A lot of the people I teach in Wellington aren’t struggling with their iPhone because it’s hard. They’re struggling because it’s set up for someone with perfect eyesight, steady hands and a lot of patience for pop-ups. A few settings can change that in ten minutes.
1. Make the text bigger
Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Display & Text Size, and turn on Larger Text. Drag the slider until reading feels comfortable. Most apps, including Messages and Mail, will follow it. While you’re there, Bold Text makes everything easier to read too.
2. Make everything on screen bigger
Under Settings, then Display & Brightness, look for Display Zoom and choose the larger option. Icons, buttons and the keyboard all get bigger, so there are fewer mis-taps.
3. Try Assistive Access for a simpler phone
On newer iPhones, Assistive Access (in Accessibility settings) turns the phone into a much simpler version with big buttons for just the apps you choose, like Calls, Messages, Camera and Photos. It’s great for anyone who finds the normal iPhone overwhelming. It takes a bit of setting up, so it’s worth doing together.
4. Cut down on scam calls
In the Phone settings there’s an option to silence or screen calls from numbers that aren’t in your contacts. Genuine callers can still leave a voicemail, and you’ll miss a lot of scam calls. Just make sure the people you want to hear from are saved in your contacts first.
5. Set up Medical ID and Emergency SOS
In the Health app you can fill in a Medical ID with your conditions, medications and an emergency contact. Paramedics can see it from the lock screen without your passcode. Emergency SOS lets you call 111 quickly by holding the side button and a volume button.
6. Turn on Find My
If your phone is lost or left in a taxi, Find My can show where it is and play a sound. It’s far easier to switch on before you need it than after.
7. Write your passcodes down somewhere safe
The most common problem I see isn’t a broken phone. It’s a forgotten Apple ID password. Write your passcode and Apple ID password on a card and keep it somewhere safe at home, not in your wallet.
Want help setting this up?
I teach people one-on-one at their own kitchen table across Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt, at your pace and without jargon. Have a look at tech lessons, or text me on 020 453 2233.