Tip Sheet:
Learning About your Smartphone
Click or Tap on a Question to see the Answer
How do I know if I have an Android or Apple Smartphone?
If you have an iPhone, there will be an image of an apple at the back. The apple will look like this
If there is no image of an apple, you most likely have an Android phone.
I’m on an iPhone. I’m looking for my App Library to find Settings. I swiped, but I only see more apps.
Your home screen can have many pages that you may need to swipe through before you get to the App Library. You will know how many pages your home screen has by looking at dots at the bottom of your screen.
In the example to the right, you can see that I am on page 1 of my home screen.
I have 4 more pages to swipe through. After I’ve swiped through all the pages of my home screen, I can swipe to see my App Library.
I’m on an Android phone and I can’t find settings on my home screen. What should I do?
You can check the App Drawer on your smartphone. This where you will see all installed apps. To access the App Drawer, swipe up from the bottom of your home screen (works on most Android phones).
On some Android devices, you can access the App Drawer by tapping on the grid icon. The grid icon may look similar to the one shown on the right.
I’m on an iPhone and I see ‘software version.’ What does that mean?
Software version on an iPhone refers to what version of iOS your iPhone is running on. iOS refers to the iPhone Operating System. iOS updates are usually automatically sent to your iPhone for you to install.
Each new software version is indicated by a higher number than the previous version. For example, iOS 15 is a newer, more updated version of software than iOS 14. To learn more about different iOS versions, click here: Definition of iOS versions | PCMag
Not all iOS updates will be compatible with your iPhone so be sure to read information about the update carefully.
I’m on an Android phone and I see ‘software version.’ What does that mean?
Software version on an Android smartphone refers to the version of Android Operating System (OS) your device is running on. OS updates are usually automatically sent to your Android phone for you to install.
Each new software version is indicated by a higher number than the previous version. For example, Android software version 10 is a newer, more updated version of software than software version 9.
On an Android smartphone, you may also notice that some older software versions are nicknamed after food items. For example, Android software version 6 is nicknamed marshmallow. To learn more about different Android software versions, click here:Android versions: A living history from 1.0 to 13 | Computerworld
Not all Android software updates will be compatible with your Android smartphone, so be sure to read information about the update carefully.
Where can I learn more about Android smartphones?
Where can I learn more about iPhones?
What are some YouTube channels I can use to learn about my smartphone?
● For iPhone users, check out the channel, Apple Support: https://www.youtube.com/c/AppleSupport
● For Android users, check out the channel, Android: https://www.youtube.com/c/android
What terms can I include in my search?
Try including the term ‘tutorial.’ Tutorial means lesson.
Try including your level of understanding, such as ‘beginner,’ ‘basic,’ ‘new user’
Try including the phrase ‘step by step instructions to’ or ‘step by step guide to’
Check out some smartphone terms you might want to include in your search: https://tech.co/phones/phone-specs-explained
Tips for Coping when Feeling Nervous or Frustrated
I feel nervous about even trying this new skill. What can I do?
● Don’t let the fear of making mistakes stop you from trying. Smartphones are generally designed
to withstand mistakes you might make, and will not break if you do make a mistake.
● If your screen does freeze while you’re trying to use your smartphone, you can restart your
device. To learn how to restart your iPhone, click here: Restart your iPhone - Apple Support (CA).
To learn how to restart an Android phone, click here: How to Force Restart an Android Phone
When It’s Not Responding (howtogeek.com) and scroll to the section “Perform a Hard
Reset/Reboot.”
● Remember, practicing is the best way to help your brain remember these new skills!
This process is frustrating. How can I handle frustration?
Frustration will make it harder to problem solve. To reduce frustration and increase problem solving,
follow the steps below.
• Step 1: Pause.
• Step 2: Name what you’re feeling without judgement. Be sure to use the phrase “I am
feeling______.”
• Step 3: Take a 5-minute break, or a little longer if needed. You have the option to do something
to help you feel calm, such as doing some gentle stretches, listening to music, or breathing
deeply until you feel calm.
• You can also check out: The Guide to Mindfulness for Better Learning and/or the guide on
Changing Unhelpful Thoughts for Success while Learning. You can access them here: MTML -