Getting your first smartphone or tablet can be both exciting and overwhelming. These devices can be very entertaining and convenient, but only if they are properly set up. This guide will walk you through this process in a very calm and easy way, assuming you have no prior experience.
This guide also encourages you to take your time and to learn from your mistakes. There is no better way to learn than to take your time and go through the steps at your own pace.
Turning On Your Device and Understanding the Basics
This smartphone or tablet will have a power button on either the top or the side of it. When you receive your tablet or smartphone, make sure you take it out of the box and first locate the power button. After you find the power button, hold it down for a few seconds until the screen turns on.
You will see a screen with a welcome message, and it will ask you to select a language. Choose the language you prefer and tap on the screen, and if you select the wrong language, don’t panic. You can go back and select a different one.
Then, the device may display a few instructions about swiping and tapping. Please follow them carefully. Use a single finger and apply a bit of pressure. You don’t need to push hard. Light taps are more responsive with touchscreens.
At this point, it is good to know a few basic actions. Tapping is touching the screen. Swiping is dragging your finger across the screen. Pinching typically refers to zooming in or out by putting two fingers together or two fingers apart. With practice, these actions will become second nature.
After the welcome screens, the device will guide you step-by-step through the setup.
How to Set Up WiFi and Cellular Networks
A connection to the internet is needed to fully set up your device. Devices usually prompt users to set up WiFi early in the setup.
A WiFi connection will be available to choose from. If you own a WiFi router, select your home WiFi. Tap it and input the password. If you make an error, you can delete and try again. Make sure to check for uppercase letters and symbols, as they are case-sensitive.
Without Wi-Fi, some mobile phones allow access to the internet via a SIM card. If your phone came with a SIM card, it should pair automatically. If it doesn’t, you might need to insert a SIM card that is packaged with your phone, which is usually stored in a small tray that can be removed with a small tool that comes in the box.
Maxed-out mobile devices take some time to search for software updates or to complete additional configuration steps. Please allow the mobile device to complete these updates. Pressing buttons repeatedly during this time may delay or disrupt the updates.
For the remaining steps in the configuration, a reliable internet connection is important, so take the time to ensure that the device is adequately connected.
Creating or Signing In to Your Account
To access the full functionality of a smartphone or tablet, an account is usually required. For Google devices, a Google account is typically required, and for Apple devices, an Apple ID is necessary.
For a pre-existing account, enter your email and password. If you are creating a new account, you will be taken through a set of instructions that involves providing your first and last name, selecting an email, creating a secure password, and consenting to the terms of use.
Make a password that is difficult for others to guess but that you will be able to remember. New users often lock themselves out of accounts because they forget their passwords, and this can be frustrating. If they forget their password and get locked out, however, it is entirely understandable.
You can use this account to download apps, back up your data, and recover data if your device is lost or replaced. Although it may seem like a lot of data to give, it is a necessary step.
Each screen takes time to read. Accepting terms you don’t understand is not necessary. Most features can be changed later in the settings.
Setting Up Security Features for Peace of Mind
Security can be intimidating. However, most modern devices are equipped with a lot of help. When setting up your device, you will be prompted to choose a screen lock method.
You may choose a PIN, password, or pattern, or use your fingerprint or facial recognition. New users typically choose a PIN. Pick a number that is not obvious, such as your birth year.
Biometric options like fingerprints and facial recognition are convenient, but they usually work alongside a PIN. You will still need the PIN from time to time.
Screen locks keep your information private and safe in case the device gets misplaced or borrowed. Even if you think there is nothing of great value in your device, the risks are not worth it.
There may be questions about device tracking features that assist in locating the device if it gets lost. There is usually nothing wrong with enabling these features.
Learning the Home Screen and Navigation Buttons
After the setup is done, you will arrive at the home screen. This is the primary screen you will see when unlocking your device.
A series of icons will represent different apps. When you tap on an icon, you will open the individual app. Some apps come already installed; these include phone, camera, and messages.
You should now be able to find the navigation buttons. Depending on the device, these buttons may be physical or may appear on the screen. These usually include back, home, and recent apps.
The back button will take you to the previous screen, and the home button will take you back to the home screen. Lastly, the recent apps button will display apps that you have opened and allow you to switch between them.
Take a few minutes to tap and explore the screen and apps. You are unlikely to break anything, so don’t be afraid. If you ever feel lost, pressing the home button will ensure you return to the home screen.
Navigating technology is an important skill to learn; it will save you time and help you gain confidence.
Installing Essential Apps and Updating the Device
Your device has an app store, usually depicted with an icon that looks like a shopping bag. Open the app store, and sign in if you have to.
The first apps that you should have include email, a web browser, a messaging app, and a navigation app. Once you find them, tap install.
After the apps have been installed, open them one by one. The apps will ask you for permission to access certain features, such as your contacts, camera, location, etc. You can deny access if you do not feel comfortable or if it seems unnecessary to you.
It is important to check if your device has any pending software updates. Updates include security patches and can eliminate problems you may have been facing. To check for updates, go to settings, and look for an option that mentions system updates. Follow the prompts to install any updates.
Make sure your device is charged and that you are comfortable with the updates taking up to 30 minutes. If your device is not charged, you may have to plug it in during the updates.
Your device will run better with the updates installed.
Customizing Settings to Match Your Comfort Level
Now that you have everything downloaded and updated, you can make changes to your device that adjust it to your liking. To do this, you can go to the settings and make changes to your preferences.
Modifying text size is possible if it does not suit your preferences. Brightness can be adjusted to make it more suitable for your eyes. You can also control the volume and notification sounds.
Notifications are important to mention. There is an endless flood of alerts from various applications that can be annoying. If there are apps from which you don’t wish to receive updates every minute, you can suspend notifications from them.
Accessibility features are also useful to look into. Screen readers, magnification, and voice control are some of the features that are implemented to make the devices more user-friendly and not only for those with special needs.
Making your device more comfortable for you to use is more important than achieving perfection.
