I Just Got an iPhone ... What's Next?

A Beginner's Guide to the iPhone

by Sam Costello
Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others.
Updated March 15, 2017

So, you're the proud owner of a new iPhone. Congratulations. Not only is the iPhone a great gadget, it's also a very useful tool. You're going to enjoy it.

You may be wondering about where to begin. This article walks you through the steps that you'll find most useful in the initial stages of setting up and using your iPhone. There's a lot more to learn, of course, but these tutorials, how-tos, and tips are what you're likely to need to know in the early days of having an iPhone.

01
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iPhone Set Up

New iPhone set up
Karlis Dambrans/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

These are the basics: making sure you have the required software and accounts, and then how to use them to set up your iPhone and get started.

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Using the Built-in Apps

apple music search
Search results for Apple Music.

Once you've set up your iPhone, the next step is to learn how to use the core, built-in apps that do the crucial things: make calls, get and send email, browse the web, and more. Learn how to use:

03
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iPhone Apps - Getting and Using Them

iphone app store logo
image copyright Apple Inc.

Apps are probably the thing that makes the iPhone so much fun. These articles will help you learn how to get and use apps and guide you in which to choose.

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Enjoying Music At Home and On the Go

The Monster iCarPlay 800 Wireless FM transmitter
The Monster iCarPlay 800 Wireless FM transmitter. image credit: Monster

Once the iPhone is set up, you'll want to learn how to do some basic things. The most basic are pretty intuitive, but these articles will help you go deeper.

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iPhone Troubleshooting & Help

Make Genius Bar Appointment
image credit: Artur Debat/Moment Mobile ED/Getty Images

Sometimes things go wrong with the iPhone. Whether it's serious or not (and, in most cases, it's not), when things go wrong, it's good to know how to fix them.

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iPhone Tips and Tricks

Missing personal hotspot on iphone
image credit: John Lamb/DigitalVision/Getty Images

Once you've mastered the basics, check out these articles for tips on using the iPhone more effectively and discovering some of its cool, hidden features.