Quick answer
On a new iPhone, turn on Find My, iCloud Backup and Medical ID first. Then limit Background App Refresh and Location Services to the apps that need them, keep Optimized Battery Charging on, trim notifications and set Auto-Lock. On iOS 27, also try the Liquid Glass slider and, on supported models, turn on Apple Intelligence.
Settings to change first: security and backup
These three protect your data and your phone. Do them before you install your apps.
1. Make sure Find My iPhone is on
Find My lets you locate, lock or erase your iPhone if it is lost or stolen, and Activation Lock stops anyone else from setting it up.
- Open
Settings › [your name] › Find My › Find My iPhone. - Turn on Find My iPhone.
- Turn on Find My network and Send Last Location.
2. Turn on iCloud Backup
Do not wait until you lose data to think about backups. With iCloud Backup on, the iPhone backs itself up when it is on Wi-Fi, on power and locked.
- Open
Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup. - Turn on Back Up This iPhone.
- Tap Back Up Now once to create the first backup.
If you plan to try an iOS beta later, also keep an archived backup on a computer. A backup made on a beta cannot be restored onto an older iOS version.
3. Set up Medical ID
Medical ID lets first responders see allergies, medications and emergency contacts without unlocking your iPhone.
- Open
Settings › Health › Medical ID, or open the Health app and tap your profile picture. - Fill in the details you want to share.
- Turn on Show When Locked.
Best iPhone settings for battery life
4. Limit Background App Refresh
Many apps refresh their content in the background even when you are not using them, which adds up over a day.
- Open
Settings › General › Background App Refresh. - Leave it on for apps you depend on, such as messaging and email.
- Turn it off for games, shopping apps and social media you check only occasionally.
5. Keep Optimized Battery Charging on
Optimized charging learns when you usually unplug and holds the battery below full until then. Less time at 100% helps the battery age more slowly. Check it in the charging section of Settings › Battery; the label varies by model. Our guide to checking battery health explains the numbers you see there.
6. Set Auto-Lock to a short time
A shorter Auto-Lock turns the screen off sooner, which saves battery and means an unattended iPhone locks quickly.
- Open
Settings › Display & Brightness › Auto-Lock. - Choose 30 seconds or 1 minute.
For more ways to stretch a charge, see our battery life tips for iOS 27.
Best iPhone settings for privacy
7. Review Location Services
Plenty of apps ask for your location when they do not need it.
- Open
Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services. - Go through the list of apps.
- Set each one to While Using the App or Never. Maps and Weather benefit from location; a calculator does not.
8. Trim your notifications early
Too many notifications make the iPhone feel busier than it is. It is easier to set this up on day one than after a month of alerts.
- Open
Settings › Notifications. - Turn off notifications for apps you do not care about.
- Allow Time Sensitive notifications only for apps where timing really matters.
Best iPhone settings for comfort and display
9. Schedule Dark Mode
Dark Mode is easier on the eyes at night and can save some battery on iPhones with OLED displays.
- Open
Settings › Display & Brightness. - Turn on Automatic to switch between Light and Dark Mode at sunset and sunrise.
10. Turn off keyboard sounds and haptics if you prefer
This one is personal. Some people like the click; others find it distracting in quiet rooms.
- Open
Settings › Sounds & Haptics › Keyboard Feedback. - Turn Sound and Haptic on or off to taste.
New settings worth changing in iOS 27
If your new iPhone runs iOS 27, two of its additions are worth a look on day one.
11. Adjust the Liquid Glass slider
iOS 27 adds a system-wide slider that turns the transparency of the Liquid Glass design up or down. Open Settings, swipe down to reveal the search field and type Liquid Glass to find it. For fully solid backgrounds, turn on Settings › Accessibility › Display & Text Size › Reduce Transparency. Our Liquid Glass slider guide explains the difference.
12. Turn on Apple Intelligence on supported iPhones
If your iPhone has an A17 Pro chip or newer, Apple Intelligence adds Writing Tools, smarter Photos search and the new Siri AI. That covers iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, every iPhone 16 and 17 model, iPhone Air, and iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max.
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Open
Settings › Apple Intelligence & Siri. - Turn on Apple Intelligence and wait for the models to download.
The full walkthrough, including fixes when the option is missing, is in our guide on how to enable Apple Intelligence.
Quick reference: all twelve settings
| Setting | Where to find it | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Find My iPhone | Settings › [your name] › Find My | On |
| iCloud Backup | Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup | On |
| Medical ID | Settings › Health › Medical ID | Filled in, Show When Locked on |
| Background App Refresh | Settings › General › Background App Refresh | Only for apps you need |
| Optimized Battery Charging | Settings › Battery, charging section | On |
| Auto-Lock | Settings › Display & Brightness › Auto-Lock | 30 seconds or 1 minute |
| Location Services | Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services | While Using or Never |
| Notifications | Settings › Notifications | Off for apps you ignore |
| Dark Mode | Settings › Display & Brightness | Automatic |
| Keyboard Feedback | Settings › Sounds & Haptics › Keyboard Feedback | Your preference |
| Liquid Glass slider | Search Settings for "Liquid Glass" | Your preference |
| Apple Intelligence | Settings › Apple Intelligence & Siri | On, if supported |
What to do next
Once the basics are set, there is more to find in iOS. Our round-up of hidden iOS features and secret settings covers the less obvious options.
Frequently asked questions
What settings should I change first on a new iPhone?
Start with the ones that protect you. Turn on Find My iPhone in Settings › [your name] › Find My, switch on iCloud Backup, and set up your Medical ID. Then move on to comfort and battery: Background App Refresh, Location Services, notifications and Auto-Lock. The whole list takes about ten minutes on a fresh iPhone.
Should I turn off Background App Refresh completely?
Usually not. Turning it off for everything can delay messages and email. A better approach is to leave it on for the apps you rely on, such as messaging and mail, and turn it off for games, shopping apps and anything you rarely open. You find the per-app list in Settings › General › Background App Refresh.
Does Dark Mode save battery on iPhone?
It can help on iPhones with OLED displays, because dark pixels use less power than bright ones. The difference depends on how you use the phone and on screen brightness, which usually matters more. Choose Automatic in Settings › Display & Brightness if you want Dark Mode at night and Light Mode during the day.
Should I keep Optimized Battery Charging on?
Yes, for most people. Optimized charging learns your routine and holds the battery below full until you need it, which reduces the time it spends at 100% and helps it age more slowly. You find it in the charging section of Settings › Battery. Our battery health guide shows how to check how your battery is doing.
What new settings are worth changing in iOS 27?
Two stand out. The new Liquid Glass slider lets you dial the interface's transparency up or down; search Settings for "Liquid Glass" to find it. On an iPhone with an A17 Pro chip or newer, you can also turn on Apple Intelligence in Settings › Apple Intelligence & Siri, which is needed for the new Siri AI.