Most people use a tablet without ever adjusting any settings, and as a result miss features that would make it much more useful to them. Whether you have an iPad, an Android tablet, or a Fire tablet, a few simple changes can make a real difference.
Make the text bigger
Small text is the most common complaint from tablet users, and it is the easiest thing to fix. On an iPad, go to Settings, then Display and Brightness, then Text Size — drag the slider to the right to make text larger. You can also turn on Bold Text on the same screen. On an Android tablet, go to Settings, then Display, then Font Size and Style. On a Fire tablet, go to Settings, then Display, then Font Size.
Adjust the screen brightness properly
Many tablets are set to adjust brightness automatically, but the automatic setting is often wrong. If the screen looks too dark or too bright, find the brightness slider — usually in Settings under Display, or by swiping down from the top of the screen. If auto-brightness is on and causing problems, you can turn it off and set a fixed level that suits you.
Set up shortcuts for your most-used apps
Most tablets have a bottom bar or dock where you can put your most frequently used apps so they are always visible. On an iPad, press and hold an app icon until it wiggles, then drag it down to the dock at the bottom. On Android, press and hold an app and drag it to the bottom row. Put the four or five apps you use every day there — it saves a lot of hunting.
Use split-screen to do two things at once
Tablets are large enough to show two apps side by side, which is useful for reading an article while making notes, or following a recipe while watching a video. On an iPad, open the first app, then swipe slowly from the right edge of the screen to bring in a second app. On Android tablets, open the Recent Apps view (usually a square or three lines at the bottom) and look for a split screen option.
Turn off features you never use to save battery
Location services, background app refresh, and automatic downloads all use battery even when you are not actively using the tablet. To turn off background app refresh on an iPad, go to Settings, then General, then Background App Refresh. On Android, go to Settings, then Battery, and look for battery optimisation or background usage settings. You do not need to turn everything off — just the apps and features you know you never use.
Connect a keyboard for typing
If you do a lot of typing — emails, messages, documents — a small Bluetooth keyboard transforms a tablet into something much more practical. Most keyboards pair the same way as any Bluetooth device: turn on the keyboard, go to Bluetooth settings on the tablet, and tap the keyboard name when it appears. Many keyboards cost less than twenty pounds and make a significant difference.