Written by: The Tablet Tamer (Your Digital Reading Companion)
Got a tablet sitting in the box it came in six months ago? Or maybe your kids set it up but you have no idea how to actually use it?
You’re not alone. We hear this constantly at Teach Me Tech OC here in Orange County.
Tablets are perfect for what most people actually want to do: read books, check email, and video chat with family. They’re bigger than phones (easier to see), smaller than laptops (less intimidating), and honestly just right for daily use.
Let’s get yours set up and working.
Don’t want to read all this? We totally understand. Sometimes you just want someone to sit down with you and walk through it in person. That’s what we do at Teach Me Tech OC. We come to your home anywhere in Orange County, or we meet online through Google Meet. We’ll set up your tablet, show you everything you need to know, and make sure you’re comfortable using it. Just reach out.
Quick Overview: Setting Up and Using Your Tablet
Getting Started:
- Charge it and turn it on
- Connect to your WiFi
- Sign into your account (Apple ID or Google)
- Adjust text size and brightness right away
Reading on Your Tablet:
- Download Kindle or Apple Books
- Get library books through Libby
- Adjust text size and background color
- Way better than squinting at tiny print
Using Email on Your Tablet:
- Set up your email account once
- Read and reply with a bigger screen
- Attach photos easily
- Much nicer than using your phone
Video Calling:
- FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Meet
- See grandkids on a bigger screen
- Prop it up so you don’t have to hold it
- Actually enjoy the conversation
Setting Up Your Tablet for the First Time
Charge it first. Plug it in for at least an hour before you start. Most tablets come partially charged, but you want enough juice to get through setup without it dying halfway through.
Basic setup steps:
- Hold power button (top edge on iPads, side on most Android tablets) until logo appears
- Pick your language (tap English or whatever you prefer)
- Connect to WiFi (find your network, enter password exactly as shown)
- Sign in or create account (Apple ID for iPad, Google account for Android)
- Skip extra features for now (add them later if you want)
The tablet will offer a bunch of extra features during setup (Face ID, location services, Siri, Google Assistant). You can skip all of it for now. Add those features later if you want them. Don’t feel pressured to enable everything on day one.
What Actually Matters During Setup
WiFi and your account. That’s it. Everything else is optional or can be changed later.
WiFi passwords are case-sensitive. “Blue Ocean 2023” is not the same as “blue ocean 2023.” Has to match exactly or it won’t connect.
We helped a woman in Mission Viejo who was nervous about creating an Apple ID because she didn’t want to add a credit card. You can create an Apple ID without a credit card. And even if you add one later, nothing gets charged without your approval. Once she knew that, setup was easy.
Adjust These Settings Immediately
As soon as setup is done, fix these things to make your tablet actually comfortable to use.
Make text bigger:
- iPad: Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size
- Android: Settings > Display > Font size
- Drag slider to the right
- Default text is designed for 20-year-old eyes, not realistic ones
Increase brightness:
- Swipe down from top corner
- Adjust brightness slider
- Too dim strains your eyes
- Auto-brightness works okay, override anytime
Turn on Do Not Disturb for nighttime:
- iPad: Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb
- Android: Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb
- Set for sleeping hours
- Tablet won’t light up or make noise at 2am
Clean up your home screen:
- Press and hold any app icon
- Move it around or remove it
- Keep only apps you’ll actually use (8-12 maximum)
- Everything else creates clutter
We see tablets with 40 apps on the home screen all the time. Nobody uses 40 apps regularly. Pick your favorites and hide the rest.
Using Your Tablet for Reading
This is where tablets shine. The screen is big enough to be comfortable, you can adjust text size, and it’s lighter than holding a book.
iPad – Books app:
- Already installed (icon looks like a book)
- Tap it
- Browse Book Store to buy books
- Open Library to see books you own
Kindle app (works on both iPad and Android):
- Download from app store
- Sign in with Amazon account
- All Kindle books appear automatically
- Tap one to download and read
Libby app for library books:
- Download Libby from app store
- Search for your local library (Orange County has great systems)
- Enter library card number
- Borrow ebooks and audiobooks with a tap
- They automatically return when due (no late fees)
Making Reading Actually Comfortable
Once you’ve got a reading app and some books, customize how things look.
While reading:
- Tap middle of screen
- Options appear for text size (Aa button), brightness, more
- Change font size (make it bigger than you think you need)
- Change background color (white, black, or sepia/beige-ish)
- Change line spacing and margins
- Try different combinations until it feels right
You can highlight text and add notes just like in a physical book. Press and hold on a word, drag to select text, then choose highlight or add note.
We helped a woman in Irvine who hadn’t read in years because holding books hurt her arthritic hands. Set up Kindle on her iPad, connected her library card to Libby, adjusted all the settings. Within a week she’d finished two books. The tablet gave her back something she loved.
Setting Up and Using Email on Your Tablet
Email on a tablet is nicer than on a phone because you have more screen space. Nicer than on a computer because it’s more casual and portable.
