Device Guides for Seniors — Digital Confidence Centre

iPad Basics

How to get back to the Home screen

The Home screen is the main screen you see when you first turn on your iPad — it shows all your app icons.

Older iPads (with a round Home button at the bottom): Press the round Home button once.
Newer iPads (no Home button): Swipe your finger upward from the very bottom edge of the screen.

💡 You can press the Home button as many times as you like — it is impossible to break anything by pressing it.

How to update apps on iPad

Open the App Store (blue icon with a white A).
Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
Scroll down to see any available updates.
Tap Update All to install everything at once.

How to make text bigger on iPad

Open Settings (grey icon with gears).
Tap Display & Brightness.
Tap Text Size and drag the slider to the right to make text larger.
For even larger text: go to Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Larger Text.

How to connect iPad to WiFi

Open Settings.
Tap Wi-Fi.
Make sure the Wi-Fi toggle at the top is green (turned on).
Tap the name of your home network (your router's name).
Type your WiFi password and tap Join.

⚠️ Your WiFi password is different from your Apple ID password. It is usually printed on a label on your router (the small box from your internet provider).

iPhone Basics

How to close a frozen app on iPhone

iPhone with Home button: Double-press the Home button quickly. You will see cards of open apps. Swipe the frozen app's card upward to close it.
iPhone without Home button (Face ID models): Swipe up from the bottom and pause briefly in the middle. You will see the same card view. Swipe the frozen app's card upward.

How to block a phone number on iPhone

Open the Phone app.
Tap Recents at the bottom.
Find the number and tap the blue circle with an i beside it.
Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.

💡 To silence all unknown callers: Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers. This automatically sends any number not in your contacts to voicemail.

How to take a screenshot on iPhone

iPhone with Home button: Press the Home button and the Power button (on the right side) at the same time. The screen will flash white.
iPhone without Home button: Press the Power button and the Volume Up button at the same time. The screen will flash white.

Your screenshot will be saved to your Photos app automatically. A small preview appears in the bottom-left corner — tap it to edit or share immediately.

Android Phone Basics

How to find the Home screen on Android

Android phones look slightly different depending on the brand (Samsung, Google Pixel, LG, Motorola), but they all have a Home button — either a physical button or a button shown at the bottom of the screen.

Look for a small house icon (🏠) at the bottom of your screen — tap it to go Home.
If you see a square, circle, and triangle at the bottom — the circle (or house) is the Home button.

How to update apps on Android

Open the Google Play Store (colourful triangle icon).
Tap your profile picture or the three lines in the top corner.
Tap Manage apps & device.
Tap Update all to install all available updates.

How to make text bigger on Android

Open Settings (gear icon).
Tap Accessibility (or Display on some phones).
Tap Font size or Text size.
Drag the slider to the right to make text larger. A preview at the top shows how it will look.

Smart TV Basics

What is a Smart TV?

A Smart TV is a television that connects to the internet. This lets you watch streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, CBC Gem, and Amazon Prime Video without a separate device. Most Smart TVs made after 2015 can connect to your home WiFi.

How to connect your Smart TV to WiFi

Press the Home or Menu button on your TV remote.
Navigate to Settings or Network (use the arrow buttons on your remote).
Select Wi-Fi or Wireless.
Choose your home network name from the list.
Enter your WiFi password using the on-screen keyboard and remote.

💡 If entering a password with a TV remote is too difficult, most Smart TVs have a companion smartphone app that makes typing much easier.

How to watch CBC Gem for free

CBC Gem offers thousands of Canadian shows, documentaries, and movies — many completely free with a free account. No credit card required for the free tier.

Look for the CBC Gem app on your Smart TV (available on most Samsung, LG, Sony, and Roku TVs).
If it is not installed, find it in your TV's App Store (Samsung Apps, LG Content Store, etc.).
Create a free account at gem.cbc.ca or sign in with an existing account.

Smart Home Device Basics

What are smart home devices?

Smart home devices are everyday household items — lights, thermostats, door locks, smoke detectors — that connect to the internet and can be controlled by your voice or smartphone. The most popular voice assistants in Canada are Amazon Alexa (sold as Echo) and Google Home (sold as Google Nest).

How to use Amazon Echo / Alexa

Say Alexa followed by what you want. Examples:

“Alexa, what is the weather today?”
“Alexa, set a timer for 20 minutes.”
“Alexa, call [name].” (if you have added contacts)
“Alexa, turn off the lights.” (if you have smart bulbs)

⚠️ Amazon will never call you to tell you there is a problem with your Alexa device or account. If you receive such a call, hang up — it is a scam.

Smart thermostat basics (Nest, Ecobee)

Smart thermostats learn your schedule and adjust the temperature automatically to save energy. Most popular in Canada: Google Nest Thermostat and Ecobee.

You can adjust the temperature from your phone, anywhere in the world.
Set a schedule so the heat drops at night and comes on before you wake up.
Get alerts if the temperature drops unusually low (useful when away in winter).