Lesson 15
Fix Problems and Find a Lost Phone
Every phone hiccups now and then, and phones do get misplaced. This lesson gives you calm, simple fixes for the most common troubles.
First, tell us which phone you have
Not sure which you have?
If your phone has an apple on the back, it’s an iPhone. If it has anything else, it’s almost certainly an Android.
Step 1 of 7
Restart when something acts up
If your phone freezes, runs slow, or an app misbehaves, turning it off and back on fixes most problems.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, hold the side button and a volume button, drag to power off, wait a moment, then hold the side button to turn it on.
On your Android: On Android, press and hold the power button, tap Restart, and wait for it to come back.
This is the number-one fix. When in doubt, restart. You won't lose anything by doing it.
Step 2 of 7
Close and reopen a stuck app
If just one app is misbehaving, close it and open it again.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom and pause, then swipe the app's window up to close it.
On your Android: On Android, swipe up from the bottom and hold, then swipe the app's window up to close it.
Opening a fresh copy of the app often clears the trouble right up.
Step 3 of 7
Find a phone you've misplaced at home
If your phone is nearby but you can't spot it, have someone call it so you can follow the ring.
If the ringer is off, the next step lets you find it from a computer, even silently.
Step 4 of 7
Locate a truly lost phone
You can see your phone's location on a map from any computer or another phone.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, go to iCloud.com/find and sign in with your Apple Account, or use the Find My app on a family member's iPhone. You can play a sound, mark it lost, or erase it.
On your Android: On Android, in any web browser go to android.com/find and sign in with your Google Account. You can see it on a map, play a sound, lock it, or erase it.
For this to work, it must be switched on before the phone is lost. It usually turns on during setup, so you may already be covered.
Step 5 of 7
Lock a lost phone from afar
If you can't reach your phone, lock it so no one else can use it, and show a message with a number to call you.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, in Find My tap 'Mark As Lost' to lock it and add a phone number.
On your Android: On Android, in Find My Device tap 'Secure device' to lock it and add a message.
Locking is reversible. When you find your phone, your own PIN unlocks it as usual.
Step 6 of 7
Get a hidden app back
If an app seems to have vanished, it may just be hidden, not deleted.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, swipe down on the home screen and type the app's name to find it. To reinstall one, open the App Store and search for it.
On your Android: On Android, swipe up to open all apps, tap the three dots, tap 'Hide apps,' and un-check the app to bring it back. To reinstall one, open the Play Store and search for it.
Apps are rarely gone for good. You can always get them back from your app store for free.
Step 7 of 7
Know when to ask for help
Some problems need an expert, and that's completely okay. Your phone's maker and your phone company both have free help lines and stores.
There's no shame in asking. Bring your phone to a store or call support. That's exactly what they're there for.