Helping a parent or grandparent with technology

Most of us learn tech from someone we trust. Here's how to set up a relative's phone so it's easier to use, teach without taking over, and help keep them safe, even if you live miles apart.

A grandmother and granddaughter taking a selfie together

Set up their phone together

Do this side by side, with the phone in their hands. They'll remember far more if they've pressed the buttons themselves.

Make it easier to see and hearBigger text, bolder letters, louder ring
  • Turn up the text size and switch on bold text. Step-by-step guide.
  • Choose a loud, distinctive ringtone, and turn up the ring volume. Step-by-step guide.
  • Turn on the flash for alerts if they sometimes miss calls. Search Settings for LED flash (iPhone) or Flash notification (Android).
Try a simpler home screenFewer, bigger buttons

iPhone: Assistive Access turns the phone into a pared-back version with large buttons for calls, messages, camera and photos. Find it in Settings, Accessibility, Assistive Access. You set it up together and choose which apps appear.

Samsung: Easy mode gives a simpler layout with larger icons. Go to Settings, Display, Easy mode.

Other Android phones: put the four or five apps they actually use on the first screen, and move everything else out of sight.

Ask them which apps they use before you start. A simpler phone only helps if it still does what they want.

Add emergency informationHelps paramedics, even when the phone is locked
  • iPhone: open the Health app, tap their picture, then Medical ID. Add emergency contacts and turn on Show When Locked.
  • Android: search Settings for Emergency information or Safety and emergency, and add contacts and any medical notes they're happy to share.
Put the important people one tap awayFavourites with photos
  1. Open their contacts and add a clear photo to each family member and close friend.
  2. Mark them as Favourites, so they appear at the top of the phone app.
  3. On a simplified home screen, add the most important people as their own big buttons.
Set up a safety netUpdates, backups and finding a lost phone
  • Turn on automatic updates. How to.
  • Turn on photo backups, so a lost phone never means lost memories. How to.
  • Turn on Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android). How to.
  • Write their phone passcode and email password somewhere safe at home, and agree together who else knows where.

Teach without taking over

  • Keep your hands off the phone. Talk them through it instead. Doing it for them is quicker today, but they won't remember tomorrow.
  • One new thing per visit. Video calling this week, photos next week.
  • Write it down. Print our guides, or let them make their own notes in their own words.
  • Avoid "just". "Just tap the thing" assumes they can see what you see. Name the button and where it is.
  • Expect to repeat yourself, and don't show frustration when you do. Confidence takes longer than knowledge.
  • Ask them to show you next time. Teaching it back is the best test.

Helping from a distance

  • Video call to talk them through it. Some apps, including WhatsApp, let them share their screen during a call, so you can see exactly what they see.
  • Send them a guide. Every guide on My Guide has a Send this guide to someone button. Pick the one you need and send it by WhatsApp or email in a tap.
  • Agree a regular time for tech questions, such as a Sunday call, so problems don't build up.

Help keep them safe

  • Agree a family password for anyone who calls asking for money urgently. Voices can now be faked. Why it matters.
  • Save 159 in their contacts as "My bank (safe number)". It connects them to most UK banks if they're ever unsure about a call.
  • Show them our scam checker, and practise with a real scam text together. Open the scam checker.
  • Make it easy to ask you. Embarrassment stops many people checking with family before it's too late. Tell them no question is ever silly.

Respect their independence

It's their phone, their money and their decisions. Set up accounts in their name, with their agreement, and explain what you've changed. If you may need to help with money or decisions in future, a Lasting Power of Attorney sets this up properly. You can find out more and apply on GOV.UK.