iPhone Basics

Getting started with the iPhone

Once you have an iPhone, your next step should be learning about the physical features of the device and the accessories that came with it. This includes the different buttons and ports, how to turn the device on and off, how to charge the battery, and the importance of protecting the device.

Note: The device featured on this page is the iPhone 5. The physical features of the iPhone 5 are mostly the same as the current and previous versions, including tips on how to care for your device. To learn more about the differences between the iPhone 5 and current versions, visit Apple's Compare iPhone Models.

Device and Accessories

The iPhone currently comes with the following accessories:

• USB cable (for connecting to your computer, as well as the power adapter)
• USB power adapter (for charging the battery)
• Earpods (headphones) with microphone and remote (for hands-free calling, listening to music, and volume control)
• Documentation (including warranty)

To learn more about the buttons and ports on the outside of the device, review the diagram below.

Front and back of the iPhone

The current USB connector is known as the Lightning connector. Earlier versions of the iPhone use the 30-pin connector, which will be larger than the one pictured above. The USB cable that connects to it will be larger too.

Getting started

The first time you turn on your iPhone, you'll be asked to choose a few different settings, like your preferred language, a Wi-Fi network, and your Apple ID. If you don't want to choose all of these settings, you can always skip them for now and change them later.

To sleep and wake the iPhone:

When you're ready to use the iPhone, you'll need to wake it. To do this, press the Sleep/Wake button or the Home button. The Lock screen will appear; simply slide to unlock it. When you're done using the iPhone, press the Sleep/Wake button to put it in Sleep mode. This will turn off the screen and help to save battery life.

Unlocking the iPhone

The iPhone will go to Sleep mode automatically if you don't use it for more than a few minutes.

To turn the iPhone on and off:

Most of the time, you won't need to turn your iPhone off—you can just use the Sleep/Wake button to keep your iPhone in Sleep mode. But if you need to turn it off completely (for example, on an airplane), press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for several seconds, then slide to power off.

To turn the iPhone on, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears. It may take a few minutes to turn on completely.