Category: Technology

Smartphone Basics

Smartphones do much more than make phone calls. They can send messages, take photos, provide directions, manage appointments, access email, make payments, connect to the internet, and handle many everyday tasks.

With so many features packed into one small device, smartphones can sometimes feel complicated. The good news is that you don’t need to learn everything at once.

Start with the basic controls and the features you use most often. As you become more familiar with your phone, exploring new features becomes much easier.

Learn the Basic Parts of Your Phone

Most smartphones have the same basic features, although their location may vary.

These include:

Touchscreen
Power or side button
Volume buttons
Charging port
Speakers
Microphone
Front camera
Rear camera

Some phones also have additional buttons or switches.

Knowing where these basic controls are makes troubleshooting much easier later.

Helpful Resources: Browse Phone & Device Setup for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.

Understand the Touchscreen

Instead of using a mouse, smartphones are controlled by touching the screen.

A few gestures are used constantly.

Understand Your Home Screen

The home screen is the main area of your phone.

It usually contains:

Apps
Clock
Search
Notifications
Frequently used controls
Battery information

You may have several home screen pages that you can move between by swiping.

Think of your home screen as the starting point for using your phone.

What Is an App?

An app is a program designed to perform a particular task.

Common apps include:

Phone
Messages
Email
Camera
Photos
Maps
Calendar
Weather
Web browser
Banking

You can also install additional apps when you need them.

You don’t need hundreds of apps. Keeping only the ones you actually use can make your phone easier to navigate.

Making a Phone Call

Open the Phone app.

You can usually make a call by:

Selecting a saved contact.
Entering a phone number.
Tapping the call button.

During a call, you’ll usually see options for:

Speakerphone
Mute
Keypad
Adding another caller
Ending the call

Take some time to become familiar with these controls before you need them.

Sending Text Messages

Open the Messages app.

To send a message:

Choose an existing conversation or start a new one.
Select the person you want to message.
Tap the message box.
Type your message.
Tap Send.

You can often send:

Text
Photos
Videos
Links
Voice messages
Documents

Be careful when sending personal information through messages.

Adding Contacts

Your Contacts app stores information about people and businesses you communicate with.

A contact can include:

Name
Phone number
Email address
Home address
Birthday
Notes

Saving contacts means you don’t have to remember everyone’s phone number.

Taking Photos and Videos

Open the Camera app.

Most phones allow you to switch between:

Photo
Video
Front camera
Rear camera

Tap the shutter button to take a photo.

Your photos and videos are usually saved automatically in your Photos or Gallery app.

Connecting to Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi allows your phone to connect to the internet without using your cellular data.

To connect:

Open Settings.
Find Wi-Fi.
Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on.
Select the network.
Enter the password if required.

Your phone will often remember networks you’ve previously joined.

Understand Wi-Fi and Cellular Data

Your smartphone can usually connect to the internet in two ways.

Learn Your Notifications

Notifications are messages your phone displays to let you know something has happened.

Examples include:

New text message
Missed call
Email
Calendar reminder
App update
Weather alert

Too many notifications can become distracting.

You can usually control which apps are allowed to send notifications through your phone’s settings.

Understand the Control Center or Quick Settings

Most smartphones provide a quick way to access frequently used controls.

Depending on your phone, you may swipe down from the top of the screen or from one of the corners.

Common controls include:

Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
Screen brightness
Flashlight
Airplane mode
Volume
Screen rotation

Learning where these controls are can save a lot of time.

Charging Your Phone

Your phone’s battery percentage shows how much power remains.

Charge your phone using a compatible:

Charging cable
Wall adapter
Wireless charger, if supported

Try to keep a charger somewhere easy to access.

A portable power bank can also be useful when you’re away from an electrical outlet for long periods.

Understand Bluetooth

Bluetooth allows your phone to connect wirelessly to nearby devices.

Examples include:

Headphones
Speakers
Cars
Smartwatches
Keyboards

Bluetooth can usually be turned on and off through Settings or your phone’s quick controls.

Use Your Phone’s Search Feature

You don’t always have to remember where something is.

Most smartphones include a search feature.

You can often search for:

Apps
Contacts
Settings
Messages
Files

If you can’t find something, searching may be faster than looking through every screen.

Keep Your Phone Updated

Your phone occasionally receives software updates.

Updates can:

Fix problems
Improve security
Add features
Improve performance

Install updates through your phone’s built-in settings rather than clicking unexpected update messages on websites.

Protect Your Phone

Your smartphone may contain a large amount of personal information.

Protect it with:

PIN
Password
Fingerprint
Face recognition

You should also:

Keep your phone updated.
Download apps from trusted app stores.
Be cautious with unfamiliar links.
Avoid sharing verification codes.
Review app permissions.
Back up important photos and information.

Treat your smartphone with the same care you would give your wallet.

Know Your Important Account Information

Your phone may be connected to an Apple Account, Google Account, or another important account used to manage your device.

Make sure you know:

Which account your phone uses
The email address associated with it
How to recover the account if you forget your password

Don’t rely on your phone itself as the only place where this information exists.

Restart Your Phone When Something Isn’t Working

If an app freezes or your phone begins behaving strangely, restarting it is often a good first step.

Restarting may help with:

Frozen apps
Slow performance
Connection problems
Minor software problems

It won’t solve everything, but it’s one of the simplest troubleshooting steps to try.