If you are launching iPhone or are about to do it and on top of it is the first one you have, it is understandable that you have certain doubts about how it can be configured initially. In fact, it may not be the first one you have and yet it does not hurt to remember what to do. In this article we will show you a step-by-step guide for those first minutes with your iOS device, also valid if you have just restored it .
The iPhone greets you with a “Hello”
In this first part you will find a greeting message in several languages and although the device will be by default in the language of the country where you bought it, you still do not know if you want to configure it in that or another language . If you swipe up (or press the Home button if it is an older iPhone) you will find the options to choose language and region.
Quick or manual start
If you have another device nearby like an iPad or another iPhone , you can quickly configure the new one by bringing both devices closer together. In the one you already have, a pop-up message will appear (if it is unlocked) in which it will tell you that it has detected a new iPhone. If you want to configure the new one with its data, you will have to continue. If, on the other hand, you do not want it to do so, you can close that message and if you do not have any other device, you must click on “Configure manually”.
Select a WiFi network
It is essential for the configuration of the device, that it connects to the internet. To do this, the WiFi settings will open, you must select a network, enter the password and click on “Next”. It is possible that after this you will see a message that says “The activation of the iPhone may last a few minutes” and although this is a process that usually does not take more than a minute, you do not get impatient if you see that it takes a little longer.
You may have to update it
Apple releases iOS updates for iPhones on a regular basis, so it is possible that somewhere in the process you will be informed about it and given the opportunity to download the software update. If you do, the download process will take a few minutes to download depending on your internet connection and the weight of that version of the operating system. After that, it will also take a few minutes to install. In any case, you install it or omit it, you will find the same steps to configure it later.
Privacy information
An information screen will appear about how Apple and your new iPhone will treat your data. A brief summary will appear that you can expand by clicking on “More information”. If you are not interested or have already read it, you can click on “Continue”.
Register your face or fingerprint
If you have an iPhone with Face ID, it will be time for you to scan your face following the prompts that appear on the screen after pressing “Continue”. If, on the other hand, you have an iPhone with a Home button and Touch ID, you can do the same by registering your fingerprint. However, you can skip this step and leave it to configure later from the device settings when it is already configured and ready to use.
Create a security code
Beyond having a biometric sensor for face or fingerprint, the iPhone requires a security code as an extra measure of protection. This will not be necessary to use in most cases, except when the iPhone is turned on. You can choose between having a 4-digit or more digit code, alphanumeric or even not using it. If you want your device to be secure, we recommend not using the last option and leaving it without a code.
Do you want to transfer data from another device?
This part is one of the most important in the configuration of the iPhone and will not appear later when it has started. You will find the following possibilities:
- Restore with iCloud copy: if you previously had an iPhone or you have an iPad or iPod touch with backup, you can load it by clicking on this option.
- Restore from Mac or PC: if you made the backup through iTunes or Finder on a computer, you can choose this option, connect the iPhone by cable to that computer and proceed to restore the data on it.
- Transfer directly from another iPhone: if you choose this option, you will return to the initial part that we discussed in the second section of this article in relation to having another device nearby to configure it.
- Transfer data from Android: we explain this section extensively in another article that we link to, but basically it lies in the possibility of transferring data such as photos, contacts or calendars from a terminal with the Android operating system.
- Do not transfer apps and data: you can directly configure the iPhone as completely new and put at your disposal to add all the data from scratch manually.
If you upload a backup
Regardless of whether it is from iCloud or from a computer, you will have to enter your Apple ID and password to continue with the process. A series of terms and conditions will appear that you must accept and after that, your Apple ID will be configured on the new iPhone. This process may take a few minutes, so be patient.
If you chose the iCloud copy, you must select it on the screen and wait for it to be restored on this device. If you do it through a computer, you must use iTunes (Windows PC and Mac with macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (Mac with macOS Catalina or later) and select “Restore iPhone” and load the backup. After that, you will only have to wait for it to charge and the iPhone is ready for use.
It should be noted that after this you will have already configured the iPhone and you will not need to continue reading this guide, since in the following sections we will focus on those users who have chosen to configure the iPhone as if it were new.
If you set it up as a new iPhone
In this section you must enter your Apple ID, but don’t worry if you forgot the password, the user or you don’t have any Apple ID. You can recover your data with the options on the screen or, failing that, create a totally new ID with which you can release the iPhone as soon as possible. Once you have created and entered it, you will have to accept a series of conditions from Apple and the device will begin to configure itself.
Latest configurations
At this point, different settings will appear on the screen that you can now configure. The first of them is whether or not you want to activate the location of the iPhone . Then it will be followed by the Apple Pay guide, Apple’s secure payment system to which dozens of banks around the world adhere and that will allow you to make payments through NFC in physical establishments, but also from the iPhone in digital stores such as own App Store. If you do not have a card or wish not to have to configure it at this time, you can select the option “Configure later in Wallet”.
An option to share Siri recordings will also appear. This point was somewhat controversial in its day and is that the device is capable of recording your interactions with the assistant to improve the service. These recordings are fully encrypted and anonymous, going to an Apple department that will attend to these recordings as part of improving the service. You can in any case obtain more information in this section. If you do not want to share them, you can not allow it by clicking on “Not now”.
Another configurable option here is the Time of use , relative to the time you use the terminal. The iPhone has a section in which you are informed daily, weekly and monthly of the use you make of the device and even allows you to put certain restrictions. You can accept that this function is activated by clicking on “Continue” or deny it if you click on the option to configure later.
You can also share your iPhone analysis with Apple . That is, if you have suffered a bug, unexpected restart or any other matter, the company will receive an anonymous report. You will find more information in this section if you wish, but you can also not share it by choosing this option. You will have the same option later when it comes to sharing data with app developers.
Now there will be configurations related to the screen such as True Tone , a display option of some iPhone that allows you to regulate the intensity of brightness and color so as not to damage your eyesight. You will not be able to deactivate it in this part, but in Settings when the iPhone is configured. In any case, you can already see a sample of how the iPhone will look without this option by holding down the box that says “No True Tone display”.
Then you will also find the option to have iOS in light mode or with dark tones , although also in Settings you can then choose to make it automatic or program it to your liking. Finally, you can select the type of view of the interface , with the standard format or with zoom, making the icons and other screen elements look larger.
Welcome to iphone
This final screen is the most desired and behind it there is already a fully operational iPhone to be used. You can now do whatever you want with the device, configure what you left for later in Settings, inquire into others who have not previously met, start installing applications or call a friend to tell them that you already have a phone. You are already an iOS user and you have its entire ecosystem at your disposal.
If you want to go back to the initial configuration
Who has a mouth is wrong and who has hands too. If you think you have made a mistake in any part of the initial configuration and you want to be able to do it again, you can do it, but for this you must know that all the data and information entered in the device will be lost. If you are sure that you want to go back you will have to go to Settings> General> Reset and click on “Delete content and settings” . On up to two occasions you will be asked if you are sure, even having to enter the code and / or password of the device. After that you will have returned to the first step.