How to Turn On an iPhone and Set It Up

To turn on an iPhone 17, press and hold the side button on the right edge until the Apple logo appears, then let go. If nothing happens, charge it and try again. On a brand-new iPhone, a “Hello” screen appears next and walks you through setup.

This guide follows Apple’s Turn on and set up iPhone page in the iPhone User Guide and its Set up your iPhone or iPad article, both current as of October 2026. It applies to every iPhone 17 model. Screens can differ slightly by iOS version, carrier, and region, so follow what your iPhone shows if it differs from the steps here. For the full manual, see how to get the iPhone User Guide.

Turn on your iPhone 17

1. Press and hold the side button.
2. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears on the screen, then release the button.
3. Wait for the iPhone to finish starting. A new or erased iPhone shows “Hello” in several languages. An iPhone that is already set up shows the Lock Screen.

If the screen stays black, Apple says the battery might need charging. Connect the charger, wait, and try again. More fixes are in the troubleshooting section below.

What to have ready before setup

Apple suggests having these on hand so setup goes smoothly:

• An internet connection. Use a Wi-Fi network (have its name and password ready) or cellular service from your carrier. The iPhone must connect to one of them to activate.
• Your Apple Account email or phone number and password. An Apple Account is the sign-in used for iCloud, the App Store, and other Apple services. If you don’t have one, you can create it during setup.
• Your previous iPhone or a backup of it, if you are moving your data. If you are switching from Android, keep that phone nearby instead.
• A credit or debit card, if you want to add one to Apple Pay during setup. This is optional.
• Your cellular plan details. An eSIM is a digital SIM built into the iPhone that replaces a plastic SIM card. Depending on the model and where it was sold, your iPhone 17 may be eSIM-only, so your carrier may need to move your number or give you a QR code.

If you don’t have a recent backup of your old iPhone, make one first. See how to back up an iPhone to iCloud or a computer. Short on iCloud space? Apple provides enough temporary iCloud storage to back up the old phone, free of charge, for up to three weeks from the purchase of your new iPhone. On the old phone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, tap Get Started, and follow the instructions.

Work or school iPhone? If a company or other organization manages the iPhone, Apple says to ask your administrator for setup instructions rather than following the steps below.

Set up your iPhone 17 step by step

These are the main screens Apple describes. Each one has a Continue button or a clear choice, and many optional features can be skipped and turned on later in Settings.

1. Start from the Hello screen. Follow the onscreen instructions to begin, then choose your language and your country or region.
2. Choose the size of text and icons. Pick Default, Medium, or Large. The screen previews each option. Tap Continue.
3. Choose Quick Start or manual setup. If you have another iPhone or iPad, hold it near the new iPhone to use Quick Start. Otherwise, tap Set Up Without Another Device. Both routes are compared in the next section.
4. Connect and activate. Tap your Wi-Fi network and enter its password, or tap Continue Without Wi-Fi, if it is offered, to use the cellular network. You might also be asked to activate your eSIM.
5. Choose who the iPhone is for. Select whether you are setting it up for yourself or for a child. Choosing a child lets you use Family Sharing and parental controls.
6. Set up Face ID and a passcode. Face ID unlocks the iPhone by recognizing your face. Next, create a six-digit passcode. For a four-digit code, a custom code, or no passcode, tap Passcode Options. Apple notes you need a passcode to use Face ID and Apple Pay.
7. Choose how to transfer your apps and data. You can restore from an iCloud backup, restore from a backup on a computer, or move data from Android. If you are starting fresh, select Don’t Transfer Anything.
8. Sign in with your Apple Account. Enter your email address or phone number and password. You might be asked for a verification code that appears on your previous device. If you can’t sign in, tap Forgot password or don’t have an Apple Account? to recover the account, create one, or set it up later.
9. Finish the remaining screens. You’ll be asked about automatic iOS updates, Siri, Screen Time, sharing analytics with Apple and app developers, Light or Dark appearance, and Apple Pay. On an iPhone 17 you’ll also see information about Apple Intelligence and safety features such as Emergency SOS and Crash Detection.

Quick Start or Set Up Without Another Device?

Quick Start is Apple’s name for setting up a new iPhone by holding your current iPhone or iPad next to it. It is the shortest route if you are upgrading.