To set up email:
- iPad: Mail app comes pre-installed (blue icon with envelope)
- Android: Gmail usually comes pre-installed
- Open the app
- Add your email account (enter email address and password)
- Choose your provider (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, whatever you use)
To read email:
- Tap any email to open it
- Swipe left or right to go to next or previous
- Tap back arrow to return to inbox
To reply:
- Tap reply arrow
- Type your response
- Tap Send
- Keep it brief
To send new email:
- Tap compose button (pencil or plus icon)
- Enter recipient’s email
- Add subject line
- Type message
- Tap Send
To delete:
- Select emails
- Tap trash icon
- Don’t keep everything forever
Email Tips That Actually Help
Hold the tablet horizontally (landscape mode). Many email apps show your inbox list on the left and email content on the right. Makes it easier to scan through messages quickly.
Delete obvious junk immediately without even opening it. Unsubscribe from newsletters you never read (there’s always an unsubscribe link at the bottom).
You can attach photos to emails on your tablet. When composing, look for paperclip or camera icon. Select photos to attach. Great for sharing pictures with family.
A guy in Laguna Niguel sends weekly garden photos to his daughter across the country via email from his tablet. She prints them and puts them on her fridge.
Setting Up Video Calling on Your Tablet
Video calls are essential for staying connected with family, especially grandkids. Tablets are actually better than phones for video calls because the bigger screen makes it easier to see everyone.
FaceTime (iPad only):
- Comes pre-installed
- Open the app
- Tap plus sign
- Enter phone number or email
- Tap video camera icon
- They need iPhone, iPad, or Mac to receive
Zoom (works on all tablets):
- Download Zoom from app store
- Join meetings without account
- To join: tap “Join Meeting,” enter meeting ID
- To start: tap “New Meeting”
Google Meet (works on all tablets):
- Download Google Meet
- Sign in with Google account
- Join meetings with code
- Start new meetings
Making Your First Video Call Work
When you open a video calling app for the first time, it’ll ask for permission to use your camera and microphone. Say yes to both. The app only uses them during actual calls, not all the time.
Before calling:
- Sit facing window for good lighting
- Prop tablet at eye level (not in lap pointing up at chin)
- Use tablet stand or lean against something
- Check WiFi connection is strong
When call connects:
- You see other person, they see you
- Buttons along bottom: mute, turn off camera, hang up
- Mute useful if you need to cough or if there’s background noise
- Remember to unmute when you want to talk
To end call:
- Tap red button (looks like phone hanging up)
- Don’t just close app or lock tablet
- Actually end call properly
Common problems:
- They can’t hear you? Check if you’re muted
- You can’t hear them? Turn up volume with side buttons
- Video frozen? Internet might be slow, move closer to WiFi router
- They can’t see you? Make sure you didn’t turn off camera
Making Video Calls Feel Natural
First few calls feel awkward. You’re not used to seeing yourself on screen. That’s normal. Gets easier after a few tries.
Look at the camera when talking, not at the screen. The camera is that tiny circle at the top of your tablet. Looking at it creates “eye contact” with the other person.
Don’t worry about your appearance. People who love you just want to see your face and talk to you.
For calls with grandkids, have something to show them or do together. Read them a book, show them what you’re working on, play I Spy. Little kids have short attention spans for just talking, but they love interactive stuff.
We helped a grandmother in San Clemente set up Zoom on her iPad for weekly calls with grandkids in Seattle. First call was rocky. By the third week, she was a pro. Now she bakes cookies during calls and shows the kids each step. They love it.
Troubleshooting Common Tablet Problems
Tablet running slow:
- Restart it (hold power button, slide to power off, turn back on)
- Close apps you’re not using
- Check for software updates in Settings
Can’t connect to WiFi:
- Make sure WiFi is turned on in Settings
- Forget network and reconnect (Settings > WiFi > tap i next to network > Forget This Network, then reconnect)
- Restart WiFi router (unplug 30 seconds, plug back in)
Battery drains too fast:
- Lower brightness
- Turn off apps you’re not using
- Older tablets naturally have worse battery life
Forgot password:
- iPad: go to iforgot.apple.com on another device
- Android: go to google.com/accounts/recovery
Screen won’t rotate:
- Check if rotation lock is on (swipe down from top corner, look for lock icon)
Sometimes things just don’t work right and you need help from someone who can look at your specific device. That’s completely valid.
Make Your Tablet Work for You
Tablets are incredibly useful, but only if you actually use them.
Start with the basics we covered here. Get comfortable with reading, email, and video calls. Then explore other features gradually. Don’t try to learn everything at once.
Maybe you start by just reading books for a few weeks. Then add email. Then add video calls. Build skills gradually.
Your tablet should make your life easier and more connected. If it’s sitting on a shelf collecting dust, dust it off and give it another shot.
Get Help Setting Up and Using Your Tablet
If you’re in Orange County and want someone to help you set up your tablet, walk through these features at your own pace, and answer all your questions, that’s what we do at Teach Me Tech OC.
What we’ll do:
- Come to your home (or meet online via Google Meet)
- Work on your actual device with your actual accounts
- Go at your speed
- Practice things as many times as you need
- Make sure you’re comfortable before we leave
- No rushing, no judgment, no frustration
Cities we serve:
- Irvine, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Dana Point
- Aliso Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita
- Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa
- San Clemente, Tustin, Foothill Ranch
- And everywhere else in Orange County
The goal is to help you become confident and independent with your tablet so you can read whenever you want, stay on top of your email, and see your family’s faces on video calls without needing help every time.
Reach out to Teach Me Tech OC, and let’s get your tablet set up and working the way it should. You deserve to enjoy the technology you own, not be intimidated by it.