Set up · 9 min
Set up a phone with an older adult, not just for them
Create a calmer phone without taking away independence or control.
A calm sequence
- 01
Ask what should feel easier
Calls, photos, transportation, health portals, messages, video chat, and scam confidence may matter more than learning every feature. Let those goals shape the home screen.
- 02
Adjust, then test
Try text size, display zoom, contrast, volume, vibration, captions, voice control, and touch accommodations. Change one thing at a time and ask the person to complete a real task.
- 03
Simplify without hiding control
Place essential apps on the first screen, remove accidental clutter, and keep Settings reachable. Avoid signing into your own account or becoming the only person who knows the passcode.
- 04
Prepare for recovery
Confirm the recovery phone number and email, turn on a suitable form of multifactor authentication, enable backup, and record where trusted recovery information is kept.
- 05
Practice suspicious moments
Rehearse what to do with an alarming pop-up, unexpected support call, urgent payment request, or verification-code request: stop, close it, and contact a known person or company through a trusted route.
Pause when you see
- Using a shared account when separate accounts are possible
- Making every change at once
- Remote-access tools installed by an unexpected caller
Primary sources