Use Quick Start with your old iPhone

Apple’s Quick Start article says your current device needs iOS 11 or later, should be connected to Wi-Fi, and must have Bluetooth turned on. Quick Start occupies both devices, so choose a time when you won’t need your current phone for several minutes.

1. Unlock your current iPhone and go to its Home Screen.
2. Turn on the new iPhone 17 and place it near the current one.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions on both phones. If the setup prompt disappears from your current iPhone, restart both devices.
4. Connect the new iPhone to Wi-Fi or cellular, and activate your cellular service if asked.
5. Set up Face ID.
6. Choose how to transfer your data: download it from iCloud, or transfer directly from the previous iPhone.

If you download from iCloud, apps and data arrive in the background and you can use the new iPhone right away. If you transfer directly, you have to wait for the transfer to finish on both phones before using either. Keep them close together and plugged in until it completes. For the full walkthrough, including the cable method, see how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone.

Set up without another device

Tap Set Up Without Another Device if this is your first iPhone, your old phone is gone, or you are coming from Android. You then join Wi-Fi yourself and choose a transfer option later on the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen.

To move from Android, tap From Android on that screen and open Apple’s Move to iOS app on the Android phone with Wi-Fi turned on. Do this during setup. Apple warns that if you finish setup first, you must erase the iPhone and start over to use Move to iOS, or move your data manually.

Activate your cellular plan

In most cases you can activate your eSIM while setting up the iPhone. Apple’s Set up eSIM on iPhone article describes three common routes:

• Carrier activation. If your carrier assigned an eSIM when you bought the iPhone, turn it on and follow the onscreen instructions.
• Transfer from your previous iPhone. If your carrier supports eSIM Quick Transfer, you’ll be asked to transfer your phone number during setup. Apple says both iPhones need iOS 18.4 or later, the same Apple Account, and Bluetooth turned on. When the plan activates on the new iPhone, the SIM in the old one is deactivated.
• QR code. If your carrier gave you a QR code, tap Use QR Code on the Set Up Cellular screen and follow the instructions.

You can also skip this and add the plan afterward in Settings > Cellular. Which methods are available depends on your carrier, so contact the carrier if none of them appear.

How to confirm setup worked

• The Home Screen appears and the iPhone unlocks with Face ID or your passcode.
• Your carrier name or signal bars show in the status bar. Apple suggests making a call to check cellular service.
• If you restored from iCloud, apps may keep downloading in the background for a while. Stay on Wi-Fi and power until they finish.

Next, you can check your iOS version and turn automatic updates on or off.

If your iPhone 17 won’t turn on or setup gets stuck

• Black screen after holding the side button. Force restart it: press and quickly release volume up, press and quickly release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Apple notes this can take longer than 10 seconds.
• Still nothing. Apple’s If your iPhone won’t turn on article says to charge the iPhone for one hour and then try again. If it still won’t start, it might need service from Apple.
• Can’t activate. Restart the iPhone. If you are using cellular data, connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network instead. If a message says the activation server is unavailable, wait a few minutes and try again.
• Asked for someone else’s Apple Account password. Apple says a password prompt during activation means Activation Lock might be enabled. On a used iPhone, the previous owner has to remove it with their own account, so contact the seller.
• Quick Start prompt never appears. Check that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on and the old iPhone is unlocked, then restart both phones.
• “SOS” in the status bar after setup. Your cellular plan may not be active yet. See how to get an iPhone out of SOS mode.

The force restart above does not erase anything. It is different from a factory reset, as explained in how to hard reset an iPhone.

How to start setup over

Made a wrong choice, such as skipping the Android transfer? Most settings can be changed later in the Settings app, so you rarely need to redo setup. If you do want the Hello screen back, you have to erase the iPhone.

Warning: erasing deletes everything on the iPhone. Back it up first if it holds anything you want to keep. Apple also asks whether to keep or delete your eSIM. If you delete it, you need to contact your carrier to reactivate your plan.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, tap Continue, and follow the prompts. When the iPhone finishes resetting, the Hello screen appears and you can set it up again.

