iPhone for beginners: from setup to downloading apps

Do you have an iPhone for the first time and could you use some help? We explain everything you need to know as a novice iPhone user: from setting up to downloading your first apps.

Set up a new iPhone

If you buy a new iPhone, there is no manual in the box. But that is often not necessary, because the iOS system works very intuitively. To start, first put your SIM card in the SIM card holder of the iPhone. You need a nanosim for all recent iPhones. The SIM card holder can be found on the right side of the iPhone.

You will see a hole on the right side of the holder. Push with a paper clip or a special pin into the opening so that the SIM card holder clicks open. Place your nano-SIM card in the holder (there is only one way to properly place your SIM card). Then click the SIM card holder back into the phone.

Turn on your iPhone with the power button on the right. Now you have to go through a few steps to set up the iPhone:

1. Choose the language in which you want the iPhone to function;
2. Choose the country where you are;
3. As a novice user, this is probably your first iPhone, so you cannot use another Apple device to sign in. Therefore choose ‘Configure manually’;
4. Select your WiFi network and enter the password;
5. Your iPhone will now be activated.

Now you will get a number of options to set up, such as face recognition (Face ID). You can choose to do this right away by tapping ‘Continue’. Then you will automatically see the instructions. If you’re not sure if you want to, tap Configure later in settings. Then you can always set it up again.

Transfer apps and data

If you already had an iPhone, we will explain how you can easily and securely transfer your data. If you have switched from Android to Apple, you can choose to transfer your apps and data from your old Android phone. To do this, click on “Transfer data from Android”.

Tip: Read our tip about switching from Android to iPhone.

Don’t want to transfer data from an old phone? Then choose “Do not transfer apps and data”.

Create Apple ID

If this is your first iOS device, you don’t have an Apple ID yet. It is important to create one as you will often need it. For example for downloading apps or for certain settings in your iPhone. This is how you create your Apple ID:

1. Tap “Forgot your password or no Apple ID?” and then on “Create Apple ID for free”;
2. Enter your first name, last name and date of birth and tap ‘continue’;
3. Enter your email address and optionally tap the slider next to ‘Apple news and announcements’ if you do not want to receive email messages. Tap ‘Continue’ again;
4. Create a password. Choose one that is easy to remember, but is safe. The password must be at least 8 characters long and contain an uppercase and lowercase letter. Enter the password again to confirm it and click on ‘Continue’ again;
5. Enter your phone number now. This is required to send a verification code;
6. Enter the code and tap ‘Agree’ to accept the conditions.

Your email address must now be verified. To do this, tap on ‘Verify email address’. You will now receive a verification code in your inbox. Enter the code on your iPhone. Now you have created your Apple ID.

Other settings

You will now see other settings that you can or cannot install. For example, you can choose to automatically update the iPhone, turn on your location or not, and turn on Siri. You can also receive a weekly report on your iPhone usage with Screen Time. Finally, you can choose whether your iPhone can be analyzed by Apple for research.

With the arrival of iOS 13, you can choose to put your iPhone in dark mode. If you don’t want that, you choose ‘Light’. You can then also choose whether you want to keep your screen in the standard format, or whether you want to zoom it in.

You will now see some instructions. The iPhone explains that you can swipe up to go to your home screen. With older iPhone models, you did this by pressing the iPhone’s home button.

The iPhone also shows that you can switch between different apps by further swiping up and lifting your finger. The most commonly used options, such as bluetooth and setting the brightness of your screen, can be found by swiping down in the top right of the screen.

Download apps

Congratulations! You have set up your iPhone and Apple ID and you have now arrived at your home screen. You can choose to download a beautiful background. There are already some useful standard apps from Apple on the start screen. To download your favorite apps, first go to the App Store. This is how you do it:

1. Tap the search function at the bottom right of the screen to search for a specific app, or tap one of the other tabs at the bottom of the screen to see recommendations from the App Store.
2. Tap on ‘Download’;
3. Enter your Apple ID;
4. The app will now be on your home screen.

Do you want to delete apps? Then press and hold an app icon and select “Reorder apps”. The icons now start to move. You can remove apps by tapping the cross at the top left. If there is no cross next to the app, you cannot delete it. As long as they move, you can move all apps across the different screens to arrange them as you like. When you’re done, tap Done at the top right of the screen.

Curious about the different functions of the standard apps? We explain what’s new in the Health app and tell you about useful features in the Reminders app. On the iOS 13 page you will find an overview of all important functions of the latest software update.

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