A new iPhone is exciting, and the first hour is when the easy-to-forget steps get skipped. This guide walks through the 12 things to do first, whether your iPhone is brand new or new to you, including the checks every used iPhone buyer should run as soon as the phone arrives.
Quick Answer
The first things to do with a new iPhone are: back up your old iPhone, move everything over with Quick Start, update to iOS 27, and turn on Face ID, Stolen Device Protection, and Find My. If you bought the iPhone used, also confirm there is no Activation Lock, check battery health, and review Parts and Service History right away. Then erase and sell your old iPhone while it still has value.
Sell Your Old iPhone on Swappa
1. Back Up Your Old iPhone First
Before you touch the new phone, make a fresh backup of the old one. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now, or connect the iPhone to a Mac (Finder) or Windows PC (Apple Devices app). If you back up to a computer, choose an encrypted backup so saved passwords and Health data come along.
2. Transfer Everything With Quick Start
Turn on the new iPhone and place it next to the old one. Quick Start offers to set up the new phone with your Apple Account and transfer apps, data, and settings directly from the old iPhone. Keep both phones plugged in and close together until it finishes, which can take an hour or more with a large photo library.
On supported carriers, your eSIM can move during setup too. If it does not, your carrier’s app or support line can transfer the line. See eSIM and Used Phones: What to Know Before You Buy.
Coming from Android? Use Apple’s Move to iOS app instead. See Switching From Android to iPhone: The Best Tips for 2026.
3. Bought It Used? Run These Checks in the First Hour
If your new iPhone came from a previous owner, check these before you get attached:
| Check | Where to Find It | What You Want to See |
|---|---|---|
| Activation Lock | During setup | No screen asking for someone else’s Apple Account |
| Carrier lock | Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock | “No SIM restrictions” for an unlocked iPhone |
| Battery health | Settings > Battery > Battery Health | A figure that matches the listing |
| Cycle count | Settings > General > About (iPhone 15 and later) | A number consistent with the phone’s age |
| Parts and Service History | Settings > General > About | Any replaced parts listed as genuine Apple parts, or disclosed in the listing |
| Warranty coverage | checkcoverage.apple.com | Any remaining AppleCare or warranty coverage |
Then test the basics: Face ID, all cameras, speakers, microphone, charging, and a call on your carrier. If anything does not match the listing, open a help request from your Swappa sale page right away so Swappa support can step in. For the full routine, see How to Test a Used Device Before You Buy, iCloud Activation Lock: How to Avoid It on a Used iPhone, and iPhone Battery Health: What to Check on a Used iPhone.
4. Update to iOS 27
Apple released iOS 27 on September 14, 2026, and it runs on the iPhone 11 and newer, plus the iPhone SE (2nd generation). Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install it, then turn on automatic updates. Siri AI and other Apple Intelligence features require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. iOS 27 also adds new parental controls, which are worth a look if the iPhone is for a child.
5. Set Up Face ID and a Strong Passcode
Face ID (or Touch ID on an iPhone SE) plus a passcode encrypts your data and keeps the phone useless to anyone else. Use a six-digit passcode at minimum, or a custom alphanumeric code for more protection, in Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
6. Turn On Stolen Device Protection
Stolen Device Protection adds a Face ID requirement and a security delay before anyone can change your Apple Account password or other sensitive settings away from familiar locations like home or work. It is the single best defense if a thief learns your passcode. Turn it on in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection.
7. Make Sure Find My Is On
Open Settings > [your name] > Find My and confirm Find My iPhone is on, along with Find My network and Send Last Location. Find My is also what enables Activation Lock, which is why a lost or stolen iPhone is so hard to resell. Remember to turn it off before you ever sell the phone.
8. Review iCloud Storage and Backups
Every Apple Account comes with 5GB of free iCloud storage, which fills up quickly with photos and backups. Check what is using space in Settings > [your name] > iCloud, turn on iCloud Backup, and decide whether you need an iCloud+ plan. While you are there, turn on two-factor authentication and add a Recovery Contact so you can get back into your account if you forget your password.