Turn On an iPhone 11 or Set Up an iPhone 16

The basic power-on method also applies to an iPhone 11 or iPhone 16: hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, release it, and let the phone start. If a new or erased iPhone shows Hello, follow the language, region, network, passcode, Apple Account and data-transfer prompts described in this guide. A phone already in use normally opens to its Lock Screen instead. Cellular setup and available features can differ by model, region and software; the iPhone 17 examples do not mean every earlier model has the same hardware features.

Turn On and Start Using an iPhone 12

For an iPhone 12, hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, then release it. A new or erased phone opens to Hello; an existing phone normally shows its Lock Screen. Follow the setup instructions above for language, region, network, data transfer, Apple Account, Face ID and a passcode. The iPhone 12 has Face ID, not Touch ID, and uses a Lightning charging connection; do not copy the iPhone 17 hardware assumptions. Apple describes the general process in its power-on and setup guide. After setup, open Settings > Wi-Fi, select your network and supply its password if necessary; check the network checkmark and open a page. Swipe up from the bottom to return Home and swipe down from the top-right corner for Control Center. Use Settings to review notifications, sounds and the display choices available on your installed iOS. Check that the Home Screen opens and the phone unlocks with your configured Face ID or passcode. This powers on and configures the phone; it does not open its physical case.

Download an Available App on an Older iPhone 6

On an iPhone 6 with iOS 9, open App Store > Search, enter the app name and open the correct result. Check its developer, price and compatibility before tapping Get or its price. If that old interface shows Install, tap it and complete the requested Apple ID password or Touch ID confirmation. Wait for the progress indicator to finish, then tap Open and check the app launches. Open means it is already installed; a cloud icon offers a redownload where available. The iPhone 6 has Touch ID, not Face ID. Apps requiring a newer unsupported iOS may not install, and a previously purchased app is not guaranteed to remain available. On current models the Get/price and authentication workflow is described in Apple’s app-download guide. Get itself is free, but an app may offer paid subscriptions or purchases. If storage is insufficient, inspect Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage on iOS 9 before removing anything; newer versions use iPhone Storage. Keep important app data and use the linked deletion guide when you no longer need an app.

Add an eSIM on iPhone 16 or Another Compatible iPhone

Confirm your exact model, region and carrier support eSIM, and connect to Wi-Fi. After setup, open Settings > Cellular (Mobile Data or Mobile Service in some regions), then Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM. For Quick Transfer, select the number or Transfer From Nearby iPhone and confirm on the old phone. Apple’s current eSIM support article requires both phones on iOS 18.4 or later, signed in to your Apple Account, nearby with Bluetooth on and the old phone unlocked. Wait for activation; it deactivates the previous SIM. For carrier-assigned activation, select its plan-ready notification in Settings and Continue, then complete any carrier prompts.

For a carrier QR code, choose Use QR Code under Add eSIM (possibly under Other Options), scan it and supply any carrier confirmation code. If the carrier gave you manual details, choose Enter Details Manually and enter them exactly; a participating carrier may instead require its app or activation link. Apple’s cellular setup guide describes these options. Check the new line is on under Settings > Cellular, choose the intended voice/data defaults if using multiple lines, and test a call or mobile-data page. If activation fails or Add eSIM is absent, confirm model/carrier eligibility and ask the carrier for help; not every regional iPhone 16 supports eSIM. Keep access to the old device until transfer succeeds.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the power button on an iPhone 17?

Apple calls it the side button. It is the long button on the right edge of the phone. Press and hold it until the Apple logo appears to turn the iPhone on.

Can I set up an iPhone 17 without Wi-Fi?

Often, yes. The iPhone needs either Wi-Fi or a cellular network to activate. If cellular is available, a Continue Without Wi-Fi option appears on the Wi-Fi screen. Restoring a large backup is still better done on Wi-Fi.

Do I need an Apple Account to set up an iPhone 17?

You can create an Apple Account during setup or choose to set it up later. Without one, you can’t use iCloud, the App Store, or an iCloud backup, so most people sign in.

Can I turn on VoiceOver or Zoom during setup?

Yes. From the Hello screen, press the side button three times to turn on VoiceOver, the screen reader. To turn on Zoom, double-tap the screen with three fingers.

Next steps

When you need to power the phone down, see how to turn off an iPhone 16, iPhone 17, or later. Curious where your new phone came from? Read where iPhones are made.