Complete guide to setting up a new iPhone, transferring data from your old device, and configuring privacy, security, and personalization settings.
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Pre-Setup Preparation
Back up your old phone completely
If coming from an iPhone, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap 'Back Up Now.' A full backup of a 128 GB phone takes 20-45 minutes on WiFi. Verify the backup timestamp before proceeding.
Verify backup completed successfully
Note your Apple ID password and any app-specific passwords
Charge both old and new phones above 50%
The data transfer process can take 30-90 minutes and drains both batteries simultaneously. Starting below 50% risks the transfer failing midway, which means restarting the entire process.
Remove SIM card or verify eSIM transfer readiness
If your carrier supports eSIM, you can transfer it wirelessly during setup. Otherwise, use the SIM ejector tool included in the box. Physical SIM trays are on the left side of older models.
Data Transfer and Activation
Power on and begin Quick Start transfer
Place your old iPhone next to the new one and follow the animation prompt. Quick Start uses a direct wireless connection that transfers 64 GB of data in roughly 20-30 minutes. Keep both phones within 6 inches of each other.
Verify cellular service is active
Check the top-left corner for your carrier name and signal bars. Make a test call and send a text message. If using eSIM transfer, activation can take 5-15 minutes after setup completes.
Confirm all apps transferred and downloaded
Apps transfer as placeholders first and then download in the background. With 80-100 apps, expect 30-60 minutes for all to finish downloading. Apps with grayed-out icons are still in the queue.
Verify photos, messages, and contacts transferred
Open Photos and scroll to the oldest images to confirm the full library came over. Check Messages for conversation history and Contacts for your full address book. A library of 10,000+ photos may take an additional hour to fully index.
Security and Biometrics
Set up Face ID
Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Slowly rotate your head in a circle twice during setup. Add an 'Alternate Appearance' for situations like wearing sunglasses. Face ID works at angles up to 45 degrees and in the dark.
Set a strong alphanumeric passcode
Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Change Passcode. Choose 'Custom Alphanumeric Code' instead of the default 6-digit PIN. A 6-character alphanumeric code is roughly 1,000 times harder to crack than a 6-digit number.
Enable Stolen Device Protection
Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection. This feature adds a 1-hour delay before critical changes like password resets can be made when you're away from familiar locations.
Turn on Find My iPhone
Settings > Your Name > Find My > Find My iPhone. Enable all three toggles: Find My iPhone, Find My Network, and Send Last Location. The last one sends the phone's location when the battery hits critically low.
Privacy Settings
Review app tracking permissions
Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. Turn off 'Allow Apps to Request to Track.' This blocks all apps from tracking you across other apps and websites by default, affecting roughly 90% of ad-tracking requests.
Audit location services per app
Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Set most apps to 'While Using' rather than 'Always.' Only maps and weather genuinely need background location access. Review the list of 30-50 apps that request location.
Configure mail and browser privacy
Settings > Mail > Privacy Protection, turn on 'Protect Mail Activity.' For Safari, enable 'Prevent Cross-Site Tracking' under Settings > Safari. These two settings block roughly 80% of common email and web tracking methods.
Personalization
Organize your home screen and app library
Long-press the home screen to enter jiggle mode. Keep your most-used 4-6 apps in the bottom dock. Move less-used apps off the home screen entirely — they remain accessible via the App Library's auto-organized categories.
Set up Focus modes for work and personal time
Settings > Focus. Create at least 2 modes: Work (allowing only work contacts and apps) and Personal. Schedule them to activate automatically — for example, Work mode from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays.
Configure notification settings per app
Settings > Notifications. Disable notifications for apps that don't need your immediate attention. The average iPhone user gets 46-80 notifications daily — trimming this to 15-20 important ones reduces distraction significantly.
Set up widgets on the home and lock screen
Long-press the home screen > tap '+' to add widgets. Weather, calendar, and battery widgets are the most useful at a glance. Lock screen widgets let you check information without unlocking — add 2-4 small ones below the time.
Final Checks
Re-authenticate banking and payment apps
Most banking apps require you to log in again on a new device and verify via SMS or email. Have your account credentials ready. Set up your debit and credit cards in the Wallet app for contactless payments.
Transfer two-factor authentication tokens
If you use an authenticator app, you need to manually re-add accounts or use the app's transfer feature. Export codes from your old phone before wiping it. Losing authenticator codes can lock you out of 10-20 accounts.
Verify health and fitness data transferred
Open the Health app and check that historical data like steps, workouts, and medical ID came over. If using a smartwatch, unpair it from the old phone first — this creates a backup — then pair it to the new phone.
Erase your old iPhone after confirming everything works
Wait 3-5 days before wiping the old device to make sure nothing was missed. Then go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This also removes the device from your Apple ID automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to transfer data to a new iPhone?
Using Quick Start with a direct device-to-device wireless transfer, a 128 GB iPhone typically takes 20-45 minutes. A 256 GB or larger phone can take 1-2 hours. iCloud restore is usually faster for the initial setup but apps re-download individually in the background, which can take an additional 30-90 minutes depending on how many you have.
Will I lose my WhatsApp messages when switching to a new iPhone?
No, if both phones are iPhones. WhatsApp backs up to iCloud and restores automatically during Quick Start. If switching from Android to iPhone, use the official Move to iOS app, which supports WhatsApp chat transfer since 2022. Group chats, media, and call history all transfer, though WhatsApp payment history does not.
What happens to my old iPhone after setting up the new one?
Keep your old iPhone active for at least 2 weeks to catch anything that did not transfer correctly, like authenticator tokens or app-specific logins. After you have confirmed everything works, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. This also removes Activation Lock so you can sell, trade in, or give away the device.
Do I need to buy extra iCloud storage to transfer to a new iPhone?
Apple provides free temporary iCloud storage for 21 days specifically for device transfers, regardless of your current plan. This means a full backup and restore costs nothing extra. After the transfer, the temporary storage expires and you revert to your existing plan. For ongoing backups, the 50 GB plan costs $0.99/month and covers most users.
Can I set up a new iPhone without my old phone nearby?
Yes, you can restore from an iCloud backup during setup without the old phone present. You just need your Apple ID, password, and a WiFi connection. The restoration pulls your most recent iCloud backup. If you have no backup at all, you can set up the iPhone as a brand new device and manually re-download apps and sign into accounts.