How to set up a new phone

💡 Need to know

• Back it up first—Photos, messages, and app data are a lot harder to recover after the old phone is wiped.
• Keep both phones plugged in—Transfers can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on storage size.
• Stay on Wi-Fi the whole time—Disconnecting mid-transfer is one of the fastest ways to end up with missing apps or photos.
• Don’t erase the old phone yet—Double-check your photos, texts, authenticator apps, and passwords made it over first.

Moving to a new phone is pretty straightforward these days—but there are still a few easy mistakes to avoid.

Whether you're upgrading to a new iPhone®, switching to a Samsung Galaxy®, or replacing a damaged device, setting up your new phone the right way can help you transfer photos, messages, apps, passwords, and settings without losing important data. Before you begin, it’s smart to back up your iPhone or Android phone.

At Asurion, our experts help customers set up replacement and upgraded phones every day, so we’ve seen the most common setup mistakes firsthand—including wiping the old phone too early, forgetting to transfer authenticator apps, and getting stuck halfway through activation. We’re here to walk you through how to set up your new phone the right way.

In this guide

• Before you set up your new phone
• How to set up a new phone without your old phone
• How to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone
• How to transfer data from Android to Android
• How to switch from iPhone to Android
• How to switch from Android to iPhone
• How to move your SIM card or eSIM
• Common phone setup problems and fixes
• Before you erase your old phone
• FAQ

A little prep work now can save you hours of frustration later.

Before you begin:

• Back up your old phone to iCloud® or Google®. Here’s how to back up your iPhone or Android phone.
• Update your old phone to the latest software version
• Connect both phones to Wi-Fi
• Plug both devices into chargers
• Turn off VPN apps temporarily if you use one
• Make sure you know your Apple ID® or Google account password
• Check that you have enough cloud storage space for a backup. If you use Apple®, here’s more on how iCloud works.

👉 Why it matters: Incomplete backups are one of the biggest reasons we see people lose their photos, contacts, or messages during setup.

If your old phone was lost, stolen, damaged, or won’t turn on, you can still set up your new device using a cloud backup.

During setup, most iPhone and Android devices will ask if you want to restore data from:

• iCloud
• Google Backup
• A computer backup
• Your carrier’s backup service

Sign in using the same Apple ID or Google account from your previous device to access your saved photos, contacts, apps, messages, and settings.

👉 Why it matters: even if the old phone is gone, recent cloud backups can usually restore most of your important data.

If you’re not sure whether your old phone backed up successfully, here’s how to restore your iPhone from a backup or restore your Android phone from a backup.

If you’re upgrading from one iPhone to another, Apple’s Quick Start feature is usually the fastest option.

To transfer everything wirelessly:

1. Turn on your new iPhone and place it near your old one.
2. A Quick Start screen should appear on your current iPhone.
3. Tap Continue.
4. Scan the animation on the new phone using your old phone’s camera.
5. Follow the prompts to set up Face ID® and transfer your data.
6. Keep both phones nearby and connected to power until the transfer finishes.

Depending on how much data you have, this could take several minutes or several hours.

👉 Why it matters: interrupting the process too early can leave apps, photos, or messages partially transferred.

If Quick Start isn’t working

Try these fixes:

• Restart both phones
• Update iOS® on both devices
• Make sure Bluetooth® is turned on
• Keep phones connected to Wi-Fi
• Disable Low Power Mode temporarily

If Quick Start still doesn’t work, restoring from an iCloud backup may be the better option. Here’s how to restore your iPhone from a backup.

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Most Android phones include built-in transfer tools during setup. Brands like Samsung, Google Pixel™, and Motorola® may use slightly different names, but the process is similar.

To transfer your data:

1. Turn on your new Android phone.
2. Tap Start during setup.
3. Connect to Wi-Fi.
4. Choose Copy apps & data.
5. Connect your old phone using a cable or wireless transfer.
6. Sign into your Google account.
7. Select what you want to transfer.

You can usually move:

• Contacts
• Photos
• Messages
• Apps
• Call history
• Settings

Some app logins and downloaded files may still need to be set up manually. If your transfer fails or data is missing afterward, you may need to restore your Android phone from a backup.

Switching ecosystems used to be a not-so-fun experience. Thankfully, it’s gotten much easier. If you want a deeper walkthrough, here’s how to transfer data from iPhone to Android.

Before switching:

• Turn off iMessage® so texts don’t disappear into the void
• Back up your iPhone
• Make sure your Apple ID password is handy
• Charge both phones fully

During setup:

Most Android devices will prompt you to:

• Connect the two phones
• Sign into your Google account
• Transfer photos, contacts, calendars, and messages

Some devices can also transfer certain apps automatically.

