You've just chosen a new iPhone. Your first adventure with a smartphone based on iOS can be as exciting as your first voyage in a drakkar. After all, Apple is a premium brand among mobile devices. As with any smartphone, your iPhone also needs to be configured from the start. Welcome to our guide, where you'll learn how to set up your iPhone.
For new users, this will be a quick compendium of knowledge. For fans of devices with the bitten apple logo, it might be a good refresher. Find out how to set up your iPhone and what to expect from a phone based on iOS.
How to set up your iPhone – initial settings
Let's start with the initial setup of your iPhone. It doesn't matter if you've only sailed with Android smartphones before, or if you're already an experienced sailor using the bitten apple. Here you'll find all the steps you need to go through during the initial setup of your new iPhone. The whole process should take you as long as it takes to throw an axe.
- Turn on your iPhone. Press the power button, hold it for a moment, and you're done. You'll see an Apple logo animation and a greeting in several languages – a nice gesture to start your acquaintance.
- Choose your language. After turning on almost any smartphone, including your iPhone, you'll be prompted to choose a language. You'll most likely choose Polish and your country, Poland. Besides the entire interface being in Polish, the current time and date will also be displayed correctly.
- Quick Start. Do you have another Apple device? That's great. Quick Start makes things much easier. You bring your previous iPhone (this device must also be turned on) close to your new iPhone. Then, just follow the on-screen instructions, and in a few minutes, you can start using your configured iPhone. Don't have another Apple device? In that case, you'll have to perform a manual setup. You'll find more information about this below.
- Activate your iPhone. Now you'll connect your phone to the internet. First, you can connect it to a Wi-Fi network. If you're using a SIM card, you can enable mobile data.
- Touch ID and Face ID. Two device locking systems associated with Apple devices. Time for some practice. As the names suggest, Touch ID relies on scanning our fingerprints, and Face ID on scanning our face. The latest iPhones from the 13 series are equipped only with Face ID. You'll find Touch ID, among others, on the iPad Air or iPhone SE (2020). Time for setup. First, you set a six-digit or four-digit passcode, and then the aforementioned Touch ID or Face ID. After setup, you can use your chosen option to unlock your iPhone, as well as authorize payments and log in to various applications.
- Transfer your data. Nowadays, it's worth creating automatic data backups. It's no surprise, as you won't have to worry about losing contacts, photos, etc. You can transfer data backups to your iPhone from iCloud (Apple's cloud), a computer (for both Mac and PC), an Android smartphone, or another iPhone. A great option if you want to quickly transfer data and previously used installed apps.
See also: How to recover deleted SMS messages?
- Apple ID. When you want to set up your iPhone, it's time to create an Apple ID account. This is the equivalent of a Google account on Android smartphones. To create an account:
- select Apple ID,
- then Forgot password or don't have an Apple ID?,
- then Create a free Apple ID,
- select your date of birth, enter your first and last name, select Continue,
- select Use your current email address or Get a free iCloud email address,
- follow the on-screen instructions to verify your email address and phone number, and set up two-factor authentication,
- you can skip this step and complete it later in Settings.
- Other Apple devices can be associated with your Apple ID – after logging in, you'll have access to previously purchased apps and subscriptions, among other things. There are quite a few to choose from: Apple Music, Apple TV, or the aforementioned iCloud cloud.
- Software update. You'll probably get through this point quickly. You can choose whether you want your iPhone to update automatically. You can also choose whether to share information with app developers. Confirm your choice and sail on.
- Siri – your personal assistant. Apple devices have Siri, a voice assistant. Unfortunately, it still doesn't speak Polish. However, more and more rumors online suggest that this might change soon, and you'll be able to control your iPhone by speaking commands in Polish. For now, you'll have to configure Siri in, for example, English or Spanish.
- Screen Time. You're almost done. You just need to decide if you want to delve into the Screen Time settings. Here you can set daily limits for app usage and track how many hours you actually spend in front of the screen. This option is more useful when setting up an iPhone for a child.
After completing these steps, you'll see your device's home screen, and you can start taking your first photos, making a FaceTime call to your crew, or browsing the web to find out what lands you could conquer next. Just like a modern Viking!
iPhone configuration – what else is worth setting up?
Just go to Settings, and you'll have a huge range of iPhone configuration options. Below are a few sections that are worth checking out.
Focus Mode
The first of these is Focus mode. You can put your smartphone into modes such as: "Do Not Disturb," "Sleep," "Work," or "Driving." You can customize each of these freely – the mode will be activated at specific times, and your iPhone will display notifications from specific apps or from your favorite Vikings.
Wallet
Want to pay with your iPhone? It's worth configuring Wallet – add your payment card to it and use your iPhone just like your card. Two clicks of the side button, Face ID authorization, and you can make transactions in stores, restaurants, and anywhere else you can imagine. Although, of course, it's always worth having gold in reserve.
Health App
If you enjoy a healthy lifestyle, it's worth configuring the Health app. Besides the standard counting of steps and calories burned, you can even set up your own medical ID. It will certainly be very helpful in emergency situations.
Apple ID Account
Your Apple ID account offers many possibilities. After adding a payment method, you can make purchases of games and apps from the App Store. You can also opt for Apple services through subscriptions. These include Apple Music (an alternative to Spotify or Tidal) or iCloud, a cloud service for data. On your iPhone, you can also configure Home, an app designed to control smart home elements, such as lighting.
And... you're done! You've completed all the steps to set up your iPhone. You probably know this, but it's worth mentioning – you can use your iPhone without a SIM card inserted. In this case, all functions related to contacting other crew members will naturally be unavailable, but... the remaining functions will still be accessible. However, to plan your next expeditions with the crew, it's definitely better to use an iPhone connected to a cellular network. And if you're looking for an interesting offer with no commitment, it's worth checking out Mobile Vikings Pay As You Go and mobile internet from Mobile Vikings.
