iOS 11 Makes Setting Up New Devices Super Easy

Monday June 19, 2017 4:02 pm PDT by Juli Clover
In iOS 11, Apple is implementing a new "Automatic Setup" feature, which is designed to make it much quicker to get a new device ready to go right out of the box.

As seen in the video below, Automatic Setup transfers over your preferences, Apple ID and Wi-Fi info, preferred settings, and iCloud Keychain passwords, streamlining the setup process for new iPads and iPhones.

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With iOS 11 installed, during the setup process, there's a new option to transfer settings from an existing device (which also needs to be running iOS 11). The two devices need to be held close to one another, and when nearby, you'll get instructions to pair them.

Pairing involves using the camera of the old device to scan an Apple Watch-style pairing image on the new device. After that, you'll be prompted to enter the passcode of the old device, which also becomes the passcode on the new device, and then the devices will need to remain near each other during the transfer.

The process sounds a bit complicated when explained, but it's straightforward with clear instructions that are simple to follow and it takes just a couple of minutes to complete.

After the two devices are paired and the settings are transferred, there's also a new simplified setup process for activating Touch ID and then enabling settings like Find My iPhone, location, and analytics all at once instead of individually. After that, you can set up Apple Pay and Siri, and then your device is ready to go.

Whether setting up a device as new or importing an iCloud backup, Automatic Setup in iOS 11 is quicker than the traditional setup method, provided you have an existing device on hand.

iOS 11 is limited to developers right now, but it will be provided to public beta testers later this month. For more on iOS 11, make sure to check out our full iOS 11 roundup.

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plastiqueusa
34 months ago

Now if only they could figure out how to speed up restoring all your apps while you stand in the Apple Store.

Show of hands: who has had to stand in Apple (or Verizon or Sprint etc) and wait and wait and wait for their overcrowded WiFi to redownload all their apps?

Keep your hand raised if you wish you could prioritize which apps download first, so you could at least have your most needed apps before you leave the store, rather than seeing it download The Elements or GTA San Andreas instead of the Gmail app.


I just tell the Apple Store person helping me that I'll take care of setup after I get home.
Rating: 21 Votes
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djcerla
34 months ago

I don't understand how this is any easier than restoring from an iCloud backup!


Maybe because iCloud backup does not store any of those things?
Rating: 13 Votes
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rshev
34 months ago


Keep your hand raised if you wish you could prioritize which apps download first, so you could at least have your most needed apps before you leave the store, rather than seeing it download The Elements or GTA San Andreas instead of the Gmail app.

You can actually prioritise downloads even on iOS 10 by force-touching the app in a downloading state.
Rating: 11 Votes
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Table Top Joe
34 months ago

Now if only they could figure out how to speed up restoring all your apps while you stand in the Apple Store.

Show of hands: who has had to stand in Apple (or Verizon or Sprint etc) and wait and wait and wait for their overcrowded WiFi to redownload all their apps?

Keep your hand raised if you wish you could prioritize which apps download first, so you could at least have your most needed apps before you leave the store, rather than seeing it download The Elements or GTA San Andreas instead of the Gmail app.




Eh.....do it yourself at home no? It's not very difficult in fairness
Rating: 11 Votes
Avatar
fmillion
34 months ago
Now if only they could figure out how to speed up restoring all your apps while you stand in the Apple Store.

Show of hands: who has had to stand in Apple (or Verizon or Sprint etc) and wait and wait and wait for their overcrowded WiFi to redownload all their apps?

Keep your hand raised if you wish you could prioritize which apps download first, so you could at least have your most needed apps before you leave the store, rather than seeing it download The Elements or GTA San Andreas instead of the Gmail app.
Rating: 10 Votes
Avatar
dannys1
34 months ago

I go through the setup in store so I know I am taking home a working device.


I make the UPS man wait 3 hours whilst I set it up outside so I know i'm receiving a working device.

/s
Rating: 8 Votes
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Nimoy
34 months ago
I don't understand how this is any easier than restoring from an iCloud backup!
Rating: 4 Votes
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goobot
34 months ago

Maybe because iCloud backup does not store any of those things?

And restoring from backup can bring bugs, especially when jumping between major os versions and to different devices.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Table Top Joe
34 months ago

And Health data.

And Wi Fi networks and passwords

Link here https://support.apple.com/en-ie/HT205220


I set up devices as new these days myself, it's amazing how much crap you accumulate on a device when you've had it a year or 2
Rating: 3 Votes
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benguild
31 months ago

No... I'm not saying that at all. That initial device to device sync gets you setup with your wifi and iCloud/iTunes passwords. But you will still need to restore from an encrypted iTunes backup to get all your app passwords back as part f the new device setup. The individual app passwords do not come over with the device to device sync.


Oh okay, that sucks. I was sort of hoping that they'd come up with an alternative near-full-device migration method that didn't require iTunes.
Rating: 2 Votes

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