If you can’t get your iPad to work with a chosen wireless carrier, check with that carrier for details.
Turning On and Setting Up the iPad
Unless your iPad is brand-spanking new and fresh out of the box, chances are good that you’ve already performed the steps that follow. We cover them here because if you choose to use your iPad computer-free, these steps make up the entire setup process.
Apple has taken the time to partially charge your iPad, so you get some measure of instant gratification and can go ahead and set it up right away by following these steps:
1. After taking your iPad or iPad mini out of the box, press and hold down the sleep/wake button on the upper-right edge.
You’ll see the Apple logo, followed by the word hello and similar greetings in a bunch of other languages. Prior to iOS 10, an arrow appeared near the bottom of the screen, alongside another message in many languages. We’re pretty sure they all read, “Slide to Set Up,” or some variation, because that’s what the English rendition says. Following iOS 10, that message (in English or other languages) reads “Press home to open.”
2. Press Home to open. Or, if you have an iPad with an earlier version of iOS 10, swipe the Slide to Set Up arrow to the right.
3. Tap to choose your language, followed by your country or region preferences.
4. Tap to choose an available Wi-Fi network, provide a password (if necessary), and then tap the blue Join button.
As noted, on certain models you may choose a cellular network, if available, and set up or change your Wi-Fi network later. (If you do wait to set up your Wi-Fi network, turn to Chapter 15 to find out how to do so via Settings.) If Wi-Fi is not available, you can also set up your iPad by connecting it to a computer with iTunes.
It may take a few minutes to activate your iPad. Next, the Location Services screen appears.
5. Tap to enable or disable Location Services.
Location Services is your iPad’s way of knowing where you are geographically. The Maps app, for example, relies on Location Services to determine where in the world you are.
The Touch ID screen appears on compatible models; the passcode key on other models.
6. Do one of the following:
● If you see the Touch ID screen: Place your finger or thumb on the Home button to enable Touch ID.
Touch ID lets you get past the lock screen by using your fingerprint. Read about it in the sidebar that follows. Just know that if you don’t set up Touch ID now, you can always set it up later.
● If you see a passcode key: Type a passcode to unlock this iPad. When the Re-enter Your Passcode screen appears, type your passcode again.
The Apps & Data screen for setting up your iPad appears.
7. Tap one of the following: Restore from iCloud Backup, Restore from iTunes Backup, Set Up as New iPad, or Move Data from Android.
See Chapter 16 for the scoop on restoring from iCloud or iTunes backups. For these steps, tap Set Up as New iPad. The Apple ID screen appears.
8. Tap an option to sign in with your Apple ID or create a new one.
If you have an Apple ID, enter your credentials here. If you don’t have one or forget it, tap the Don’t Have an Apple ID or Forget It? button. Through your Apple ID, you can take advantage of iCloud. See the end of this chapter for an introduction to this service.
Meantime, if you use a different Apple ID for iCloud than you do for iTunes, you can enter both at this stage. Tap the Use Different Apple IDs for iCloud & iTunes? button, and you’ll get the opportunity to enter your credentials for both.
Note that if you skip this step now, you can sign in later by tapping Settings ⇒ iCloud ⇒ Account.
The Terms and Conditions screen appears.
9. Tap the blue Agree button in the lower-right corner, and then tap the Agree button in the Terms and Conditions alert box that appears in the middle of the screen.
What happens if you disagree? You don’t want to know. And, of course, you won’t be able to use your iPad.
The Apple Pay screen appears on Air 2, mini 3, mini 4, and iPad Pro models.
10. Tap Next to proceed.
11. Supply your credit card credentials.
If you already have a credit card on file with iTunes or the App Store, Apple may already prepopulate certain info on the card to get you started.
Why use Apple Pay? We have to say the feature is pretty cool and convenient. You can add numerous credit, debit, or store cards and employ Apple Pay with the finger you just used to authenticate Touch ID to make purchases with any of the cards you’ve added. (Again, read the “Pointing a finger at Touch ID” sidebar if you have a Touch ID-capable iPad.) We discuss Apple Pay in greater detail in Chapter 15.
The iCloud Keychain screen appears.
12. Tap Approve from Other Device, Use iCloud Security Code, or Don’t Restore Passwords.
iCloud Keychain is an iOS 7 (and later) feature that stores usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and other web data in the cloud. When you’ve finished deciding what to do with iCloud Keychain, you see the screen for Siri, the loquacious digital assistant living inside your iPad.
13. Tap either Turn On Siri or Turn On Siri Later.
If your iPad is third generation or later, it offers the desirable option (at least in our humble opinion) of using your voice to control the device, as well as the capability to use dictation in any app that displays an on-screen keyboard.
You can find out more about using Siri and dictation in Chapter 14. For now, let us just say that we love this feature and use it when appropriate (which is often).
The next couple of screens address Diagnostics Apple uses to improve its products, and App Analytics you can share (or not)