Setting Up Your iPhone 14? Here’s How to Do It

This story is part of Focus iPhone 2022CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice on Apple’s most popular product.

You have received yours iPhone 14. You might have been waiting in line at an Apple Store, or pre-ordered it and received it in the mail – but you’ve finally got your hands on Apple’s latest phone – and now you need to set it up.

Whether you’re switching from an Android device or you’re a long-time Apple user, you might still need some help. In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the steps to set up your iPhone 14, iPhone 14Plus, iPhone 14 pro and iPhone 14 pro maxfrom turning on your device to connecting to Wi-Fi to activating your device eSIM and transfer of all your data.

For more information on the new iPhone and iOS, see how to download and Install the new iPhone operating systemThe first Three things you need to do after updating your iPhoneand why you might want that Wait before updating to iOS 16.

What you need to do before you start setting up your iPhone

Before you start setting up your iPhone, if you’re switching from another phone or setting up an iPhone for the first time, you’ll need the following:

• Secure yours old iPhone. If you’re moving from an older iPhone, you’re transferring data from your existing phone to your new iPhone 14, so it’s best to have it a recent backup from restore. If you don’t have enough disk space, you can back up to your computer.
• Keep your old phone close by. Whether it’s an Android or iPhone, it’s a good idea to have your previous phone ready. This can actually speed up the setup process.
• Make sure you are connected to the internet. You need to connect to a stable Wi-Fi network to set up your iPhone.
• Have your Apple ID credentials ready. In case you need to login to your Apple accountto restore a backup and more, have your email address and password ready. You can also create one during the setup process.

Ready? Let’s start.

1. Turn on your iPhone 14

The first thing you need to do is turn on your iPhone. No matter what model you have, turning it on is the same: press and hold the side button on the right side of your iPhone until the Apple logo appears. Wait a few seconds and the Hello screen should appear. Swipe up to start.

2. Follow the instructions on the iPhone

Now you’ll need to do a few minor things on your iPhone to complete the first part of the setup, and luckily both are easy to do. To start you must:

• choose a language: If you are in the US, you should see English listed directly above.
• Select your country or region. If you’re in the US, you should see United States at the top.

3. Use Quick Start to set up your iPhone 14

On the next page you will see the Quick Start screen which will allow you to set up your iPhone 14 automatically using your previous iPhone or even an iPad. Going this route involves turning on your old device, connecting it to Wi-Fi or cellular, and then bringing it close to the new iPhone 14

Next you will be asked to authenticate or connect the two phones. You can either use the camera on your old iPhone to scan the pattern on the new iPhone or enter a verification code. Activation then takes a few minutes.

note: If you want to do this manually, skip to the next section.

You will then be asked to do the following, among other things:

• Join your Wi-Fi network on your new iPhone.
• configuration eSIM. You should see two options: Transfer from Another iPhone (the best option) or Set Up Later in Settings. If you choose the first option, you will be prompted to double-click the side button on your old iPhone.
• Set up Face ID or Touch ID.
• Choose how you want to transfer your data. You can either do this from iCloud or from your previous iPhone.

It’s a good idea to keep both devices connected to a power source during this time, as this may take a while depending on the number of apps and data usage. Follow all the steps until you are done and have access to iOS 16 on your iPhone 14.

4. Set up your iPhone 14 manually

Now if you’re coming from an Android or other phone, or want to set up your iPhone manually, tap Set up manually on the quick start screen. If you decide to go this route, you need to do the following things manually:

• Connect to a Wi-Fi network. Wait a few minutes for your phone to activate.
• Read the privacy notice. Click Next when done.
• Set up Face ID or Touch ID. This is how you can unlock your iPhone 14 with face recognition or your fingerprint.
• Create a 6-digit passcode to unlock your iPhone 14. This is your backup to unlock your iPhone 14. Enter the passcode twice.
• Choose how you want to restore your apps and data. You can restore from an iCloud backup, restore from Mac or PC, transfer directly from iPhone, move data from Android, or no apps and data transfer.

Depending on your method of restoring your apps and data, you may be prompted to enter your iCloud credentials to sign in to your Apple account. You will then need to enter a verification code, which may appear on one of your other devices, to verify your identity.

Next, agree to the Terms and Conditions; Adjust your settings; Update to the latest iOS; and set up Apple Pay, Siri, and Screen Time if needed. You’ll also be asked if you want to share your app analytics with developers, which helps developers (anonymously) use your data to improve their apps.

Finally, set up the True Tone display, choose light or dark mode, and choose a standard or zoomed view (for those with low vision).

5. You can now use your iPhone 14 with iOS 16

When you’re done, you can swipe up to bring up your iPhone. You may not see all of your applications on your home screen, or your photos and videos in your camera roll. So you have to wait a bit while your phone slowly transfers all your apps and data to your new iPhone 14. Depending on how much transfer is required, this can take a few hours.

Learn more about setting up your iPhone here Get rid of the new search button, hidden iOS 16 features You want to uncover, and all the new features you can try Once your iPhone is set up.