9. Set Up Apple Pay, Medical ID, and Emergency Contacts
Add your cards to Wallet for Apple Pay, then open the Health app to fill in your Medical ID and emergency contacts, which first responders can see from the Lock Screen. On iPhone 14 and newer models, Emergency SOS via satellite can reach help when you have no cell signal.
10. Customize the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Action Button
Long-press the Home Screen to rearrange apps, add widgets, or hide apps in the App Library. Long-press the Lock Screen to change the wallpaper, clock, and widgets. If your iPhone has an Action button (iPhone 15 Pro and later, and every iPhone 16 and newer model), assign it to something you use daily, such as the flashlight, a Shortcut, or silent mode.
11. Protect the Battery, the Glass, and the Resale Value
A few settings and accessories keep the phone healthy and worth more later:
- Charging limit. On iPhone 15 and newer, go to Settings > Battery > Charging and set a charge limit such as 80% if you mostly charge overnight. Older models use Optimized Battery Charging. See Battery Care: How to Extend Battery Lifespan.
- Case and screen protector. A cracked screen is the fastest way to lose resale value. See Do Cases and Screen Protectors Pay Off at Resale?
- Coverage. Decide whether AppleCare or another protection plan is worth it for you. See Warranty for Used Electronics: What’s Actually Worth It.
12. Sell Your Old iPhone While It Is Worth the Most
An old iPhone in a drawer loses value every month. As of September 23, 2026, a 128GB iPhone 13 sold for about $242 on average on Swappa and a 128GB iPhone 11 for about $147, both well above typical trade-in quotes. See How Much Is an iPhone 11 Worth in 2026? for a model-by-model example.
Before you list it, turn off Find My, sign out of your Apple Account, and erase the phone. See How to Wipe an iPhone Before Selling It (the Right Way) and How to Sell Your Used Phone for the Most Money. Swappa’s seller fee is 3% of your asking price plus payment processing, and real people approve listings before they go live.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first when I get a new iPhone?
Back up your old iPhone, then use Quick Start to transfer your apps and data to the new one. After that, update to iOS 27 and turn on Face ID, Stolen Device Protection, and Find My. If the iPhone is used, check for Activation Lock and battery health right away.
How do I transfer data from my old iPhone to my new iPhone?
Use Quick Start. Turn on the new iPhone, place it next to your old iPhone, and follow the prompts to transfer apps, data, and settings directly. You can also restore from an iCloud backup or a computer backup during setup.
How do I check if a used iPhone is Activation Locked?
Start setup on the iPhone. If it asks for an Apple Account and password that are not yours, the phone is Activation Locked and only the previous owner can remove the lock. Every Swappa listing must be free of Activation Lock, so contact Swappa support through your sale page if you see this screen.
How do I check battery health on a used iPhone?
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to see the maximum capacity. On iPhone 15 and newer models, Settings > General > About also shows the battery cycle count. Swappa requires iPhone sellers to disclose when battery health is below 80% and Apple’s battery message is showing.
Should I turn on Stolen Device Protection?
Yes. Stolen Device Protection requires Face ID and adds a security delay before sensitive changes, such as changing your Apple Account password, when your iPhone is away from familiar locations. It protects you even if a thief learns your passcode.
When should I sell my old iPhone?
As soon as your new iPhone is set up and you have confirmed everything transferred. iPhones lose value steadily, and older models drop further when Apple ends iOS support. Selling within a few weeks of upgrading usually gets you the most money.
The Bottom Line
The first hour with a new iPhone sets up the next few years: move your data with Quick Start, update to iOS 27, lock the phone down with Face ID, Stolen Device Protection, and Find My, and if it is used, verify it the day it arrives. Then sell the old iPhone so it funds the new one instead of sitting in a drawer.
