How to Set Up a New iPhoneUpdated 4 hours ago

If you’ve just unboxed your iPhone and found… nothing else in the box, you’re not alone.

Apple no longer includes setup guides, manuals, or even basic instructions — whether the phone is brand new or refurbished. The good news? Setting up an iPhone is simple once you know the steps.

This guide walks you through everything you need to do, step by step.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Before turning your iPhone on, make sure you have:

✅ A Wi-Fi connection
✅ Your Apple ID email & password
✅ Your SIM card (or eSIM details from your network)
✅ Your old phone (optional, but helpful for transferring data)

Step 1: Turn the iPhone On

Press and hold the side button (right side of the phone).

Keep holding until you see the “Hello” screen.
Swipe up to begin.

Step 2: Choose Language & Region

Select your language
Select your country or region

This affects things like date formats, currency, and keyboard layout.

Step 3: Quick Start (Optional but Recommended)

If you have another iPhone nearby:

Place your old iPhone next to the new one
Follow the Quick Start prompts
Choose whether to transfer data directly or from iCloud

👉 If you don’t have another iPhone, tap Set Up Manually.

Step 4: Connect to Wi-Fi or Mobile Data

Choose a Wi-Fi network and enter the password
Or use mobile data if available

⚠️ Wi-Fi is strongly recommended — setup can take time and use data.

Step 5: Face ID / Touch ID & Passcode

You’ll be asked to:

Set up Face ID (or Touch ID on older models)
Create a passcode

This protects your phone and is required for Apple Pay, apps, and security.

This gives access to:

App Store
iCloud backups
Photos
Messages
Find My iPhone

👉 Forgot your Apple ID? Visit Apple’s recovery page on another device.

Step 7: Restore Apps & Data (Optional)

You can choose to:

Restore from iCloud backup
Transfer from another iPhone
Move data from Android
Or set up as a brand new iPhone

Step 8: Finish Setup & Get to the Home Screen

Once setup finishes:

Apps may continue downloading in the background
The phone may feel warm — this is normal
Battery drain is higher on the first day

You’re done 🎉

Common Questions (Quick Help)

❓ There were no instructions in the box — is that normal?

Yes. Apple stopped including manuals and chargers to reduce packaging and waste.

❓ Is this the same for refurbished iPhones?

Yes. Setup is identical whether the phone is new or refurbished.

❓ What if the phone asks for someone else’s Apple ID?

That means Activation Lock is enabled. Contact the seller immediately — the phone needs to be unlocked before use.

❓ Do I need a SIM card to set it up?

Not always — Wi-Fi is enough for setup, but you’ll need a SIM or eSIM to make calls and use mobile data.

Final Tip

If you’re new to iPhone, don’t worry — Apple assumes everyone already knows how to use one (which isn’t fair).

Once setup is complete, your iPhone will guide you with tips, notifications, and prompts as you go.

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