Smartphone Help
Whether you have an iPhone or Android, these guides will help you get the most from your smartphone. We explain everything step-by-step, assuming no prior knowledge.
Smartphones can feel like a foreign language when you first pick one up, especially if your last phone had buttons. The good news is that the basics are the same on every modern device. Once you know how to unlock the screen, find an app, type into a text box, and connect to Wi-Fi, you have most of what you need. Everything else is just a variation on those four ideas.
Our smartphone help section is built for people who don't want jargon. We assume you have never installed an app, never made a video call, and have lost a few phones to mystery settings. Each guide walks you through the screens you will actually see, with the names of the buttons and where to tap. Pick the topic that matches what you are stuck on, or start with getting started if you have just opened the box.
Most of our guides cover both types of phones:
Getting Started with Your Smartphone
New to smartphones? Start here. Learn the basics from turning it on to making your first call.
iPhone vs Android: What's the Difference?
Understand the two main types of smartphones and which might be better for you.
How to Download and Install Apps
Step-by-step instructions for finding and installing apps from the app store.
Taking and Sharing Photos
Learn to take good photos and send them to family and friends.
Making Your Phone Easier to See
Adjust text size, brightness, and other settings for comfortable viewing.
Setting Up Email on Your Phone
Access your email anywhere by setting it up on your smartphone.
Basic Smartphone Settings
Learn how to adjust volume, WiFi, Bluetooth, and other essential settings on your phone.
Quick Tip
Don't worry about breaking anything. Modern smartphones are designed to be forgiving. If you get stuck, you can usually press the home button (or swipe up from the bottom) to get back to your main screen. Learn more about smart home devices once you feel comfortable with the basics.
Where to Start
If your phone is brand new and still in the box, begin with getting started with your smartphone. Not sure whether to buy iPhone or Android? Read iPhone vs Android first. The most common questions we get from older readers are about taking and sharing photos with grandkids and setting up email, so those guides are good early reads. Once you can do those things confidently, move on to downloading apps for things like banking, weather and video calling, and making the screen easier to see if small text gives you trouble.