Setting up your new iPhone

Get ready to set up a brand-new iPhone, or a pre-owned iPhone that has been reset.

Learn how to connect your new iPhone to your home Wi-Fi network, set up a passcode to safeguard your information, and create an Apple ID account, so your phone is ready to make calls, send texts, use apps and browse web pages.

Before you begin

Before you start, make sure the iPhone is fully charged and switched on.

Choose the language and location

The Hello screen shows that your iPhone is ready to set up. Choose your preferred language (in our demonstration, we select English) and choose your region as Australia.

It's safe to tell your phone that you live in Australia. This doesn't reveal your home address, but ensures you receive the right updates and information for Australian phone owners.

Set up Wi-Fi

From the list of available Wi-Fi networks, look for your home Wi-Fi network name and tap it.

The password for your home Wi-Fi may be written on the bottom of your home router
Match uppercase and lowercase letters in the password exactly
Your iPhone will connect when you tap Join.

Setting up privacy and security

This part of setup helps secure your iPhone, so read the information on the screen carefully.

You can skip FaceID and set it up later. See our iPhone: Security & privacy course for FaceID set up
Choose a six-digit passcode. If your passcode choice is too easy to guess, your iPhone will ask you to choose again
Your passcode is confirmed when you enter it a second time

The Restore from iCloud Backup step can be skipped. Choose Don't Transfer Apps & Data.

Enter or create an Apple ID

If you already have an Apple ID, you can sign in here. If you need a new Apple ID, tap Forgot password or don't have an Apple ID? and then Create a Free Apple ID.

Follow the steps to create a new Apple ID. Remember, it's okay to provide your personal information during the Apple ID set up. As part of the set up process:

Make sure to create a strong password, with a mix of letters, numbers and capitals
Apple will ask for your mobile phone number, and it's safe to provide this information.

Final set up steps

Follow the steps on screen for the remainder of set up. If you are unsure about a feature, you can skip it and set it up later. Below are some important settings to activate:

Choose accept updates when available to keep your iPhone secure
Enable Location Services so your can find your iPhone if it is lost, and use maps and similar apps more accurately
Saving your passwords in iCloud Keychain is safe and convenient
You can set text size now or adjust this later in our iPhone: Accessibility settings course for text size adjustment.

Check network connections

The status bar at the top of the display shows symbols for Wi-Fi and mobile network reception. If both symbols are white, your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and the mobile network and is ready to use!