iphone 12 pro max setup problems

i finally succeeded and think I know what the problem was in my case.

my phones had two different versions of iOS and the new phone had the older version and kept getting stuck on the update. So I finally set it up as a new phone. Updated it and reset it again. After this I was able to transfer from my own phone with no trouble at all. I’m glad this got solved but this is the most non apple experience I’ve ever had phew!

Did you choose the transfer data option? If so you should do the following:

First activate your the new phone as an new iPhone. Don't bother with the accuracy of the settings. Then download the newest version of Ios. Make Sure your old iPhone is also updated to the newest IOS.

After both phones are updated you need to erase all content and settings on the new iPhone. When it is reset you can choose the transfer data option and it will work smooth as butter! The data transfer itself can take some time, but the estimated time will be displayed. Was around an hour for me. Let me know how it goes

Had the same issue for like 3 days!! Tried to do everything I could find but nothing worked till I got to the end of this thread and found the tip where a user said to set it up as a new phone and update the software and THEN reset it (reset and erase all content) after which I set it up again restoring from my iPhone X. After 3 days, a lot of blood (?), sweat and tears, I finally got my 12 pro max to work. Didn't expect something like this from a company like Apple considering how expensive these phones are and one pays all that expecting a better device, they really need to get their **** together.

For an iphone amateur this was a tough transition. But it looks like I finally made it. Resetting and clearing the new phone of all content and settings, in addition to signing out of Apple ID and find my phone before hand, I was able to truly reset the phone after two attempts. From there, it was relatively easy to do the Quick Start. Time remaining: About 6 minutes.

Before you do anything. Set up the new phone a a new phone and update it to the latest OS. do this for the old phones as well. Then reset your new phone en choose to transfer data from your old phone. It will work now.

OK. I responded to the first inquiry about this thinking that no one had solved it. Its 2/4/21 so I'm a little late to the game. So I am following this advice. I stopped the transfer of date process on the old phone, and stopped the update on the new phone. I turned them both off. Then I turned my old phone back on and I was able to log in to m icloud account and use my phone again. That was helpful.

Then. I turned my old phone back off.

Then. I turned my new phone back on, and entered my phone password (the same as it was on my old phone) because it asked me for it. After I did that it automatically said that it would update to the OS between 2 am - 4 am that night if it were turned on and plugged in. So that's where I'm at with it. It seems like its going to work. Thank you!

William

Have the exact same issues, restarted phone several times, set up face id and siri first time through, 2nd, 3rd, 4th time when I hit transfer from another iPhone, it just loops back to "****- o" (pun intended) and the same questions again.

Both of my iPhones have 14.3 and this process is stupidly slow. I have been watching spinning wheel for 30 mins on updating Apple ID settings. The only thing that makes sense here is overwhelmed Apple servers or 14.3 doesn’t play well with Quick Start. What a poorly named piece of software. Would’ve been better to have gone to Verizon store. APPLE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!

Just bought iPhone 12 pro max and having the same issue. It’s been forever stuck on hundred language of Hello screen! Cannot even hard restart this piece of sh*t...... this is very disappointing and non Apple experience.

What is up with the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 12 Pro someone please help!! I ordered and received my new phones one for me and one for my son, we both have iPhone XS Max and I’ve been sitting here for an hour or more and my old phone says updating backup and the new phone is saying hello?😯 now it’s gone from one hour to 2 hours and my son’s phone says couldn’t complete update but he does have apps on his new iPhone but as far as his text messages transferring they didn’t and mine has no apps at all! Now, first of all Apple needs to realize these phones are an outrageous price and they need to get their crap together! I’ve got things to do besides sit here and look at my old and new phone with nothing happening! Can someone please tell me what I need to do? Thanks so much!

I am going from an iphone 10XR to a 12 Pro and I had the exact same problem as you did. However, I haven't tried it twice so I'm wondering what to do. I think what happened is that from the time these 12 pros were produced, Apple found a pretty problematic area that needed patching, and so they don't really even want these phones turned on without that update that has happened after these phones were produced. My question is, do I need to just give it all night? I would imagine that if the data transfer and update were trying to occur at the same time, it could bog things down, so Paul I'm glad you brought that up.

Having the same issue

Having the same issue - stuck on languages screen and no hard restart either. WTH - I thought I was getting a better phone :-( ridiculous for the price I paid!

Thank you so much for this information!! I did what you said and you are correct it works as smooth as butter!! Thank you again!!