👉 Why it matters: we see lots of people dealing with not receiving iPhone messages on their Android. Turning off iMessage before switching helps ensure future text messages arrive correctly on your new Android phone.

Apple’s Move to iOS app can help transfer your content from Android to iPhone. You can also follow this guide to transfer data from Android to iPhone.

To use Move to iOS:

1. Download the Move to iOS app on your Android phone.
2. Start setting up your new iPhone.
3. Tap Move Data from Android when prompted.
4. Enter the code displayed on the iPhone.
5. Choose the content you want to transfer.

You can usually move:

• Contacts
• Photos
• Messages
• Google account info
• Calendars

Some paid apps may need to be downloaded again separately. If app transfers are giving you trouble, here’s how to transfer apps from Android to iPhone.

This is one of the most common setup pain points we see, so give these steps extra attention.

If you have a physical SIM card

• Power off both phones
• Remove the SIM tray from the old phone
• Move the SIM card into the new phone
• Turn on the new device

If you use eSIM

Most newer phones now use eSIM instead of a physical card. During setup, your carrier may prompt you to:

• Transfer your existing number
• Scan a QR code
• Confirm activation through your carrier app

👉 Why it matters: deleting the eSIM on your old phone before the new one activates can temporarily disconnect your service.

If activation fails, restarting the device and reconnecting to Wi-Fi often helps.

Even successful transfers can leave a few things behind. Double-check these items before resetting your old phone:

• Authenticator apps
• Apple Wallet® or Google Wallet™ cards
• Bluetooth® device pairings
• Smartwatch connections
• Downloaded files
• Offline music or maps
• Some app passwords
• Home screen layouts

Authenticator apps are the #1 thing people forget to transfer—and losing them can lock you out of banking, work, or social accounts.

Even when everything seems to go smoothly, setup issues can still pop up halfway through a transfer—or right after your new phone starts syncing apps and data.

Your transfer is stuck

Try:

• Restarting both phones
• Reconnecting to Wi-Fi
• Plugging both devices into power
• Updating software
• Moving closer to the router

Apps won’t download

This is often caused by:

• Weak Wi-Fi
• Full storage
• Incorrect Apple ID or Google account login

Text messages are missing

If you switched from iPhone to Android, make sure iMessage is disabled on your old device. If messages still seem missing, you may be able to recover deleted iPhone messages.

Your photos didn’t transfer

Large photo libraries sometimes take longer to sync from cloud backups. If pictures are still missing later, try checking iCloud Photos or Google Photos first. You may also be able to recover lost iPhone photos.

Your new phone battery drains quickly

That’s normal for the first day or two. New phones often:

• index photos
• restore apps
• sync cloud data
• install updates in the background

Battery life usually improves after setup finishes.

Before factory resetting your old device, confirm these transferred correctly:

• Photos and videos
• Contacts
• Text messages
• Notes
• Passwords
• Banking apps
• Authenticator apps
• Voicemail
• Smartwatch pairing
• Music downloads

👉 Why it matters: once the old phone is erased, recovering missing data can get much harder.

If something looks missing, stop and troubleshoot before resetting the device.

Once you confirm everything transferred correctly, you can safely erase the old device. Here’s how to factory reset your iPhone or reset your Android phone to factory settings.

Some phone setups go smoothly. Others turn into a three-hour spiral involving forgotten passwords, missing texts, and one mysteriously angry smartwatch.

How long does it take to transfer data to a new phone?

It depends on how much data you have. Smaller transfers may finish in 10–30 minutes, while larger photo libraries or app collections can take several hours.

Can I set up a new phone without my old phone?

Usually, yes. If your old device was lost, stolen, broken, or won’t turn on, you can often restore your data using an iCloud or Google backup during setup.

Should I move my SIM card before setting up my new phone?

Usually yes for physical SIM cards. For eSIM, most phones guide you through activation during setup.

Why didn’t all my apps transfer?

Some apps require manual downloads or separate sign-ins for security reasons.

Will my text messages transfer to my new phone?

Usually yes, especially when staying within the same ecosystem. Cross-platform transfers can sometimes require extra setup steps.

Can I transfer data after setup is already finished?

Often yes. Many phones allow you to restore backups or continue transfers later through settings.

What happens if my phone transfer gets interrupted?

You may need to restart the transfer process or restore from a backup if some data failed to copy completely.

Does eSIM transfer automatically?

Sometimes, but not always. Carrier requirements vary, and some phones need manual activation steps.

Why is my new phone getting hot during setup?

That’s normal temporarily. Restoring apps, syncing photos, and installing updates can put extra strain on the processor during the first few hours.