Key Takeaways
Start here
What a Smartphone Actually Is
Next
Learning the Physical Controls
Then
Navigating the Touchscreen
When you're ready
Making Your Phone Easier to Use
Before you go
Staying Safe From Day One
What a Smartphone Actually Is
Think of a smartphone as a small computer that fits in your pocket — one that also happens to make phone calls. It can send text messages, take photos, play music, look things up on the internet, and run small programs called apps (short for applications). You do not need to use all of those features right away, or ever. Most people use just a handful of things regularly and ignore the rest.
Smartphones come in two main varieties: the iPhone, made by Apple, and Android phones, made by companies like Samsung, Google, and others. Both work similarly for everyday tasks. The screens, buttons, and menus look a little different, but the underlying ideas are the same.
For a deeper look at all the components that make up a smartphone — from the screen and camera to the software that runs it — see this ground-up explanation of smartphones. It is written specifically for readers starting from scratch.
App
Short for application — a small program you install on your phone to do a specific task, like check email, get directions, or video call a family member.
Operating system
The core software that runs the phone and controls how everything works. iPhones use iOS; most other smartphones use Android.
Wi-Fi
A wireless internet connection you can join through a home router or public hotspot, allowing your phone to browse the internet without using your mobile data.
Mobile data
The internet connection provided by your phone carrier over the same network used for calls, so your phone can go online even when no Wi-Fi is available.
Home screen
The main screen you see when you unlock your phone, showing your apps as icons arranged in a grid — similar to a desktop on a computer.
PIN
A short numeric code — typically four to six digits — that you enter to unlock your phone and prevent anyone else from accessing it.
Learning the Physical Controls
Before touching the screen, it helps to know the physical buttons. Most smartphones have just two or three:
- Power button: Usually on the right side or top edge. Press it briefly to wake the screen; press and hold to turn the phone off or restart it.
- Volume buttons: Two buttons on the left or right side, stacked on top of each other. The top one raises volume; the bottom one lowers it. These control call volume, music, and notification sounds.
- Home button (some models): Older iPhones and some Android phones have a round button below the screen that takes you back to the main screen from anywhere.
That is genuinely all the hardware most people need to manage. The rest of the phone is controlled by touching the screen directly.
You Can't Break It by Exploring
One of the biggest barriers for new smartphone users is the fear of accidentally doing something irreversible. In practice, almost nothing you tap or swipe will cause permanent damage. Feel free to explore menus and settings — if something changes and you don't like it, you can always go back and change it again.
Navigating the Touchscreen
The touchscreen responds to finger contact, and nearly everything you do will involve one of three simple gestures:
- Tap
- A single, light touch — like pressing a button. Use it to open an app, select an option, or answer a call.
- Swipe
- Drag your finger across the screen in any direction to scroll a page up or down, or to move between screens.
- Pinch
- Place two fingers on the screen and spread them apart to zoom in on a photo or webpage; bring them together to zoom back out.
One important thing: you do not need to press hard. The screen responds to a gentle touch. Pressing firmly does not make it work better and can make the phone harder to control.
The internet and the apps you will use every day are part of a broader world worth understanding. The Internet & Apps hub is a good place to explore once you feel comfortable with the basics.
Making Your Phone Easier to Use
Smartphones include a range of built-in tools specifically designed to make them more comfortable for people with different needs — and most of these are turned off by default, which means many users never find them.
- Larger text: Go to Settings, then Display or Accessibility, and look for Text Size or Font Size. Increasing this makes everything on screen easier to read.
- Louder, clearer audio: Settings also let you boost call volume and enable captioning for videos if you find audio difficult to follow.
- Simplified home screen layouts: Both iPhone and Android offer modes that reduce the number of icons and simplify menus — sometimes called Easy Mode or Simplified View.
There is a full range of these tools available that most people never discover. Accessibility features built into your phone covers display magnification, live captions, voice control, and more — all explained in plain terms.
Accessibility Tools Benefit Everyone
Features like larger text, high contrast displays, and spoken feedback were designed with accessibility in mind, but they are useful for a wide range of situations — bright sunlight, noisy environments, or simply personal preference. There is no reason to avoid them, and enabling them does not affect how other features work.
Staying Safe From Day One
Setting up a basic screen lock is one of the most important first steps on any new phone. A PIN (a short number code) or a fingerprint prevents anyone else from accessing your phone if it is lost or left unattended. You can set this up in Settings under Security or Face ID & Passcode, depending on your phone.
Beyond that, two habits cover the majority of everyday risks:
- Do not share personal information — passwords, bank details, or your Social Security number — with anyone who calls or texts you unexpectedly, even if they claim to be from a company you recognise.
- Stick to the official app stores (Apple's App Store or Google's Play Store) when downloading apps. These stores review apps for safety before making them available.
When you are ready to go further, phone security settings most people never touch walks through the protections already built into your phone that are simply worth switching on. And if you are setting up a brand-new device, setting up a new smartphone without losing anything is a practical, step-by-step guide for transferring contacts, photos, and settings safely.