Setup a new iPhone or iPad
You can setup a new iPhone or iPad yourself, it really is easy! It will transfer virtually all of your content: settings, passwords, pictures, contacts, calendar, emails, texts, etc., automatically.
This process relies on your home Wi-Fi. Do it in the same room as your Wi-Fi router.
Turn on your new device and hold it near your old device. If your old device is an iPhone running iOS 12.4 or later or an iPad with iPadOS 13.4 or newer, a “Quick Start” screen appears on your old device and offers the option of using your Apple ID to set up your new device**. Tap Continue. Wait for an animation to appear on your new device. Hold your old device over the new device, then center the animation in the viewfinder. Wait for a message that says Finish on new device.
Setting up an iPhone only: If you bought your phone from your cellular provider or from Apple, specifying your provider, your phone number will transfer as part of the new iPhone setup. If you bought your new phone from someone other than your cellular provider or from Apple as an Unlocked phone, AND it is older than an iPhone 14, follow this:
Turn off your old iPhone. Using a small bent paperclip, remove the SIM card tray on the right side of the old iPhone. Remove the SIM and insert it into the same tray on the new iPhone. This will transfer your phone number. If the SIMs are different sizes and you cannot do this, contact your carrier to transfer your phone number.
Turn on your new device and hold it near you old device. If your old device is an iPhone running iOS 12.4 or later or an iPad with iPadOS 13.4 or newer, a “Quick Start” screen appears on your old device and offers the option of using your Apple ID to set up your new device**. Tap Continue. Wait for an animation to appear on your new device. Hold your old device over the new device, then center the animation in the viewfinder. Wait for a message that says Finish on new device.
Follow the instructions on your new device. It will eventually ask you to restore from an iCloud backup of your old device. Select that option and follow the instructions.
The first part of the restore will happen during a long restart of your new device. After the new phone starts up it may appear that it has few apps. Wait while your non-Apple apps load. After that your photos and music will restore. This can take some time - up to an hour. Keep your new device in the same room as your Wi-Fi router and plug it into its charger during this time.
Your new phone may ask for your email and iCloud passwords. Photos are the last to load. You can check progress by opening the Photos app on your new device and look at your photos.
Finally, on your new device go to Settings > General > About > Name. Tap it and change the name of the device to reflect your name and the specific model of your new device, such as “Sally’s iPhone 13”.
That’s it, you did it! Congratulations on setting up your new Apple device yourself!
** If your old device’s OS is too old for “Quick Start” or it just does not work, choose Setup Manually When prompted, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup”. Sign into your iCloud account and choose the most recent backup listed. Follow the prompts and wait to make sure the restore begins.