
Following the restoration, you'll be given a set of prompts regarding Siri voice recognition, Apple Pay, Location Services, etc. By default, these settings will be the same settings as your previous device. You can edit these settings now if you'd like to update any information such as your credit card or home address.

How to Transfer Data to New iPhone without iCloud Using Finder

If you're running macOS Catalina or Big Sur on your Mac, you can use Finder to perform the backup of your iPhone, along with the subsequent restore.

Back Up Your iPhone to Your Mac Using Finder

Connect your iPhone to your computer using the appropriate USB cable.
Unlock your iPhone.

Open a Finder window.
Under Locations in your sidebar, click on the name of your iPhone.

If you have previously backed up a different iPhone to your computer, but not the iPhone you are currently using, you may see a special screen welcoming you to your new iPhone. Select Set up as new device and then click Continue. If you don't see this screen, skip to step six.
You'll be presented with an interface for browsing the contents of your iPhone and changing some of its settings. Make sure you are on the General tab.

In the section titled Backups you will see two options: Back up your most important data on your iPhone to iCloud, and Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac. This changes the automatic backup procedure:
- The iCloud option automatically backs up your data at regular intervals to the iCloud, using your iPhone's internet connection. It's pretty much hands-off, usually working when you're asleep.
- The Mac option will automatically begin a backup of your iPhone whenever it is connected to the Mac computer.
Selecting the Mac option disables the iCloud option and vice versa. You can do it either way, but if you aren't sure, I'd recommend keeping it set to the iCloud option. You don't need to change this setting to do a manual local backup. For that, keep following this guide.

Your iPhone backup will not include Health and Activity data unless you check Encrypt local backup. If you do, then a popup will immediately ask you to set a password for your backup. Be sure to set one you can remember because there is no way to recover a lost password for one of your iPhone backups. If you don't need or want to include your Health and Activity data, then you can skip this step, and create a local backup that is not encrypted.
Click Back Up Now to initiate a manual local backup of your iPhone to your Mac. This will not interfere with your automatic backup settings or change them.

Watch the status indicator next to your iPhone in the sidebar. Don't unplug your iPhone until the process is complete!

Setting Up Your New iPhone via Finder Backup

To set your new iPhone up from a Finder backup, follow these steps:

Turn on your new iPhone by pressing and holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears. If the screen stays black, you may need to charge your device and try again in a few minutes.
Once your iPhone has turned on for the first time, you will see the word "Hello" cycle through in several languages. If your iPhone has a Home button, press it to continue. If your iPhone doesn't have a Home button, then just tap the screen.

Tap the language you'd like to use on your iPhone, then tap the country or region where you live.
Next, you'll see the Quick Start screen. Tap Set Up Manually.

Choose your Wi-Fi network to continue or tap Use Cellular Connection if you'd rather use your data plan.
The Data & Privacy disclaimer will now appear. Tap Continue to move to the next screen.

Next, you'll be prompted to set up either Touch ID or Face ID, depending on your model of iPhone. Follow the prompts to set up your ID.
You can create a 6-digit passcode, or tap Passcode Options. Whichever Passcode Option you pick, you'll be prompted to re-enter the passcode on the next screen.

If you tap on Passcode Options, you will be able to choose alternatives such as 4-Digit Numeric Code (less secure), Custom Numeric Code, or Custom Alphanumeric Code (the most secure).
On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iTunes Backup.

You will now be prompted to connect your device to your computer. The message will change to indicate when you have successfully connected your iPhone to your computer.
On your desktop, open a Finder window.

Select your iPhone in the sidebar.
Select Restore Backup.

If you encrypted your data then you will be prompted for a password. Enter your encryption password and select Continue.
Wait for the restoration process to complete.

The Hello screen will appear again on your iPhone. Tap the screen or press the Home button.
When prompted, enter the passcode you used when opening your old device.

Your iPhone will indicate that the restoration is complete. Tap Continue.
When prompted, sign in to your Apple ID.

