Set up Your Iphone, Ipad, and Ipod Touch

Set up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Learn how to set up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If you're switching to a new phone

If you want to transfer your information from another device to your new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, follow these steps:

 From another iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.  From an Android device.

Make sure that you back up your previous iOS device, so you can transfer the content to the new device.

If you're setting up your first iPhone

If you already set up your new iPhone but want to start over, learn what to do. Otherwise, follow these steps to set up your new iPhone. Turn on your device

You'll see "Hello" in many languages. Press the Home button to unlock your device and begin set up.

If you're blind or have low vision, you can turn on VoiceOver or Zoom from the Hello screen.

Get help if your device won't turn on, or if it's disabled or requires a passcode.

Select your language and country or region

When asked, choose your language. Then tap your country or region. This affects how information looks on your device, including date, time, contacts, and more.

Activate your device

You need to connect to a Wi-Fi network, cellular network, or iTunes to activate and continue setting up your device.

Tap the Wi-Fi network that you want to use or select a different option. If you're setting up an iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Celluar), you might need to insert your SIM card first.

Then decide on Location Services, a feature you need for apps like Maps and Find My Friends.

Get help if you can't connect to Wi-Fi or if you can't activate your iPhone.

Set up Touch ID and create a passcode

On some devices, you can set up Touch ID. With this feature, you can use your fingerprint to unlock your device and make purchases.

Next, set a six-digit passcode to help protect your data. You need a passcode to use features like Touch ID and Apple Pay. If you'd like a four-digit passcode, custom passcode, or no passcode, tap Passcode Options.

Restore or transfer your information and data

If you have an iCloud or iTunes backup, or an Android device, you can restore or transfer your data from your old device to your new device.

If you don't have a backup or another device, select Set Up as New iPhone.

Enter your Apple ID and password, or tap Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it. From here, you can recover your Apple ID or password, create an Apple ID, or set it up later.

If you use more than one Apple ID, tap Use different Apple IDs for iCloud and iTunes.

Then accept the iOS Terms and Conditions. If you signed in with your Apple ID, follow the steps to set up iCloud Drive, Apple Pay, and iCloud Keychain.

Set up Siri

Choose whether to use Siri. On some devices, you'll be asked to speak some phrases so that Siri can get to know your voice.

Customize the click of your Home button

If you have an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, you can set up how your Home button responds when you press it. Just tap an option, then press the Home button to give it a try. To set the one you like best, tap Next.

If you want to skip this screen or want to set up your Home button later, tap Customize Later in Settings.

Choose settings for app analytics and display resolution

Decide whether to share information with app developers.

Next, if you have an iPhone 6 or later, choose between two display resolutions: Standard shows more on your screen, while Zoomed uses larger text and controls. Tap Next to continue.

Transfer content from your previous iOS device to your new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Set up your new iOS device from a backup of your previous iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Before you begin

 If you have an Apple Watch and got a new iPhone, unpair your Apple Watch from your previous iPhone before you set up your new device. Unpairing automatically backs up your Apple Watch so you can restore it after you pair with a new iPhone.  To move your content from an Android phone to your new iPhone, learn what to do. Transfer using iCloud

Transfer using iTunes

Use iCloud

Use the steps in this section to back up your previous device in iCloud and to transfer the backup to your new device.

Make an iCloud backup

1. Connect your previous device to the Internet with Wi-Fi. 2. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, go to Settings > iCloud > Backup. 3. Make sure that iCloud Backup is turned on. 4. Tap Back Up Now. 5. Stay connected to Wi-Fi until the process finishes. Transfer your SIM card or contact your carrier

If your new device needs a SIM card, here's what you need to do:

 If your carrier gave you a new SIM card, put it in your new device.  If your new device uses the same kind of SIM card as your previous device, transfer the SIM card to your new device.  If your new device needs a different kind of SIM card than what you have, or if you aren't sure, contact your carrier.

Then use the steps below to transfer your iCloud backup to your new device.

Transfer your iCloud backup to your new device

1. Turn on your new device. A "Hello" screen should appear. If you've already set up your new device, you need to erase it before you can use these steps.* 2. Press the Home button when you see the "Hello" screen. Follow steps until you see the Wi-Fi screen. 3. Tap a Wi-Fi network to join. Follow steps until you see the Apps & Data screen, then tap Restore from iCloud Backup > Next. 4. Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID and password. 5. When asked, choose a backup. Make sure it's the correct one by checking the date and size of each. If asked to update to a newer version of iOS, learn what to do. 6. If you purchased iTunes or App Store content using multiple Apple IDs, you'll be asked to sign in to each. If you can’t remember the passwords, you can skip this step by tapping "Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it." 7. Stay connected and wait for the restore process to finish, then complete the rest of the onscreen setup steps. If possible, keep your device connected to Wi-Fi and plugged into power after setup. This allows content like your photos, music, and apps stored in iCloud to automatically download back to your device.

* To erase your device, tap Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This will erase any data that's currently on your device. After you erase it, your device restarts and the "Hello" screen appears.

Finish up

Learn how to restore your Apple Watch from a backup and pair it with your new iPhone. Or if you normally use iTunes to sync content to your iOS device, connect your device to your computer and use iTunes to sync the additional content.

Use iTunes

Use the steps in this section to back up your previous device in iTunes and to transfer the backup to your new device.

If you don't encrypt your iTunes backup, Health and Activity data from your iOS device or Apple Watch won't be saved. Make an iTunes backup of your previous device

1. Connect your previous device to your computer. 2. Open iTunes and make sure that you have the latest version. 3. Select your device. 4. If you want to save Health and Activity data from your iOS device or Apple Watch, you need to encrypt your backup: Select the box called Encrypt [device] backup and make a memorable password.

Write down your password and store it somewhere safe, because there's no way to recover your iTunes backups without this password.If you don't need to save Health and Activity data, you can make a backup that isn't encrypted. Just click Back Up Now.

5. After the process completes, make sure that your backup finished successfully in iTunes Preferences > Devices. You should see the name of your device and the date and time that iTunes created the backup. If you encrypted your backup, you should also see beside your device's name.

Transfer your SIM card or contact your carrier

If your new device needs a SIM card, here's what you need to do:

 If your carrier gave you a new SIM card, put it in your new device.  If your new device uses the same kind of SIM card as your previous device, transfer the SIM to your new device.  If your new device needs a different kind of SIM card than what you have, or if you aren't sure, contact your carrier.

Then use the steps below to transfer your iTunes backup to your new device.

Transfer your iTunes backup to your new device

1. Turn on your new device. A "Hello" screen should appear. If you already set up your new device, you need to erase it before you can use these steps.* 2. Press the Home button when you see the "Hello" screen and follow steps until you see the Apps & Data screen, then tap Restore from iTunes Backup > next. 3. Connect your new device to the computer that you used to back up your previous device. 4. Open iTunes on your computer and select your device. 5. Select Restore Backup. Then choose a backup. Make sure it's the correct one by looking at the date and size of each. If asked to update to a newer version of iOS, learn what to do. 6. If you need to restore from an encrypted backup, enter your password when asked. 7. Wait for the restore process to finish, then complete the rest of the setup steps on your iOS device. If possible, keep your device connected to Wi-Fi and plugged into power after setup. This allows content like your photos, music, and apps stored in iCloud to automatically download back to your device.