How to set up a cell phone for seniors

If you’ve got a loved one in your life who has asked for some help with their cell phone or if you’re just vying for the title of Favorite Child, you might be wondering, how do you set up a cell phone for someone looking for an easy to navigate phone that may use accessibility settings? 

While some people are more or less techy than others, there are some easy ways to make sure your loved one’s cell phone is more user friendly that you might not have considered. Here’s a helpful guide to check off what makes for a user-friendly setup, and to set anyone up for cell phone success (and also, put you in the lead for the designation of Best Helper).

How to streamline the home screen

Keeping things organized on a phone is just like cleaning out a messy desk. Hold on to the tools they use often, and organize them so the user knows exactly where to find it. 

Put frequently used apps on the home screen 

• Make sure the most commonly used phone functions, like Messages, Phone, and Contacts are easy to find, like on the main screen or in the dock. Don’t forget to add Candy Crush or whatever gaming app they’re into somewhere they can find it.
• If your loved one has a camera phone and uses it, consider putting that on the home screen so they can find it easily.  

Utilize folders

• Using folders, you can organize apps by category, (for example “Health,” “Social Media,” “Photos,” etc). This makes apps easier to find based on function, rather than scrolling through dozens of icons.  

Use widgets to display useful info 

• Widgets can be a helpful tool to make it easier to view information on the phone without having to open an app. For instance, having a weather app widget lets users easily view the temp from the lock screen without even having to unlock the phone. 

Delete or hide apps they don’t use

• Clutter can be confusing and make it hard for anyone to find the app they actually want to use. Deleting or hiding apps keeps things simple and less overwhelming. 

How to optimize text settings 

Make it easier for your friend or family member to navigate their phones with a few display setting updates:

How to make text larger on iPhone 

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Text size and slide to make the text bigger. You can also turn on Bold Text for extra contrast. 

If needed, under Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size, use “Larger Text” for even bigger fonts. 

Want more information on how to change font size on iPhone? We’ve got you. 

How to make text larger on Android 

Go to Settings > Display > Font Size (or “Font and Screen Zoom” depending on the Android) and increase the slider. Some phones also have a “High Contrast Text” option under Accessibility for clearer labels. 

For people with vision difficulties, consider turning on screen-reading in the Accessibility settings.

How to optimize audio settings on iPhone and Android

Make sure ringtones and alerts are loud and clear, or consider using vibration or flash alerts.You can also enable flash alerts and turn on vibration on silent mode so they never miss your call to catch up on the latest Dancing with the Stars:

On iPhone, enable LED Flash for Alerts by going to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual and toggle on LED Flash for Alerts. You can also enable Flash on Silent here.

On Android, go to Settings > Notifications > Flash notifications. Turn on Camera flash or Screen flash. To change the screen flash color, tap Screen flash and choose your preferred color. Tap Preview to test the color flash, and to save changes, tap Done. 

If the user of the phone uses hearing aids or might in the future, many phones support Bluetooth hearing-aid pairing so audio streams directly to the device. 

Enabling screen reading features 

VoiceOver

VoiceOver is an accessibility feature available on iPhone that works by using a built-in reader to speak what’s on screen. It also enables the user to make gestures in order to navigate the iPhone, or a connected keyboard or braille display. 

To turn on VoiceOver, just head to Settings > Accessibility and toggle it on or ask Siri by holding the side (Home button on older iPhones) and say “Turn on VoiceOver.”   

TalkBack

TalkBack on Android works similarly to VoiceOver, and provides more customized options in settings, but both screen readers are great options. For a deeper dive, we’ve done the legwork on Accessibility settings on Android. 

TalkBack works by using Gemini, a powerful AI assistant on Android that can provide context for on-screen image descriptions; use voice commands to set alarms; send messages; and even control smart home devices (among other helpful things). You’ll also get hands-free navigation through sound cues and haptic feedback. To enable this powerful feature, open TalkBack, then toggle it on and follow the tutorial.

How to set up phone security & privacy settings

Set up a lock system to keep the phone safe

To keep any important information away from prying eyes, (and avoid a Knives Out situation) use a simple but secure lock–ideally a biometric unlock (using face or fingerprint) or a PIN code. Whichever feels easiest for them is the best option.   

Turn on phone-tracking and/or device-find features

Fortunately for, well, a lot of us, phone-tracking makes it easier than ever to find phones or compatible devices that have wandered away: 

On iPhone, use the Find My feature to locate missing devices. You can find Find My by going to Settings and tapping on Apple ID at the top. 

On Android, it’s called Find My Device, and can be turned on in Settings > Google > Security.

You can also enable automatic location sharing (with the consent and permission of your loved one) so a trusted family member can check in if needed. We leave it to you to decide whether to say “where did you last have it?” or not.

How to set up safety & emergency settings

Add a designated emergency contact 

Make sure any important emergency contacts have been added to the device and the user knows how to find them. If you or the primary phone user feels comfortable with it, you can also add medical information so that first responders can access it. This can be especially helpful in case of accidents or health crises, and give you some peace of mind: 

On iPhone, you can set up a Medical ID in the Health app. 

On Android, you can do this by going into Settings > Safety & emergency > Emergency information. 

Make sure emergency services are enabled

Make sure to have any built-in SOS features enabled, for those “just in case” situations:

On iPhone, you can configure Emergency SOS (auto-call when power & volume are pressed) in Settings.

Android also has Emergency SOS which allows users to quickly contact emergency services and send their location to emergency contacts by pressing the power button multiple times (3 or 5 times). You can set this up in Settings > Safety & emergency.

Take advantage of Driving Focus features

If they drive or travel, consider enabling focused modes (or just make sure they know how to decline calls while driving) so they can sing along to the radio distraction-free. Both Android and iPhone have a driving mode that silences notifications to prevent distractions, but they are accessed differently. 

On iPhone, it’s called Driving Focus and is found in Settings > Focus. 

On Android, it’s usually under Settings > Modes and routines or Digital Wellbeing. 

You can turn these modes on manually, but they can also be set to activate automatically based on conditions like connecting to car Bluetooth or detected motion. 

Easy fixes can make a big difference

We hope this gives you a friendly, easy-to-follow checklist for setting up a cell phone that can keep your loved ones safe and connected. And if your older friend is in need of a plan to go with that senior-friendly phone, we’ve got a great plan to go with it. But first, see why people (seniors and alike) love saving with Mint.