Best way to set up new iPhone?

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Best way to set up new iPhone?

Batman

Mad Scientist
29760 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#136306 22-Nov-2013 14:03

Just got my wife a new iPhone.

What do people do to set it up?

1) Set up as new phone
2) Restore icloud backup (i set mine to itunes backup and icloud only some data backup)
3) Restore itunes backup
(will restoring full backup bring in the crap? if so i'd restore the data only from icloud is better?)

Also i presume i can register the phone later when my new computer arrives?
Or do not register and have it locked to a computer forever? Any downsides?

wscalioni

73 posts

Master Geek

#939057 22-Nov-2013 14:49

Well, personally, I don't like to use iTunes at all, so I backup all my stuff to iCloud and other cloud services like Dropbox, Evernote, etc. Doing that, I don't use the 5GB (very limited space), as part of my data goes to other services.

But that depends on your usage, for exemple, I don't use MP3/AAC files, so I don't sync music, my Spotify account does the trick when comes to music.

To me, the biggest advantage on backing up to iCloud is you will not need a computer EVER, if you get a new iOS device or if you just have to restore factory settings.

Cheers.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29760 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#939065 22-Nov-2013 14:57

any disadvantage of not registering the phone or registering it later?
even better can you register it and not have it locked to a computer?

clicknz

467 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#939095 22-Nov-2013 15:19

Hi -I don't think there is a definitive 'best way' (is there ever?). Unless there have been problems or lots of crashes from a device that you have a back-up of I don't think there'd be any issues restoring from an existing backup via iTunes. Some people take a new device as an opportunity to set up from a clean slate... but it depends how you want to run any syncs or data saves going forward.
I personally like to have a hub where I sync all my data from & am happy to use iTunes for that. I'm not reliant on possibly flaky connections, data cap expense or that iCloud might not always be there when I need it. In fact I'm annoyed that with the latest iTunes on my Mac I don't have the option to sync contacts & calendar with my computer.... those 2 seem to be iCloud only!!
There isn't the 'activation' of iPhones like there used to be... pretty much put in a SIM & go. Syncing with a new computer is easy if you also transfer the data from the old to the new computer (photos, music, documents) - your apps & any iTunes content purchased remains tied to the iTunes account so that can be downloaded again.

Cheers,
Mike

Photographer/Videographer clickmedia.nz

Batman

Mad Scientist
29760 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#939767 24-Nov-2013 09:00

can someone remind me - when getting rid of the old phone that is associated with an iTunes on a PC ...

must I deauthorize the phone from the iTunes or does this process refer to an iTunes account rather than a phone?

do I need to plug it in to do that?

I'm so confused

tdgeek

29740 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#939784 24-Nov-2013 09:55

I agree with the central hub that clicknz mentioned. All my stuff is on my laptop, and I have always restored to backup, never an issue. iPad 1 to 2 to 3 and iPhone 4 to 4S to 5.

An option is to setup as new phone and add the sync settings if there had been issues. I have found iTunes to be perfectly fine once I learnt its functions. Central one stop hub, sweet

tdgeek

29740 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#939785 24-Nov-2013 09:56

joker97: can someone remind me - when getting rid of the old phone that is associated with an iTunes on a PC ...

must I deauthorize the phone from the iTunes or does this process refer to an iTunes account rather than a phone?

do I need to plug it in to do that?

I'm so confused

I wish to know this too, I have never deauthorised a device, should I have? Can I now for past devices?