Christmas is the time to give, and it’s probably a good bet that a handful of people will get new iPhones as gifts. Electronics is one of the most popular Christmas gifts, and we’re guessing many will unwrap a new iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c on Wednesday morning.
The only problem is that it can be a bit difficult to set up and maintain, especially for those who are completely new to iOS or the smartphone scene. It’s true that Apple does a good job of helping with the initial setup, but there are things to be aware of that Apple just ignored. Fortunately, we have a guide to help you through the setup process for your new iPhone, and we’ll even get you started with a small list of must-have apps to grow your smartphone experience from day one. We’ll also let you know what iPhone accessories you need or want.
Initial setup
The first screen that appears when you turn on your new iPhone is a “Hello” greeting scrolling through different languages (pictured above), and you will be prompted to “swipe to setup” to start the setup process. The entire setup process only takes a few minutes before you reach the home screen, so you don’t need to spend an hour for the initial setup.
You will then be prompted to join a WiFi network, or if you choose to join a WiFi network later, you can skip this step by tapping “Next”.
The next screen is where you enable or disable Location Services. If you plan to use maps, navigation, and other location-aware apps, you’ll want to tap on the “Enable Location Services” option.
The next screen will ask if you want to set up your new iPhone as a brand new iPhone or restore from a backup from a previous iOS device. If this is your first iPhone, you’ll want to select “Set Up as New iPhone”.
You will then be prompted to create an Apple ID or sign in with your Apple ID if you already have one. If you’re completely new to the Apple ecosystem, you’ll want to tap the “Create a Free Apple ID” option. However, if you’ve used and haven’t used iTunes to purchase music in the past, you already have an Apple ID and just sign in.
The next screen is where you will agree to the Terms and Conditions. It’s okay if you don’t read them and blindly accept them all; We will not tell anyone.
This is where we get into the meat and bones of setting up your new iPhone. You will first be asked if you want to use iCloud. We highly recommend using iCloud as Find My iPhone requires iCloud, and you’ll want to use it every time your phone is lost or stolen.
The next screen is where you enable Find My iPhone. Please – for everything holy – enable this feature.
Next, you’ll confirm your phone number and email address for use with iMessage and FaceTime. iMessage is Apple’s text messaging app, while FaceTime is the company’s own video chat service.
If you have an iPhone 5, the next screen will ask you to set up (or not) Touch ID. You can always skip this and install it later, but we highly recommend setting this feature for best security.
You will also be prompted to create a passcode as a secondary security measure to complete Touch ID. Again, we highly recommend creating one.
Next, you will be asked if you want to use Siri. We’re not leaning to one side or the other with this one, so it’s up to you to consider whether to use voice commands and sequencing.
The next screen is where you accept or disable diagnostic reports. Essentially, we recommend choosing “Don’t Send”, especially after you’ve heard the whole NSA circle; You don’t want to send more information to Apple than you need to.
After that, the initial setup is complete and you can start exploring your home screen and other menus on your new iPhone!
Apps to Help You Get Started
Must-Have Accessories
You’ll probably want some accessories to be compatible with your new iPhone, and luckily, there are loads of accessories available for purchase. We recommend stocking up on a few Lightning cables before you can get one for your home, car, or business, so you don’t have to constantly carry cables with you. If USB charging is out of the question, it doesn’t hurt to buy chargers with extra 5W outputs to have it in multiple locations.
Then, if you’re paranoid about dropping and breaking it, you might want a case for your iPhone. We’re big fans of Apple’s own iPhone 5s case, which is made of leather and doesn’t pack the device like most cases do. However, if you want something else, take a look at our other favorite iPhone 5s cases. While you’re at it, check out some of the other accessories you should consider getting.
Where can you buy iPhone accessories though? Most retail stores will have them, but we’re big fans of Staples, Target, carrier stores, and of course Apple’s own retail stores and website. Amazon also has a number of iPhone accessories you can buy at different price points to suit every budget.
