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. If a small menu opens, look for an option called Edit Home Screen. When the icons start to wiggle, drag the app down to the dock at the bottom. The app should then sit in the dock. Menu names can differ between versions of iPadOS, the software on iPads. On Android, press and hold an app and drag it to the bottom row. The app should then sit in that 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. Swiping in from the right edge of the screen brings up Slide Over, a small floating window that shows a second app. That is not the same as split screen. For two apps side by side, use the multitasking control shown on the app window to start split view. Both apps should then sit side by side, each taking up part of the screen. 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.
Stop and get professional help if the battery still drains unusually fast after you have made these changes. Contact the tablet maker’s support team, or the shop where you bought the tablet, and say when the drain started.
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. Once it is paired, typing on the keyboard should appear in any text box you have open on the tablet. Many keyboards cost less than twenty pounds and make a significant difference.
Last updated: October 9, 2026