How to Use Technology: A Senior's Guide to Smartphones

Smartphones have become so deeply woven into daily life that many services now assume you have one. Bank apps, government services, doctor's appointments, ride bookings, photo sharing with grandchildren, audiobooks, news, weather, even concert tickets — most of it now lives in a small rectangle in your pocket.

For Australians who grew up without these devices, this can feel overwhelming. The good news is that smartphones are designed to be far easier than they appear at first. With a few simple habits, a bit of patience, and the right settings, almost anyone can use one comfortably.

This guide is for older Australians who want to feel confident with a smartphone — whether you have just been given one by a family member, you have had one for years but never really mastered it, or you are thinking about buying your first one.

Choosing the Right Phone

There is no single "best" smartphone for seniors. There are two main families:

iPhone (made by Apple, runs iOS). Generally considered the simpler, more consistent option. iPhones are reasonably priced second-hand, get years of software updates, and have an excellent built-in screen reader and accessibility features. If a family member uses an iPhone, having the same family helps with help.

Android phones (made by Samsung, Google, Oppo, Motorola, and others). More variety in size, price, and features. Samsung is the most common Android brand in Australia. Some Android phones (like the Doro, Nokia, and certain Samsung models) have a specific "Easy Mode" or "Simple Mode" designed for older users.

A few practical points when choosing:

• Bigger screens are easier on older eyes. A 6.1 to 6.7 inch screen is usually more comfortable than a smaller one.
• Good battery life matters. Look for phones with 4,000 mAh batteries or larger.
• Don't pay for the very latest model. A one or two-year-old model from a major brand is usually 40% cheaper and just as good for everyday use.
• Buy from a reputable retailer. JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, the Apple Store, Telstra, Optus, and the major supermarkets all offer good support.

If a relative is choosing for you, the most useful conversation is "what do they actually need to do with it?" — calling family, getting messages, video chatting, taking photos, looking things up online, banking, and reading news covers most needs. You don't need a top-end phone for any of that.

Set It Up for Comfort, Not for Showing Off

Out of the box, smartphones are configured for younger eyes and quicker fingers. The single most useful thing you can do — or have a family member do — is adjust the settings to make the phone comfortable to use.

A few settings worth changing:

Make the text bigger. Both iPhone and Android let you increase the system text size significantly. On an iPhone, this is in Settings → Display & Brightness → Text Size and Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Larger Text. On Samsung, it's in Settings → Display → Font size and style.

Increase the icons on the home screen. iPhones have a "Display Zoom" setting; Android phones often have a "Screen zoom" or "Display size" setting. Both make everything noticeably larger.

Turn on bold text. This makes text far easier to read, particularly in low light.

Set up the home screen with only the apps you actually use. Most phones come pre-loaded with dozens of apps. You can hide or remove the ones you don't need, leaving a clean home screen with just Phone, Messages, Camera, Photos, your preferred web browser, your banking app, and a couple of others.

Turn on hearing accessibility features if you wear hearing aids — both iPhone and Android can connect directly to compatible hearing aids and stream calls and audio through them.

A family member can usually make all of these changes in 15 minutes. It transforms how the phone feels.

The Six Apps That Matter Most

You really only need a handful of apps to live comfortably with a smartphone. Master these and you have 90% of what most people use a smartphone for.

1. Phone. Making and receiving calls. Familiar to everyone.

2. Messages. SMS texts to other people's phones, plus iMessage (between iPhones) or RCS (between Androids) for richer messages with photos. Look for the green or blue speech bubble icon.

3. WhatsApp. Free voice and video calls and messages over Wi-Fi or data, both within Australia and overseas. The most common app for keeping in touch with family abroad. Look for the green speech bubble icon.

4. Camera. The smartphone has replaced the family camera for most Australians. Your phone's camera is excellent for everyday photos.

5. Photos. Where your photos are stored. Both iPhone and Android also let you back photos up to the cloud automatically, so they aren't lost if your phone is.

6. Maps. Either Apple Maps or Google Maps. Type in an address, get walking, driving, or public transport directions. Saves a lot of stress when navigating.

For most older Australians, this six-app set covers nearly all daily smartphone use. Add your bank's app, your preferred news app, and a weather app, and you have everything you need.

Video Calling: The Most Valuable Thing Smartphones Do

If you ask older smartphone users which feature has changed their lives most, video calling almost always comes up. Seeing your grandchildren's faces, watching them open birthday presents from the other side of the country, talking face-to-face with a friend who has moved interstate — none of this was possible 25 years ago.

The two main free video call options are:

FaceTime — works between Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs). Built in to every iPhone. Tap the FaceTime app, enter a contact, and you are calling.

