Lesson 9
Make Your Phone Easier to See and Hear
Your phone can adjust to you. If the words are too small or the sounds too quiet, a few simple settings make everything more comfortable.
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
Make the screen brighter or dimmer
On your iPhone: On iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, then drag the brightness bar up or down.
On your Android: On Android, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings, then drag the brightness slider (the bar with a sun) left or right.
Brighter is easier to read outdoors. Dimmer is gentler on your eyes at night.
Step 2 of 7
Make the text bigger
You can enlarge the words on your screen so they're easier to read.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap Display & Text Size, tap Larger Text, and drag the slider.
On your Android: On Android, open Settings, tap Display, tap 'Font size' or 'Display size,' and drag the slider until the text feels comfortable.
Bigger text changes your messages, menus, and more. You can always slide it back if it feels too large.
Step 3 of 7
Use the magnifier for tiny print
When you come across small print out in the world, your phone can act like a magnifying glass.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, open the Magnifier app, point the camera at the small print, and drag the slider to zoom in. It can even read the words aloud to you.
On your Android: On Android, open the Camera and pinch two fingers apart to zoom in on the small print.
This is wonderful for menus, labels, and instructions. Please don't rely on it where a mistake could hurt you, like while driving.
Step 4 of 7
Turn the volume up or down
The volume buttons are on the side of your phone. Press the top one to make sounds louder and the bottom one to make them softer.
Pressing these buttons during a call changes how loudly you hear the other person.
Step 5 of 7
Change your ringtone
The ringtone is the sound your phone makes when someone calls. You can pick one that's easy for you to hear.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, tap Ringtone, and tap any sound to hear it and choose it.
On your Android: On Android, open Settings, tap Sound (or Sound & vibration), tap Phone ringtone, and choose a sound. Tap one to hear a sample.
Pick a longer, louder tune if you sometimes miss calls. You'll hear it from the other room.
Step 6 of 7
Keep the screen on longer
If your screen goes dark too quickly while you're reading, you can give yourself more time.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, tap 'Auto-Lock,' and choose a longer time.
On your Android: On Android, open Settings, tap Display, tap 'Screen timeout,' and choose a longer time.
A longer time is handy for reading. A shorter time saves battery. Pick whatever suits you.
Step 7 of 7
Stop the screen from spinning
Sometimes the screen flips sideways when you tilt the phone. You can lock it upright.
On your iPhone: On iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner and tap the lock-with-an-arrow button to turn on Rotation Lock.
On your Android: On Android, swipe down from the top and tap the 'Auto-rotate' button to turn it off.
With rotation locked, your screen stays put no matter how you hold the phone.