How do I set up a new phone?

The order to set up a new phone in so nothing gets lost — backup first, migration, then the settings worth changing on day one.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 2 hr
Read: 2 min

Short answer

Back up the old phone and verify the backup before doing anything else, then use the built-in migration tool rather than restoring app by app. Once it's running, check the settings that matter: screen lock, backups, two-factor apps and privacy permissions.

The main risk in moving to a new phone is the things that don't migrate automatically — authenticator apps, messaging history and anything stored only in an app's local data. Checking those before you wipe or trade in the old device is the step people regret skipping.

What you'll need

Old phone (charged)
WiFi
Both chargers
Cable for a wired transfer (optional)

Step by step

Back up the old phone fully and confirm the backup date and size.Verify it — don't assume. This is the safety net for everything that follows.
Note anything that won't migrate automatically.Authenticator apps are the big one: many don't transfer, and you need the recovery codes or an in-app transfer process.
Transfer authenticator accounts using the app's own migration feature.Do this before wiping the old phone. Losing your second factor without recovery codes can lock you out permanently.
Use the built-in migration tool on first boot.iPhone Quick Start, Android's transfer flow, or a cable transfer. It moves settings and app data that a manual reinstall wouldn't.
Leave both phones plugged in and on WiFi until the transfer completes.It can take an hour or more. Interrupting it means starting again.
Set up the screen lock and biometrics immediately.First thing after setup. An unlocked phone is a route into every account on it.
Turn on cloud backup and confirm the first backup completes.The most common failure is a new phone that never had backup enabled.
Review app permissions, particularly location, microphone and camera.A fresh setup is the natural moment to grant only what's needed.
Keep the old phone until you've confirmed everything works — messages, banking, authenticator, photos.At least a week. Don't wipe or trade it in on the same day.

Tips

Messaging app history often needs its own in-app backup and restore. Check before assuming it came across.
Banking and authentication apps frequently need re-verification on a new device. Do this while you still have the old phone working.
A new phone is a good opportunity not to reinstall everything. Install what you actually use and see what you miss.
Photograph or note your home screen layout before migrating if you care about it.

Common mistakes

Wiping the old phone too soon — You'll discover something that didn't migrate, and by then it's gone.
Not transferring authenticator apps first — Losing your second factor can lock you out of accounts permanently.
Skipping backup verification — An assumed backup is not a backup. Check the date and size.
Interrupting the transfer — Most migration tools have to start over, costing another hour.

Questions people ask

Will everything transfer automatically?

Most things do, but authenticator apps, some messaging histories and app-specific local data often don't. Check those explicitly before retiring the old phone.

How long should I keep the old phone?

At least a week of normal use on the new one, so you find anything missing while the old device still works.