When is the iPhone 17 release date? What to do before you upgrade

💡 Need to know

• Release date: iPhone 17 dropped on September 19, 2025.
• Don’t just buy—prepare. Backups, unpairing, and resets make the upgrade easier.
• Trade-in ready: Wipe your old phone clean before you hand it off.

Apple’s iPhone® 17 lineup launched on September 19, 2025, with new features like an upgraded A19 chip, improved camera performance, and a titanium design. Whether you’re already holding your new phone or still deciding, there are a few things you should do before making the switch.

Asurion Experts help customers set up new iPhones every day, including backing up data and protecting your device. Here’s everything you need to know before you upgrade.

When did the iPhone 17 come out?

Apple officially released the iPhone 17 on September 19, 2025, following its announcement during the company’s fall keynote.

What to do before upgrading your iPhone

Switching to a new iPhone is easier than ever, but some quick steps can help ensure a smooth upgrade—and a cleaner trade-in.

Back up your old iPhone

To keep your photos, texts, and settings safe, back up your phone before transferring anything.

Back up with iCloud

• Connect to Wi-Fi
• Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup
• Tap Back Up Now

Back up with a computer

• Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC
• Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (PC)
• Click Back Up Now

Unpair your Apple Watch

If you use an Apple Watch®, unpair it from your current phone to make re-pairing easier on your new one.

Go to Watch app > All Watches > [Your Watch] > Unpair Apple Watch

Turn off Find My iPhone

Apple requires Find My® to be turned off before trading in or resetting a device.

Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone, then toggle it off.

Sign out of iCloud

After you’ve backed up and unpaired, sign out of iCloud to avoid activation lock issues.

Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out and enter your Apple ID password.

Erase all content and settings

Finally, erase your iPhone so it’s ready for trade-in, sale, or recycling.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings

This wipes everything from your phone and restores factory defaults.

Want help upgrading?

Whether you need to transfer photos or set up Face ID®, we’ve got you. Visit a uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for same-day support and personalized setup services.