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Phones & tablets

Start using your phone

Practise finding Home, opening an app and locking your phone. This assumes setup is complete; a new device may first need account and network setup.

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Before you start

  • A charged phone
  • Your own unlock code, if one is set
  • A quiet place to practise

Step 1 of 5: Wake or turn on the screen

Briefly press the side or power button to wake the screen. If the phone is switched off, hold its power button until the startup logo appears. Button positions vary; check the model manual if nothing happens.

Step 2 of 5: Unlock your own phone

Follow the screen prompt and enter your own PIN or passcode. Fingerprint or face recognition may also work. If you cannot remember the code, stop and use the manufacturer’s recovery help; repeated guesses can lock you out.

Step 3 of 5: Open one familiar app

Find Clock or Settings and tap its picture once. Give it a moment to open. Swipe a finger gently up the screen to move down a list; touching and holding can bring up a different menu.

Step 4 of 5: Return to the starting screen

iPhone with Home button: press Home. iPhone without it: swipe up from the bottom edge. Android: tap Home if there are navigation buttons, or swipe up from the bottom if gestures are enabled.

Step 5 of 5: Finish the practice session

Press the side or power button briefly to lock the screen. Locking is different from switching off. When practising, pause before deleting items, buying anything or granting access you do not understand.

Try it for yourself

Your small practice task.

Open Clock, return Home, then lock and unlock the screen once.

Completing the guide records your progress here; it does not check your device settings.

Cover of How to Use an Android Phone: Samsung Edition
Using a Samsung Galaxy phone?

Prefer a guide beside your phone?

Explore Danielle Murphy’s picture-led paperback: 100 lessons across 10 sections, with large screenshots and highlighted controls.

Explore the Samsung book

A common question.

Does this guide set up a new phone?

No. Initial setup screens vary by model and account. Complete the manufacturer’s setup instructions first, then return for practice.

Official help, if you need it.

These links provide the product’s own instructions or relevant public guidance. Settings can differ by model and software version.