Giving an iPhone, iPad or Laptop for Christmas? What to Set Up Before (and After) You Wrap It
2 November 2026 · By Ethan Fernandes
Should you set up a new phone or tablet before giving it? What to do before Christmas, what to leave until the day, and how to make it easy for children, older parents and anyone switching from Android.
Quick answer
Usually leave a new iPhone, iPad or phone sealed: setup links it to the owner's account and transferring from their old phone needs both devices. Before Christmas, check they know their Apple or Google password, back up the old phone and buy a charger plug. Set up children's devices with Family Sharing or Family Link first.
A new iPhone, iPad or laptop is one of the most popular Christmas presents, and one of the most likely to end up back in the box by Boxing Day. Setup takes longer than expected, nobody remembers the Apple or Google password, the Christmas Day Wi-Fi is struggling, and moving photos and WhatsApp from the old phone turns into an afternoon's job.
A little preparation before you wrap it makes all the difference.
The short version: in most cases, leave the device sealed. Setting it up links it to the person who'll use it, and moving everything from their old phone needs both phones side by side. Instead, check before Christmas that they know their Apple or Google password, that their old phone is backed up and that they have a charger plug. For children and older parents, plan to set it up together, or book help for the days after Christmas.
Should You Set It Up Before Wrapping?
Usually not. An iPhone or iPad is set up with the owner's Apple Account, and an Android phone with their Google account. The easiest way to move everything across, including photos, contacts, messages and apps, is to hold the old and new phones next to each other during setup. That needs the recipient and their old phone.
The exceptions:
- A child's first device, where you'll create their account and set up parental controls anyway.
- An older parent who'd find setup stressful, if you know their account details or can set it up with them before the day.
- A laptop, where you might want the large first updates out of the way. But leave the final account setup for the person using it.
What to Do Before Christmas
- Check they know their passwords. Their Apple Account or Google account password is needed during setup. If they don't know it, help them reset it now, not on Christmas Day.
- Back up the old phone. Make sure iCloud or Google backup is switched on and recent, and that there's enough storage. See iPhone storage full.
- Buy the extras. New iPhones come with a USB-C cable but no plug, so add a charger plug, plus a case and screen protector.
- Check it's a UK model with a UK warranty, and keep the gift receipt.
- Know your Wi-Fi password. Every new device needs it, and needs large updates when first switched on.
Switching From Android to iPhone (or Back)
Moving between Android and iPhone is much easier than it used to be. Apple's Move to iOS app copies contacts, messages, photos and WhatsApp chats from an Android phone during iPhone setup, and Google offers a similar tool for moving from iPhone to Android. It must be done during setup, so allow an hour with both phones charged and on the same Wi-Fi.
Setting Up a Child's First Phone or Tablet
- Create the child's account through Family Sharing on Apple, or Family Link on Android, so you stay in control.
- Turn on Ask to Buy, so purchases need your approval.
- Set Screen Time or Family Link limits, content restrictions and downtime overnight.
- Check the age ratings and privacy settings of the apps they'll use, including messaging and games.
Do this before Christmas Day, so the device is ready and the rules are in place from the start.
Setting Up a Device for an Older Parent
- Make the text larger and simplify the home screen to the apps they'll actually use.
- Add family contacts with photos, and set up video calling.
- Switch on Find My or Find My Device, and set up emergency contacts.
- Turn on filtering for unknown senders and spam, and talk through common scams. See parcel delivery scam texts.
- Write the passcode and account details down somewhere safe.
Our guide to setting up an iPad for an elderly parent goes through it step by step.
Smart Speakers, Doorbells and Gadgets
Smart speakers, video doorbells and smart plugs need their own app, an account and the home Wi-Fi password. Some only connect to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, which catches a lot of people out. See smart device won't connect to Wi-Fi.
What to Do With the Old Device
Before passing on, selling or trading in an old device, wipe it properly:
- iPhone or iPad: back it up, then go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, and enter the Apple Account password so Activation Lock is removed.
- Android: back it up, remove your Google account in Settings, then do a factory reset.
- Windows laptop: Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC > Remove everything.
- Mac: on recent Macs, System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
Copy any photos off first. See how to get photos off an old laptop.
How We Handle It
We set up new phones, tablets and laptops at home across West London: moving photos, contacts and WhatsApp from the old device, setting up email, parental controls or accessibility settings, and wiping the old one safely. You can also gift a tech help visit, so a parent gets their new device set up properly after Christmas without the family doing it over dinner. See our computer and device help.
Related Reading
Common questions
Usually not. Setup links the iPhone to the owner's Apple Account, and moving everything from their old phone works best with both phones side by side. Check they know their Apple Account password and their old phone is backed up instead. Children's devices are the main exception.
New iPhones come with a USB-C charging cable but no plug, so buy a USB-C charger plug if the recipient doesn't already have one.
Yes. Apple's Move to iOS app can transfer WhatsApp chats from an Android phone during iPhone setup. It has to be done when the iPhone is first set up, with both phones charged and on the same Wi-Fi.
Create the child's account through Apple Family Sharing or Google Family Link, turn on Ask to Buy, set Screen Time or Family Link limits and content restrictions, and check the privacy settings of the apps they'll use. Do it before giving the device.
Back it up, then go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, and enter your Apple Account password. This removes Activation Lock so the next owner can use it.
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