IT Silvers - Resources on personalising your device
Personalisation Checklist (iOS 9.3 or later)
When you’re setting up an iOS device, it’s important to personalise it so as to truly take advantage of the built-in capabilities and make your content, and the people you love, as accessible as possible.
Setup basics
When you’re setting up an iOS device, it’s important to personalise it so as to truly take advantage of the built-in capabilities and make your content, and the people you love, as accessible as possible.
Setup basics
- Create a new Apple ID. You can use your existing email address or create a free @icloud.com email address with Apple on that device. This account should be used by you only. Store your login details and security questions and answers in Notes. Remember to lock the note with a master password.
- Link a credit/debit card or redeem an iTunes Gift Card. Alternatively, consider Family Sharing.
- If available, set up Touch ID. Make sure it’s enabled for iTunes & App Stores.
- Set up “Hey Siri” in Settings > General > Siri so you can use just your voice to activate Siri whenever your device is connected to power. If you have an iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE or 9.7-inch iPad Pro, take advantage of “Hey Siri” even without being connected to power. To do so, ensure the screen is facing upwards when laying on a table and that Low Power Mode on iPhone is disabled in Settings > Battery.
- iPhone only: Enter details in Medical ID within the Health app.
- Set up Apple Pay to use in stores and in apps by adding eligible cards. Learn more about why Apple Pay is the simpler, more secure and more private way to pay here.
- Turn on ‘Send Last Location’ for Find My iPhone/iPad within Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone/iPad to find a device even if it has run out of battery.
- Add other mail accounts in Settings > General > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account. Consider putting your login details in Notes and locking the note with a master password.
- Name the device in Settings if this hasn't been done automatically. Go to Settings > General > About and tap on the name to edit it.
- Add your most important contacts and include as much detail as possible, such as their email address, street address, phone number and photo.
- Add your contact card as well and select it under ‘My Info’ in Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendar so Siri and others know who you are.
- iPhone only: Add Favourites in the Phone app. Choose Phone > Favourites > +. Select FaceTime or FaceTime audio as the preferred contact method for those who live overseas.
- Tell Siri about the relationships in your life, such as who your children and spouse are.
- Tell Siri how to pronounce important names. Just say “Learn how to pronounce [John Citizen]”.
- Add events to your calendar. Share a calendar with relevant friends, family and coworkers using their email address. Add alerts for birthdays and anniversaries.
- Create a shared album using iCloud on your device and add photos to it. Share it with relevant friends, family and coworkers using their Apple ID email address or iPhone number.
- Create a shared Reminders list using iCloud on your device with relevant friends, family and coworkers using their Apple ID email address. Consider a Grocery List, for example.
- Share your location using Find My Friends and the Apple ID of family members, friends and coworkers. Do this for one hour, one day or indefinitely.
- Work through the Accessibility settings and enable anything that might be useful. Bold Text and Larger Text Size are useful for many people, and options like Button Shapes can even help new users to understand the interface.
- If relevant and compatible, pair a Bluetooth hearing aid.
- Add international keyboards if relevant. You can also change the device and Siri language, and set up alternative calendars like Chinese, Hebrew, or Islamic.
- Enable Speak Screen and download the ‘Alex’ English voice on iPad Air or later, iPad mini 2 or later, iPad Pro, and iPhone 5s or later for more natural sounding speech to use in Safari and other apps. Do this in Settings > General > Accessibility > Speech > Voices.
- Customise the Reader view in Safari by enabling it on an article and tapping on AA in the search bar.
- Manage Notifications settings so you are not overwhelmed with alerts.
- Review Restrictions and decide if you want to restrict ‘deleting apps’, content by ratings and other functions depending on who will use the device.
- Consider an Apple Music subscription and sign up to the three-month free trial to have personalised playlist recommendations and access to radio stations curated by real people who love music.
- Download apps from the App Store. Curated collections for Accessibility are available here.
- Review the built-in Tips app to learn more and allow it to send you notifications when new tips are added.
- Download the free iPad User Guide or iPhone User Guide from the iBooks Store. This is automatically updated whenever iOS software is updated so it always has the latest information.
- Ask Siri “What can you do?”
Resources
iPad User Guide - https://itunes.apple.com/sg/book/ipad-user-guide-for-ios-9.3/id1035374126?mt=11
iPhone user Guide - https://itunes.apple.com/sg/book/iphone-user-guide-for-ios-9.3/id1035373510?mt=11
Siri - https://www.apple.com/ios/siri/
Contacts - https://help.apple.com/iphone/8/#/iph3e0ca2db
Find Friends - http://www.apple.com/support/icloud/find-my-friends/
Reminders - https://help.apple.com/ipad/9/#/iPad99e6cfa7
Photos - https://support.apple.com/en-sg/HT202786
Apple Pay - http://apple.com/sg/apple-pay
Health App - https://help.apple.com/iphone/8/#/iphec639eb15
Settings - Accessibility - Apple.com/accessibility
Music - http://www.apple.com/sg/music/
Greg’s: http://www.gregalchin.com/silver-it/
iPhone user Guide - https://itunes.apple.com/sg/book/iphone-user-guide-for-ios-9.3/id1035373510?mt=11
Siri - https://www.apple.com/ios/siri/
Contacts - https://help.apple.com/iphone/8/#/iph3e0ca2db
Find Friends - http://www.apple.com/support/icloud/find-my-friends/
Reminders - https://help.apple.com/ipad/9/#/iPad99e6cfa7
Photos - https://support.apple.com/en-sg/HT202786
Apple Pay - http://apple.com/sg/apple-pay
Health App - https://help.apple.com/iphone/8/#/iphec639eb15
Settings - Accessibility - Apple.com/accessibility
Music - http://www.apple.com/sg/music/
Greg’s: http://www.gregalchin.com/silver-it/