How to easily set up your new iPhone

Whether you're upgrading to a new iPhone or activating a replacement device, transferring data from your old iPhone to your new one is simple, if you know where to start.

Every day, Asurion Experts help our millions of customers to get the most out of their devices, appliances, and connections—and assisting with new device setup is no exception. In this article, they'll walk you through everything you need to know to get your new iPhone up and running, from how to use Quick Start to how to restore data from your iCloud or restore backup from your iTunes account.

How to set up a new iPhone with Quick Start

Using Quick Start, you can set up a new iPhone easily using info from your old device. Both devices must be an iPhone 5s or later running iOS 11 or later; have Bluetooth enabled; and be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Here's how:

1. Turn on both devices.
2. Place the old iPhone next to the new iPhone. When the Quick Start screen appears on the old iPhone, tap Continue.
3. When the new iPhone displays a pattern, use the old iPhone's camera to scan it and securely pair the phones. (If the old iPhone's camera doesn't work, tap Authenticate Manually and follow the prompts.)
4. Set up Face ID or Touch ID on the new iPhone.
5. Sign in with your Apple ID password and tap Transfer from iPhone if both iPhones are running iOS 12.4 or later or Download from iCloud to restore apps, data, and settings from the old iPhone's most recent backup, or to create a new backup of the old iPhone and restore from that.

How to transfer iCloud to new iPhone

Before you get started transferring data from your old iPhone to your new iPhone using iCloud, make sure you're in a spot with reliable Wi-Fi. We also recommend leaving your device plugged in to a power source.

1. Turn on your iOS device and go through the setup screens.
2. If you're asked to use Quick Start, tap Set Up Manually.
3. On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup
4. Enter your Apple ID and password to sign in to iCloud.
5. Select the backup you'd like to restore. Note: If the backup you're needing to restore says “iOS (version number) required, you'll need to update before you can restore this backup. Once you've updated, you'll need to reset your device by opening Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
6. A progress bar showing estimated time remaining will appear. Do not turn off your device. Your device will restart during the restore process.
7. When the Home screen appears, you can start using your device. We recommend staying connected to Wi-Fi and power, as the restore process will continue in the background and could take up to a few hours, depending on the amount of content you have to restore. You can check the status or stop the restore by opening Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.

How to restore backup to new iPhone with iTunes

1. Connect your new phone to your computer using the charging cable that came with your new device.
2. iTunes should automatically detect the device and open. If not, click on the iTunes icon to open the application.
3. When the Welcome to your new iPhone window appears, click on Restore from this Backup and choose from the dropdown list the name of your old device. Then, hit Continue.
4. Keep your new iPhone connected and give iTunes the time to complete the restore process. Once you see your new iPhone's name reappear in the iTunes window, the restore process has successfully completed.

Protect your phone

For more than 25 years, Asurion has helped 300 million customers protect, connect, and enjoy the tech they love most. And smartphones are no exception. Your life is on your device, make sure it’s protected. Learn more about Asurion phone insurance plans today.

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