{"title":"How to Set Up a New iPhone","canonicalUrl":"https://www.showmestepbystep.com/tech/how-to-set-up-an-iphone","category":{"slug":"tech","name":"Tech"},"creator":{"name":"Apple Support","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYFQ33UIPERYx8-ZHucZbDA","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGftJwMa84M"},"tldr":"Set up a new iPhone step by step. Use Quick Start with your old iPhone to transfer everything, or set up your iPhone as new. 6 steps, 15 minutes.","totalDurationSeconds":433,"difficulty":"easy","tools":[],"materials":[],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Step 1: Prep both phones before you start","text":"Plug both iPhones into chargers and leave them plugged in for the whole transfer. Connect the old iPhone to Wi-Fi.Update the old iPhone to the latest iOS first (Settings → General → Software Update). Then trigger an iCloud backup right now (Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now) so the new phone pulls the freshest data."},{"number":2,"title":"Step 2: Power on the new iPhone and reach the Quick Start screen","text":"Press and hold the side button of the new iPhone until the Apple logo appears. Follow the language and region prompts.You'll land on a 'Quick Start' screen with a 'hello' wallpaper. This is the handoff point where the old phone takes over."},{"number":3,"title":"Step 3: Bring the old iPhone close to the new one","text":"Set the old iPhone within a few inches of the new one. The old phone shows a 'Set Up New iPhone' prompt with your Apple ID listed - tap Continue.The old phone's camera then activates and asks you to point it at the animation displayed on the new phone. Hold the old phone over the animation until it captures the pattern - that pairs the two devices securely."},{"number":4,"title":"Step 4: Enter the old phone's passcode on the new phone","text":"The new phone prompts you to enter the passcode of your old iPhone. Type it in.Continue through the rest of the setup prompts - Face ID or Touch ID enrollment, Apple ID password, terms and conditions. Tap Agree where prompted."},{"number":5,"title":"Step 5: Choose how to transfer your data","text":"The 'Transfer Your Data' screen offers two main options:Download from iCloud - uses your last iCloud backup. Fastest because data downloads from Apple's servers in the background.Transfer from iPhone - sends data directly between the two phones over Wi-Fi. No iCloud needed. Takes longer and you can't use either phone during transfer.For most people, Download from iCloud is the right choice. Tap it."},{"number":6,"title":"Step 6: Wait for the restore to finish","text":"A loading bar labeled 'Restore from iCloud' shows progress. The new iPhone is ready to use as soon as the bar completes - usually 10-20 minutes for a typical backup.Photos, videos, and large apps keep downloading in the background while you use the phone. Stay on Wi-Fi until everything is done. Don't erase the old iPhone until you've confirmed all your data made it over."}],"recipe":null,"lastUpdated":"2026-05-21T14:53:46.705Z","published":"2026-04-28T17:53:36.295Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit ShowMeStepByStep with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure."}