How to turn on and set up iPad

Thursday October 15, 2026 9:59 am EAT by Dave Johnson

You can turn on and set up your new iPad with an internet connection, or set up iPad by connecting it to your computer. If you have another iPhone, an iPad, or an Android device, you can transfer your data to your new iPad.

To make setup as smooth as possible, it helps to have an internet connection, your Apple Account and password, and your previous iPad or a backup of your device. And you can create an Apple Account during setup if you don’t have one.

Note: When a company, school, or other organization deploys or manages your iPad, ask an administrator or teacher for setup instructions.

Prepare for setup

To make setup go as smoothly as possible, have the following items available:

An internet connection through a Wi-Fi network (you may need the name and password of the network) or cellular data service through a carrier (Wi-Fi + Cellular models)
Your Apple Account and password; if you don’t have an Apple Account, you can create one during setup
Your credit or debit card account information, if you want to add a card to Apple Pay during setup
Your previous iPad or a backup of your device, if you’re transferring your data to your new device

Tip: If you don’t have sufficient storage space to back up your device, iCloud will provide enough storage to complete a temporary backup, free of charge, for up to three weeks from the purchase of your iPad. On your previous device, go to the Settings app, tap General, then tap Transfer or Reset [device]. Tap Get Started, then follow the onscreen instructions.
Your Android device, if you’re transferring your Android content

Turn on and set up your iPad

Press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.

If iPad doesn’t turn on, you might need to charge the battery.

Tip: If you’re blind or have low vision, you can triple-click the Home button (on an iPad with a Home button) or triple-click the top button (on other iPad models) to turn on VoiceOver, the screen reader. You can also double-tap the screen with three fingers to turn on Zoom. See Get started with accessibility features.
Do one of the following:
- Set up with another device: If you have another iPhone or iPad with iOS 11, iPadOS 13, or later, you can use it to automatically set up your new device. Bring the two devices close together. Follow the onscreen instructions to securely copy many of your settings, preferences, and iCloud Keychain. You can then restore the rest of your data and content to your new device from your iCloud backup.
  
  Or, if both devices have iOS 12.4, iPadOS 13, or later, you can transfer all your data wirelessly from your previous device to your new one. Keep your devices near each other and plugged into power until the migration process is complete.
- Set Up Manually: If you don’t have another device, tap Set Up Without Another Device. Follow the onscreen setup instructions.

Move from an Android device to iPad

Switching from an Android device? The Move to iOS app can transfer your data when you first set up your new iPad.

Note: Already finished setup and want to use Move to iOS? You’ll need to erase your iPad and start over, or move your data manually.

On your device with Android version 4.0 or later, download the Move to iOS app.
On your iPad, do the following:
- Follow the setup assistant.
- On the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, tap From Android.
On the Android device, do the following:
- Turn on Wi-Fi.
- Go to the Move to iOS app.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.

WARNING: To avoid injury, read Important safety information before using iPad.