iPhone WARNING: To avoid injury, read Important safety information before using iPhone.
Activation can be done over a Wi-Fi network or, with iPhone 4s or later, over your carrier’s cellular network (not available in all areas). If neither option is available, you need to connect iPhone to your computer and use iTunes to activate iPhone (see Connect iPhone to your computer).
Set up and activate iPhone. Turn on iPhone and follow the Setup Assistant.
The Setup Assistant steps you through the process, including:
Connecting to a Wi-Fi network
Signing in with or creating a free Apple ID (needed for many features, including iCloud, FaceTime, the App Store, the iTunes Store, and more)
Entering a passcode
Setting up iCloud and iCloud Keychain
Turning on recommended features such as Location Services and Find My iPhone
Activating iPhone with your carrier
You can also restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup during setup.
Note: If you turn on Find My iPhone during setup, Activation Lock will be turned on in order to help deter theft. See Find My iPhone.
Some carriers let you unlock iPhone for use with their network. To see if your carrier offers this option, see support.apple.com/kb/HT1937. Contact your carrier for authorization and setup information. You need to connect iPhone to iTunes to complete the process. Additional fees may apply. For more information, see support.apple.com/kb/HT5014.