How Do I Set Up a Phone or Tablet for a Parent?

What this helps with: Getting a new phone or tablet ready for a mom, dad, or other older family member, so it’s easy to read, easy to call family, and safer from scam calls. Use it whether you’re giving a gift or helping someone set up their own phone.

The short answer: Set it up with them, using their own account. Then make the text bigger, add family as favorites, turn on a simpler screen if they want it, add emergency contacts, and quiet calls from unknown numbers. Write down their passcode and passwords and give the paper to them.

Before you start

• Do it together if you can. It’s their phone. Ask what they want to use it for: calls, photos, video chats, the news. Let them make the choices.
• Use their account, not yours. On an iPhone or iPad, that’s their own Apple Account. On Android, it’s their own Google Account. If they don’t have one, make one with them during setup.
• Moving from an old phone? Do that first. See How Do I Set Up a New iPhone? or How Do I Set Up a New Android Phone?
• Pick a passcode they’ll remember. Then help set up Face ID or a fingerprint so they don’t have to type it often.

Step 1: Make everything bigger and easier to read

Make the text bigger first. It helps with every other step. Our guide shows how: How to Make Text Bigger on Your Phone.

Step 2: Try a simpler screen (optional)

Some phones have a simple mode with fewer, bigger buttons. Ask if they’d like it. You can always turn it off.

• Samsung Galaxy: Open Settings, tap Display, then tap Easy mode and turn it on. Icons, text, and the keyboard get bigger.
• Google Pixel: Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then Simple View, and turn on Use Simple View. You can also pick it on the first setup screen.
• iPhone or iPad: Apple’s simple mode is called Assistive Access. It shows only a few big apps, like Calls, Camera, Messages, and Photos. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Assistive Access, and tap Set Up Assistive Access. It’s very simple, so it fits best for someone who finds a normal phone hard to use. For most people, bigger text alone is enough.

Step 3: Add family as contacts and favorites

1. Add the people they call most to Contacts. Add a photo of each person if you can. Faces are easier to find than names.
2. Make the most important ones favorites:
   • iPhone: Open a contact and tap Add to Favorites.
   • Android: Open a contact and tap the star.
3. Want video calls too? See How to Video Call Your Family.

Step 4: Add emergency contacts and a Medical ID

This lets first responders see who to call, even when the phone is locked. They choose what to include. Our guide walks through it: How to Set Up Emergency Contacts and Medical ID.

While you’re there, show them how to call for help fast: How to Turn On Emergency SOS and Fall Detection.

Step 5: Quiet calls from unknown numbers

Scammers often call older adults. Your phone can help.

• iPhone: Go to Settings, then Apps, then Phone. Under Screen Unknown Callers, pick Ask Reason for Calling (the phone asks who it is first) or Silence (unknown numbers go to voicemail).
• Android: Turn on the spam filter in the Phone app.

Make sure their doctor, pharmacy, and family are saved in Contacts first, so those calls still ring. More help: How to Block Spam Calls and Texts.

Step 6: Protect their account

• Turn on automatic updates. See How to Update Your Phone.
• Turn on backup so their photos and contacts are saved. See How to Back Up Your Phone’s Photos.
• Add a recovery contact, like you, so they can get back in if they forget a password. See How to Set Up a Recovery Contact.
• Write down the passcode and passwords on paper. Give it to them to keep somewhere safe at home.

Step 7: Share locations (only if they want to)

Sharing locations can help if a phone gets lost, or if family wants to know they got home safe. Ask first. They can stop sharing any time.

• iPhone: Open Find My, tap People, then Share My Location.
• Android: Open the Find Hub app, tap People, then share your location.

Step 8: Practice together

Before you leave, have them try these things on their own:

• Unlock the phone.
• Call you from a favorite.
• Answer a call, and hang up.
• Take a photo and find it again.
• Make the text bigger or smaller.

Write the steps on a card if that helps. Then talk about scams: no real company or family member will ask for a passcode, a code from a text, or gift cards. See How to Spot a Scam Call, Text, or Email.

Setting up a tablet?

An iPad or Android tablet works much the same. Bigger text, contacts, backup, updates, and a recovery contact all help. A tablet is great for video calls and photos because the screen is big. Most tablets can’t make regular phone calls, so set up FaceTime or WhatsApp for calls. See How to Video Call Your Family.

What about their old phone?

Once everything is on the new phone, erase the old one before it’s given away, sold, or recycled. See How Do I Erase My Old Phone Before I Give It Away or Sell It?

Official sources

• Apple: Set up Assistive Access on iPhone
• Apple: Manage unknown callers on iPhone
• Apple: Share your location with iPhone
• Google: Use Simple View on your Pixel phone
• Google: Find your friends and family with Find Hub
• Samsung: Adjust your Galaxy phone or tablet’s display settings (Easy mode)

Last checked: Oct 30, 2026

This is general help, not personalized tech support. Screens can look a little different depending on your phone’s brand and software version.