Some folks just have trouble with smartphones, sometimes due to advanced age or inexperience with tech, but you can make phone life easier for older people with a few tweaks. These tips for setting up a smartphone for the elderly will help you get an iPhone or Android phone ready for your parents or grandparents to use safely. Everyone is different, so pick the tips that seem relevant and helpful for your loved one.
Updated December 2025: We've added a section on choosing a phone, refreshed the copy to reflect the latest operating systems, and added new screenshots to illustrate.
Choosing a Phone
While there are specialist “senior phones” on the market, most folks will be better served by a regular iPhone or Android phone with a few modifications. You probably have an old one in a drawer you can repurpose. If they need a new one, check out our buying guides, including Best iPhones, Best Android Phones, Best Cheap Phones, and Best Phones With a Headphone Jack.
The tips below were verified on an iPhone 16 and a Pixel 10 Pro XL. If you are setting up a different phone (especially an alternative Android phone), the settings may differ slightly.
Set Up the Lock Screen
It may be tempting not to apply lock screen security, but you should. Ideally, the phone has a fingerprint sensor or face unlock, and you can run through the process and make sure that they’re comfortable with how it works. Otherwise, you will have to set up a PIN, password, or pattern unlock that they can remember.
On an Android phone: Go to Settings, Security and privacy, Device unlock, and Screen lock.
On an iPhone: Go to Settings, then Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode.
Screen lock on Android Screenshots: Simon Hill
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