WhatsApp — works between any phones (iPhone or Android). Tap the contact, then the small video camera icon. Free over Wi-Fi or mobile data.

For mixed Apple/Android families, WhatsApp is usually the easiest common ground. Zoom is also widely used, particularly for group calls and church services.

A few tips:

• Make sure you have good Wi-Fi at home before relying on video calling on data.
• Hold the phone in landscape (sideways) for a more comfortable view, or prop it up with a small stand.
• Look at the camera lens, not at the person on the screen. This makes you appear more present.
• A ring light or just sitting near a window in daylight makes a huge difference to how you look.

Staying Safe Online

Scams are a real problem, and older Australians are often deliberately targeted. A few simple rules will protect you against the great majority of risks:

1. No legitimate organisation will ever ask you to give them remote access to your computer or phone. Microsoft does not call you. The ATO does not call you. Your bank does not call you and ask you to read out a verification code. If anyone calls or messages you asking for any of this, it is a scam. Hang up.

2. Verification codes are like passwords. Never share them. Banks, MyGov, and other services often send a six-digit code to confirm a login. If anyone (including someone claiming to be from your bank) asks you to read out a code, do not. End the conversation and call the organisation directly using a number from their official website or a statement.

3. Slow down with messages. Scammers create urgency — "your parcel is held," "your account is locked," "you owe a tax bill." Real organisations rarely demand instant action. If you are unsure, look up the organisation independently and call them.

4. Don't click links in unexpected messages. If your bank, Australia Post, or the ATO appears to message you, go directly to the official app or website rather than clicking the link.

5. Use strong, different passwords. A password manager (built into the iPhone, available as an app on Android) can do the work for you. At minimum, your bank and email should have unique, strong passwords that you don't use anywhere else.

6. Two-factor authentication. This is when an app or service asks for both a password and a code sent to your phone. Turn it on for your bank, your email, and MyGov. It is the single best protection against account takeover.

The Australian Government's Scamwatch website (scamwatch.gov.au) is an excellent resource. You can also call the National Anti-Scam Centre's Cyber Hotline on 1800 595 160 if something feels wrong.

A Few Useful Apps Beyond the Basics

Once you are comfortable with the basics, a few specific apps tend to make life noticeably easier for older Australians:

• MyGov. Access Centrelink, Medicare, the ATO, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme in one place. Worth setting up even if you don't use it often.
• Express Plus Medicare. Specifically for Medicare claims and information.
• Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ANZ, Westpac, and other major banks have well-designed apps that make banking far easier than physical branches.
• ABC listen for ABC Radio and podcasts, free.
• Audible or BorrowBox (free through libraries) for audiobooks.
• Spotify or Apple Music for music streaming.
• Service NSW (or the equivalent in other states) for renewing driver's licences, registering vehicles, and accessing the Seniors Card.
• Translink, Opal Travel (NSW), or your state's equivalent for public transport.
• Healthengine or HotDoc for booking GP appointments.

You don't need to install all of these. Add them as you find a need.

When You Get Stuck

A few good places to ask for help:

• Be Connected is a free Australian Government program designed specifically to help older Australians develop digital skills. The website (beconnected.esafety.gov.au) has hundreds of free, simple, step-by-step guides on everything from sending a message to using government services. Many libraries, councils, and community centres run free Be Connected classes.
• Public libraries often run free or low-cost technology help sessions.
• Apple Stores offer free in-store sessions for iPhone owners. Telstra and Optus also offer in-store help in their stores.
• Family. Don't underestimate this. Ten minutes with a patient grandchild can teach you more than an hour of fiddling on your own.

A Reasonable Pace

A final thought. You do not need to "master" your smartphone in a week. Most younger people who appear effortless with their phones have been using one for fifteen or more years. They have learned things gradually, one feature at a time.

Pick one new thing to learn each month. This month: video calling a grandchild. Next month: how to back up your photos. The month after: how to use your bank's app. By the end of a year, you will be a far more confident smartphone user — and you will have got there at a comfortable pace.

The Bottom Line

A smartphone is a powerful, useful, and at times a little frustrating piece of technology. For older Australians, it is also one of the best tools ever invented for staying connected with family, accessing services, and remaining independent.

You don't need to use every feature. You don't need the fanciest model. You don't need to be impressed by anyone's tech skills. You just need to set it up so it suits you, master the few apps you actually use, and stay calm when something goes wrong. There is help available everywhere, and most things on a smartphone can be undone if you make a mistake.

Treat it like any new tool. Be patient with yourself. And ask for help when you need it.

---

Apps, settings, and services change regularly with software updates. The general advice in this article is stable, but exact menu locations and app features may differ slightly on your phone. For step-by-step current guides, visit beconnected.esafety.gov.au.