To set up a new iPad, press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears, then follow the “Hello” screens: choose your text size, either hold an existing iPhone or iPad nearby to use Quick Start or tap Set Up Without Another Device, join your Wi-Fi, create a passcode, decide whether to bring over data from a backup, and sign in with your Apple Account. The whole thing usually takes one sitting with the box open on the kitchen table. This guide walks through each screen in the order Apple’s own setup guide lists them, and explains the choices that actually matter.
If the iPad was a present and you have never owned an Apple device before, do not worry. Every step can be changed later in Settings, so nothing you pick today is permanent.
Before You Start: What to Have Ready
- Your Wi-Fi password. It is usually printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of your router.
- Your Apple Account email and password, if you already have one from an iPhone or an old iPad. If you do not have one, you can create one during setup.
- Your old device, if you are replacing one. Charge it and keep it close by.
- Some charge in the new iPad. Plug it in if the battery icon looks low. Setup can include a download, and you do not want it to switch off halfway.
- Twenty to thirty quiet minutes. Restoring a large backup takes longer, but you can use the iPad while some of it finishes in the background.
Step 1: Turn the iPad On and Choose a Text Size
Press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears. After a short wait you will see “Hello” in several languages. Swipe up, or press the Home button on older models, to begin.
One of the first screens asks you to pick a text and icon size: Default, Medium or Large. If you find small print tiring, choose Large now rather than squinting for a week. Apple’s guide also notes two accessibility shortcuts at this stage: press the top button three times to turn on VoiceOver (the iPad reads the screen aloud), or tap the screen twice with three fingers to turn on Zoom.
You can fine-tune all of this later in Settings, under Display & Brightness and Accessibility.
Step 2: Quick Start or Set Up Without Another Device
This is the most important fork in the road.
If you have another iPhone or iPad
Bring it close to the new iPad. Apple’s Quick Start feature can then copy your settings and sign you in automatically, which saves a lot of typing. Follow the prompts on both screens. Keep the two devices next to each other until it says it has finished.
If you do not have another Apple device
Tap Set Up Without Another Device. You will then be asked whether to use the languages common in your region for the keyboard and dictation, or to choose different ones. Most people can accept the suggestion. This is also where you can open Accessibility Options if you need them.
Step 3: Connect to Wi-Fi
Tap your home network’s name and type the password carefully. Passwords are case-sensitive, so a capital letter in the wrong place will stop it working. If your iPad has a mobile (cellular) connection, you will also see Continue Without Wi-Fi, though you may need to insert a SIM or activate an eSIM first.
The iPad needs an internet connection at this point to activate, so if the network will not connect, move closer to the router and try again.
Step 4: Decide Who the iPad Is For
Apple’s setup now asks whether the device is for you or for a child, and may ask the age range of the main user. If you are setting up an iPad for a child, choose the child option. Apple then walks you through a separate child setup with its own controls, and that route is worth taking rather than setting the iPad up in your own name and handing it over.
Step 5: Face ID or Touch ID, Then a Passcode
Depending on the model, you will be asked to scan your face (Face ID) or your fingerprint (Touch ID). This lets you unlock the iPad without typing a code every time. Follow the on-screen prompts; it takes about a minute.
Next comes the passcode. The default is six digits. If you tap Passcode Options, you will see choices for a four-digit code, a custom code or no passcode at all. Our advice: keep a passcode. It protects your email, photos and anything you buy, and Face ID or Touch ID means you will rarely type it anyway. Write it down somewhere safe at home until you have memorised it.
Step 6: Transfer Your Apps and Data (or Start Fresh)
The Transfer Apps & Data screen gives you several options:
| Option | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| Restore from an iCloud backup | Your old iPad or iPhone was backing up to iCloud and you want everything back. |
| Restore from a computer backup | You used to back up to a Mac or Windows PC with a cable. |
| Move data from an Android device | You are switching from an Android phone or tablet. |
| Don’t Transfer Anything | This is your first Apple device, or you want a clean start. |
If you are not sure whether your old device was backed up, our guide on backing up your phone explains how to check before you choose.
Step 7: Sign In With Your Apple Account
Enter the email address or phone number linked to your Apple Account, then your password. You may be asked for a verification code, which is sent to another device you own or by text.
If you have forgotten your password or have never had an account, tap Forgot password or don’t have an Apple Account?. From there you can recover an existing account, create a new one, or choose to set it up later. Setting it up later is fine, but you will need an Apple Account before you can download apps from the App Store.
Step 8: The Remaining Screens
After you sign in, Apple’s guide lists a run of shorter choices. Here is what each one means in plain English:
- Automatic updates. Say yes. Updates fix security problems, and having them install overnight means you never have to think about it.
- Siri. Apple’s voice assistant. Turn it on if you like asking questions out loud; skip it if not.
- Appearance. Light, Dark or Auto. Auto switches to darker colours in the evening.
- Screen Time. Shows how long you spend on the iPad and lets you set limits. Useful for children and harmless for adults.
- Data sharing. Whether to send anonymous usage reports to Apple and app developers. Either answer is fine; the iPad works the same.
- Apple Intelligence, on models that support it. You can turn this on later if you are unsure.
When the Home Screen appears, you are done.
What to Do in Your First Hour
- Check for updates. Open Settings, tap General, then Software Update. A new iPad may have sat in a warehouse for months.
- Turn on Find My. If the iPad is ever lost, this lets you locate or lock it. Our guide to setting up Find My covers the steps.
- Make the screen comfortable. Brightness, text size and sounds are worth adjusting now. See our list of simple settings that make a tablet easier to use.
- Download two or three apps you will actually use, not twenty. A video-calling app for family, a news or radio app, and perhaps something creative. Plenty of adults use an iPad as a sketchbook, and a beginner’s route into drawing as an adult on a tablet or paper is a nice way to make a gift feel personal.
Common Problems During Setup
It is stuck on “Activating”
Activation needs the internet. Check other devices can get online, restart the router if not, and move closer to it.
It says it is already linked to someone else’s Apple Account
This happens with second-hand iPads. The previous owner needs to remove it from their account. Do not buy or accept a used iPad until they have done this.
I chose the wrong option halfway through
Most choices can be changed later in Settings. The exception is restoring a backup: Apple offers it on the setup screens, so decide on that one before you tap past it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Apple Account to use a new iPad?
You can reach the Home Screen without one, as setup lets you set it up later. But you need an Apple Account to download apps, use iCloud and turn on Find My, so most people create one straight away.
Can I set up an iPad without Wi-Fi?
Only if it has a mobile data connection. Apple’s setup shows a Continue Without Wi-Fi option on iPads with cellular service. A Wi-Fi-only iPad needs a network to activate.
Can I move things from my Android phone to a new iPad?
Yes. On the Transfer Apps & Data screen, choose the option to move data from Android and follow the prompts on both devices.
Should I use a four-digit or six-digit passcode?
Six digits is the default and is harder to guess. Four digits is allowed under Passcode Options. Whichever you choose, do not use a birthday or 1234.
How do I set up an iPad for a grandchild or child?
When setup asks who the device is for, choose the child option and follow Apple’s child setup. That links the iPad to a child account with parental controls from day one.
Source for the setup screens: Apple Support, Set up your iPhone or iPad.
Last updated: November 13, 2026