Setting Up a Phone or Tablet for an Older Parent: A Holiday Guide

The holidays are a great time to help a parent or grandparent with technology. Maybe you're passing down your old phone, giving a new tablet or finally replacing a flip phone. A little setup time while you're together can make the difference between a device they love and one that sits in a drawer.

Here are the settings and habits we at We Fix Phones N More recommend to families setting up devices for older loved ones.

Start With a Clean, Updated Device

If you're handing down a phone or tablet you used, sign out of your accounts and erase it first so your messages and photos don't come along. Our guide on wiping a phone the right way covers the steps. Then set it up fresh under their own Apple ID or Google account and install the latest software update.

If the device is older, check the battery health before you wrap it up. A phone that dies by mid-afternoon will frustrate anyone. Our post on signs a battery needs replacing can help you tell.

Make It Easier to See, Hear and Use

Bigger text and simpler screens

Increase text size and turn on bold text in the display or accessibility settings.
Try a simplified mode. Recent iPhones and iPads offer Assistive Access, which shows a few large buttons for calls, messages and photos. Many Android phones have an Easy Mode or Simple Mode with bigger icons.
Clean up the home screen. Put the apps they'll actually use on the first page and move everything else out of the way.

Hearing and calling

Turn the ringtone and call volume up, and pick a clear, loud ringtone.
Pair hearing aids if they use Bluetooth-compatible ones.
Add favorite contacts with photos so they can tap a face instead of searching a list.
Turn on live captions for calls and videos if the device supports it.

Voice assistants

Siri or Google Assistant can be a big help for someone who finds typing hard. Show them how to say "Call Sarah" or "Set a reminder to take my pills at 8."

Protect Them From Scams

Scam calls and texts often target older adults, so this part matters.

Silence unknown callers or turn on your carrier's spam call filtering.
Filter unknown text senders so suspicious messages land in a separate list.
Talk through the common tricks. Fake delivery texts, "your account is locked" messages and urgent calls asking for gift cards are all red flags. Our post on spotting fake delivery texts has examples to share.
Agree on a simple rule: never tap a link or give out a code from an unexpected message, and call a family member first if something feels off.

Set Up Backups and Safety Features

Automatic backups

Turn on iCloud Backup or Google backup so their photos, contacts and messages are saved automatically. If the phone is ever lost or broken, everything can come back on a new device.

Emergency info

Fill in the Medical ID on iPhone or the emergency information on Android with medications, allergies and emergency contacts. First responders can see it from the lock screen.

Find My and location sharing

Turn on Find My iPhone or Find My Device so a lost phone can be located. With their permission, location sharing can give the family peace of mind too.

Write down the important details

Record their passcode, Apple ID or Google account email and password, and keep it somewhere safe that a trusted family member can reach. Getting locked out is much harder to fix than it is to prevent.

Protect the Device Itself

A sturdy case with good grip and a quality screen protector go a long way, especially for anyone whose hands aren't as steady as they used to be. Screen protectors from our shop carry a lifetime guarantee, and our guide on choosing a screen protector explains the options.

Leave Them With a Cheat Sheet

Before you head home, write a one-page guide in large print: how to answer and end a call, how to charge the device, how to video call the family and who to call for help. Practice each step together a couple of times.

Need a Hand?

If you'd like help moving data to a new phone, checking an older device or fixing a cracked screen before it becomes a gift, We Fix Phones N More is here to help. You can also browse our buy and sell options if you're looking for a device. Visit us at 801 County Line Rd in Horsham, serving families across Bucks and Montgomery counties, or call 215-323-4750.