What a tablet does and how to hold it
A tablet is a flat touchscreen computer that runs on battery power and fits in your hands or lap. Unlike a laptop, it has no keyboard or trackpad built in — you control it by tapping, swiping, and pinching the screen itself. Most tablets are between 7 and 13 inches wide, and they work whether you hold them upright (portrait) or sideways (landscape).
Hold your tablet with both hands, or rest it on your lap, a table, or a stand. The screen responds to your fingers, so you do not need a special pen or stylus — though some tablets accept one if you want to draw or write notes. Keep your fingers clean and dry; dirt and moisture can confuse the touchscreen or leave marks.
When you first turn on a tablet, it will ask you to set up a user account, connect to Wi-Fi, and choose a lock method (a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint). This takes about five minutes. After that, the tablet is ready to use.
Key Takeaways
- Tablets work by tapping and swiping the screen with your fingers, and they work in both portrait and landscape orientation.
- The home screen shows your apps, and you open them by tapping; swiping left or right moves between screens of apps.
- The back button, home button, or gesture swipe takes you out of an app and back to the home screen.
- Charging happens through a USB cable or wireless dock, and most tablets last 8 to 12 hours on a full charge.
- Settings control Wi-Fi, brightness, sound, and privacy — and you reach them by swiping down from the top of the screen.
The home screen and how to open apps
When you unlock your tablet, you see the home screen — a grid of colorful squares called apps. Each app is a program that does one thing: email, web browsing, reading, video, maps, or games. Tap any square to open that app. The app fills the screen and you use it until you leave.
If you have more apps than fit on one screen, swipe left or right with your finger to see the next screen of apps. Some tablets also have a drawer or menu button (usually three horizontal lines) that shows all your apps in a list. Tap it to find an app you do not see on the home screen.
To close an app and go back to the home screen, tap the back button (usually an arrow pointing left at the bottom of the screen), the home button (usually a circle or house icon), or swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Different tablets use different buttons, but all of them have a way to get back.
Tapping, swiping, and pinching: the basic moves
A tap is a quick touch with one finger — it opens an app, presses a button, or selects something. A swipe is a quick slide across the screen with one finger — it turns pages, scrolls through lists, or moves between screens. A pinch is pressing two fingers together on the screen and then spreading them apart (or the reverse) — it zooms in and out of photos, maps, and web pages.
Long-press means holding your finger on something for a second or two without moving. This usually opens a menu with extra choices, like copy, paste, or delete. Double-tap (two quick taps in the same spot) zooms in on text or photos.
If you make a mistake, just tap somewhere else or press the back button. Tablets do not break from wrong taps — they are designed to be forgiving. The more you use these moves, the more natural they become.
Connecting to Wi-Fi and the internet
Tablets need Wi-Fi to browse the web, send email, or stream video. When you first set up your tablet, you choose a Wi-Fi network and enter its password. After that, your tablet remembers it and connects automatically when that network is nearby.
To connect to a different Wi-Fi network, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings menu. Tap Wi-Fi, and you see a list of networks in range. Tap the one you want and enter the password if it asks for one. Once connected, a Wi-Fi symbol appears at the top of the screen.
If you lose internet connection, check that Wi-Fi is turned on and that you are still in range of the network. If the network is password-protected and you entered it wrong, tap the network name and choose "Forget" — then reconnect and enter the password again.
Charging your tablet and managing battery life
Tablets charge through a USB cable plugged into a wall outlet, or through a wireless charging dock if your tablet supports it. Most tablets take two to three hours to charge fully from empty. A full charge usually lasts 8 to 12 hours of regular use, depending on the tablet model and what you are doing.
Battery drains faster when you use video, games, or location services, and when the screen brightness is high. To extend battery life, lower the brightness (swipe down from the top and adjust the brightness slider), turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you are not using them, and close apps you are not actively using.
Most tablets show a battery percentage at the top of the screen. When it drops below 20 percent, a low-battery warning appears. Charge your tablet before the battery runs completely empty — this keeps the battery healthy over time.
Settings: brightness, sound, and privacy
Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings menu. Here you can turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on or off, adjust brightness, change volume, and enable airplane mode. For more detailed settings, tap the gear icon (usually labeled Settings) to open the full settings menu.
In Settings, you can change the screen brightness and timeout (how long before the screen turns off), adjust notification sounds, set up a lock screen, and manage which apps can access your location, camera, and contacts. You can also see how much storage space you have left and which apps are using the most battery.
If your tablet feels slow or the battery drains quickly, go to Settings and check which apps are running in the background. You can force-stop apps you are not using, or uninstall apps you no longer need.
Installing and removing apps
Most tablets come with an app store — Google Play on Android tablets, or the App Store on iPads. Open the app store, search for the app you want, and tap the button that says "Install" or "Get." The app downloads and installs automatically, then appears on your home screen.
Many apps are free, but some cost money. The app store shows the price before you install, and you pay through a credit card or account you set up during tablet setup. Read the app description and user reviews before you install — they tell you what the app does and whether people find it useful.
To remove an app, long-press its icon on the home screen and choose "Uninstall" or "Remove." The app disappears and you free up storage space. You can always reinstall it later from the app store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a tablet without Wi-Fi?
Yes, but only for tasks that do not need the internet — reading books you have downloaded, playing offline games, taking photos, or writing notes. Email, web browsing, and video streaming all require Wi-Fi or mobile data. Some tablets have a cellular option that lets you buy a data plan, but most rely on Wi-Fi.
What should I do if the screen stops responding to my touch?
First, make sure your fingers are clean and dry. If the screen is still unresponsive, restart the tablet by holding the power button until it shuts down, then press the power button again to turn it back on. If that does not work, check the manufacturer's support page for your specific tablet model.
How do I take a screenshot?
On most tablets, hold the power button and volume-down button at the same time for a second or two. The screen flashes and the screenshot saves to your photo library. On some models, the button combination is different — check your tablet's manual or support page if this does not work.
Can I connect a keyboard or mouse to my tablet?
Yes. Most tablets accept Bluetooth keyboards and mice — turn on Bluetooth in settings, put the keyboard or mouse in pairing mode, and tap it when it appears on your tablet's list. A keyboard makes typing longer documents much faster, and a mouse works for web browsing and some apps.
What is the difference between storage and RAM?
Storage is the space where your apps, photos, and files live — it does not change when you turn off the tablet. RAM is temporary memory that helps apps run smoothly. You do not manage RAM yourself; the tablet handles it. Storage does fill up over time, and you can free space by deleting old photos, videos, or apps you no longer use.