Apple will send a verification code to your old iOS or macOS devices, such as an iPad or a Mac. Enter that verification code on your new iPhone to continue. If you don't see a code on your other devices, tap Didn't Get a Code to prompt Apple to send a new code.
On your new iPhone, you may be prompted to sign in to iTunes or the Apple Store to finish restoring your previous purchases. If so, sign in again using your Apple ID.

Finally, you'll be given a set of prompts on your new iPhone regarding Siri voice recognition, Apple Pay, Location Services, etc. By default, these settings will be the same settings as your previous device. You can edit these settings now if you'd like to update any information, such as your credit card or home address.

How to Transfer Everything from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud Using iTunes

For older Macs that can't be updated to Catalina and for PCs, you'll need to use the iTunes method. This process requires that you have iTunes installed on a computer and a valid Apple ID. If these things are true, and you prefer to manage your backups via desktop, then this is the method for you. To back up and restore your iOS settings from iTunes, follow these steps:

Preparing Your iTunes Backup

On your old device, open Settings. Tap your Apple ID.
Tap iCloud.

Tap Find My iPhone and make sure the toggle is set to Off.
Connect your old device to your computer.

Open iTunes on your computer and make sure you have the latest version.
On the desktop version of iTunes, click the iPhone icon on the top left menu.

The default for storing your backup is iCloud. If you'd like to keep your backup on your computer, select This Computer.
You will need to encrypt your backup if you want to save Health and Activity or Apple Watch data. To encrypt, select Encrypt iPhone Backup and create a password.

Whether you've completed encrypting your data or skipped that step, select Back Up Now to continue.

Setting Up Your New iPhone via iTunes Backup

Turn on your new iPhone by pressing and holding the Side button your until the Apple logo appears. If the screen stays black, you may need to charge your device and try again in a few minutes.
Once your iPhone has turned on for the first time, you will see the word "Hello" cycle through in several languages. If your iPhone has a Home button, press it to continue. If your iPhone doesn't have a Home button, then just tap the screen.

Tap the language you'd like to use on your iPhone, then tap the country or region where you live.
Next, you'll see the Quick Start screen. Tap Set Up Manually.

Choose your Wi-Fi network to continue or tap Use Cellular Connection if you'd rather use your data plan.
The Data & Privacy disclaimer will now appear. Tap Continue to move to the next screen.

Next, you'll be prompted to set up either Touch ID or Face ID, depending on your model of iPhone. Follow the prompts to set up your ID.
You can create a 6-digit passcode or tap Passcode Options. Whichever Passcode Option you pick, you'll be prompted to re-enter the passcode on the next screen.

If you tap on Passcode Options, you will be able to choose alternatives such as 4-Digit Numeric Code (less secure), Custom Numeric Code, or Custom Alphanumeric Code (the most secure).
On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iTunes Backup.

You will now be prompted to connect your device to your computer. The message will change to indicate when you have successfully connected your iPhone to your computer.
On your desktop, open iTunes if the program is not open already.

Select the iPhone icon on the top left menu.
Select Restore Backup.

If you encrypted your data then you will be prompted for a password. Enter your encryption password and select Continue.
Wait for the restoration process to complete.

The Hello screen will appear again. Tap the screen or press the Home button.
When prompted, enter the passcode you used when opening your old device.

Your iPhone will indicate that the restoration is complete. Tap Continue.
When prompted, sign in to your Apple ID.

Apple will send a verification code to your old iOS or macOS devices, such as an iPad or a Mac. Enter that verification code on your new iPhone to continue. If you don't see a code on your other devices, tap Didn't Get a Code to prompt Apple to send a new code.
On your new iPhone, you may be prompted to sign in to iTunes or the Apple Store to finish restoring your previous purchases. If so, sign in again using your Apple ID.

Finally, you'll be given a set of prompts on your new iPhone regarding Siri voice recognition, Apple Pay, Location Services, etc. By default, these settings will be the same settings as your previous device. You can edit these settings now if you'd like to update any information, such as your credit card or home address.