Set Up Your New iPhone — From the Box

Open the box carefully

Lift the lid straight up. Apple packaging is snug — pull gently. You'll see the iPhone sitting face-up on top.

Take out everything inside

Below the iPhone you'll find a white USB-C cable and some documentation. That's it — newer iPhones don't come with a charger plug. You'll need a USB-C wall charger (the one from an iPad or MacBook works, or you can buy one).

Remove the plastic wrapping

There's a thin plastic wrap around the iPhone itself. Peel it off — there's usually a pull tab on one side. Your screen already has a factory-applied screen protector for shipping; you can leave it on until you're ready to add your own.

Plug in to charge (optional but recommended)

Connect the USB-C cable to your wall charger, then plug the other end into the bottom of the iPhone. You'll see a small battery icon appear on screen. You don't need to wait for a full charge — even 10–15 minutes helps while you set up.

Press and hold the side button

The side button is on the right edge of the phone. Press it and hold for about 3 seconds until you see the Apple logo — a grey apple on a black screen. Let go. The phone is now starting up.

Choose your language

You'll see a list of languages. Scroll down by swiping your finger up on the screen. Tap the language you want — it will highlight in blue. Then tap the blue button at the bottom that says Continue (or your chosen language's equivalent).

Choose your country or region

Pick the country you're in from the list. This sets your date format, measurement units, and App Store to the right region. Tap it, then tap Continue.

Quick Start — skip it for now

If you have an old iPhone nearby, the screen may show a "Quick Start" option to transfer everything from it. If you're setting up fresh, tap Set Up Manually at the bottom of the screen instead.

Find your network name in the list

The iPhone will show a list of Wi-Fi networks it can detect nearby. Your home network should appear in the list. Tap on its name.

Not sure which one is yours? It's usually the name your router came with (like "NETGEAR47" or "BTHub6-XFYZ") or a name you may have set yourself.

Type in the password

A keyboard will appear. Type your Wi-Fi password exactly as it appears on the sticker — it's case sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters matter. Double-check it carefully.

When you're done typing, tap Join in the top-right corner of the keyboard.

Wait for the connection

A small rotating circle will appear. After a few seconds, you'll see a blue tick next to your network name. That means you're connected.

Tap Continue to move on.

Choose: sign in or create a new one

If you've had an iPhone before, tap Sign In with your Apple ID and enter your email and password. If this is your first iPhone or you've never had an Apple ID, tap Create a Free Apple ID.

This guide walks you through creating a new one.

Enter your date of birth

Apple asks for your date of birth to verify your age. Scroll the day, month, and year wheels to set the right date, then tap Continue.

Enter your name

Type your first and last name. This is how Apple identifies you and how your contacts will see you when you share things. Tap Continue.

Choose your email address

You can either use an email address you already have, or let Apple create a new one ending in "@icloud.com".

• Use an existing email — tap this if you already have a Gmail, Outlook, or other email address you want to use
• Get a free iCloud email — tap this if you want a new Apple email address

Tap Continue after entering your email.

Create a password

Choose a password for your Apple ID. It must be at least 8 characters and include a number, an uppercase letter, and a lowercase letter.

Verify your phone number

Apple will send a 6-digit code to your phone number as a text message. Enter the code when it arrives. This links your phone number to your account as a backup verification method.

Agree to the Terms and Conditions

Apple shows their terms. Tap Agree in the bottom-right, then tap Agree again on the pop-up that confirms it.

Set up Face ID or a passcode

Face ID lets you unlock your phone by looking at it. To set it up, tap Continue and follow the on-screen instructions — you'll move your face in a circle twice. It takes about 30 seconds.

After Face ID, you'll set a 6-digit passcode as a backup — use something you'll remember but others won't guess.

Finish the remaining setup screens

Your iPhone will take you through a few more screens — setting up Siri, choosing whether to share analytics, and enabling iCloud. For each one, you can accept the default option or skip it for now. None of these are essential to finish setup.

Tap "Get Started"

When you see the "Get Started" screen, tap it. You'll land on your iPhone's home screen — a grid of colourful icons on a wallpaper background. Setup is complete.