Getting Started With Your iPhone

📱 Your first iPhone! In this article we’ll walk you through setting it up, the gestures you need to know, and getting off to a great start.

🎒 Before you start

Having a few things ready makes setup go more smoothly.

📶 Wi-Fi network

Make sure you have your home Wi-Fi password handy. You can’t get through setup without an internet connection.

🔑 Apple Account

Already have an Apple Account, the account that used to be called Apple ID? Make sure you know the password. No account yet? You can create one for free during setup.

🔋 Enough battery

Plug your iPhone into the charger. Setup can take a while and you don’t want to run out of power halfway through.

📱 Your previous device nearby

Already had an iPhone or Android phone? Keep it close by, and your settings and data will transfer over automatically.

⚙️ Setting up your iPhone with the setup assistant

As soon as you turn on your iPhone for the first time, the setup assistant walks you through it step by step.

Choose your language and countrySelect your language and country or region.
Connect to Wi-FiPick your network and enter the password.
Quick Start (optional)Have another iPhone nearby? Hold it next to your new iPhone: an animation appears that automatically carries over your settings, Apple Account, and even Face ID. Coming from Android? Use the Move to iOS app on your old phone instead.
Set up your SIM or eSIMInsert your SIM card or activate your eSIM through your carrier. On eSIM-capable devices this can often happen automatically during setup.
Sign in with your Apple AccountEnter your Apple Account email address and password, or create a new account. You’ll use this account for the App Store, iCloud, Messages, and more.
Set up Face IDFollow the instructions to scan your face, so you can unlock your iPhone quickly and securely.
Turn on Find My iPhoneThis lets you locate your iPhone if you lose it. Always leave this turned on.
iCloud and remaining settingsChoose whether you want your photos, documents and app data synced through iCloud, and finish the last screens like Siri and analytics.

💡 Tip: Coming from an older iPhone? Your own apps, wallpaper, and even Wi-Fi passwords will automatically be ready on your new device. That saves a lot of re-setup work.

👆 Learning the basic gestures

The iPhone runs entirely on touch. You’ll use these gestures all day long.

👉 Tap

A single quick tap opens an app or makes a selection. This is your most-used gesture.

✋ Touch and hold

Hold your finger on an app icon to open a quick menu, or on text to select and copy it.

🏠 Go to the Home Screen

Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to return to your Home Screen, no matter which app you’re in.

🎛️ Open Control Center

Swipe down from the top-right corner for quick access to brightness, volume, Wi-Fi and more.

🔔 Notification Center

Swipe down from the middle of the top of the screen to see all your notifications at a glance.

🔄 Switch between apps

Swipe up from the bottom and hold briefly to see all your open apps side by side.

🚀 Practical tips for your first week

A few things that make daily use easier right away.

📚 App Library

Swipe all the way left past your Home Screens for an automatically organized overview of all your apps.

🎯 Set up Focus

Go to Settings > Focus to decide which notifications you do or don’t want to see during work, sleep, or downtime.

☁️ Automatic backup

Go to Settings > your name > iCloud and turn on iCloud Backup, so your data is always stored safely.

⏱️ Set up Screen Time

Handy for yourself or your kids: go to Settings > Screen Time to set limits for apps and screen time.

🖥️ Add widgets

Touch and hold an empty spot on your Home Screen and tap the + to add widgets like Weather, Calendar or Notes.

🔒 Find My

Check in the Find My app that your iPhone shows up. That way you can find it quickly if you ever lose it.

With this foundation you have everything you need to confidently get started with your new iPhone. Still stuck, or have a specific question? Feel free to get in touch.

Getting Started With Your iPhone

🎒 Before you start

⚙️ Setting up your iPhone with the setup assistant

👆 Learning the basic gestures

🚀 Practical tips for your first week

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