Turning on your tablet and finding your way around

A tablet is a flat, portable computer that you control by touching the screen instead of using a keyboard and mouse. When you first turn it on, you'll see a home screen filled with small pictures called apps — each one opens a different program or service. To turn on your tablet, press and hold the power button (usually on the edge or back) until you see the manufacturer's logo appear on the screen.

Once it's on, you'll see the lock screen. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, or tap the screen and drag your finger upward, to unlock it. This brings you to the home screen. At the bottom or side of the screen, you'll see a row of apps you use most often — these are your shortcuts. Swipe left or right across the home screen to see more apps. Everything you do on a tablet starts from this home screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Touch the screen with one finger to tap an app and open it, or hold your finger on an item for a second or two to see more options.
  • Swipe your finger left, right, up, or down across the screen to move between pages, scroll through lists, or close apps.
  • The settings menu (usually a gear icon) lets you adjust brightness, sound, Wi-Fi connection, and other tablet functions.
  • Most tablets have a back button or a home button that returns you to the main screen if you get stuck in an app.
  • Charging your tablet regularly and restarting it once a week keeps it running smoothly and prevents freezing.

Basic touch gestures: tap, swipe, and pinch

A tablet responds to the way you move your fingers on the screen. The most common action is a tap — touch the screen once with one finger to open an app, select an option, or press a button. If nothing happens, tap again; sometimes the tablet needs a moment to respond.

A swipe is when you drag your finger across the screen in one direction. Swipe left or right to move between pages or switch between open apps. Swipe up or down to scroll through a list, a webpage, or a document — this moves the content up or down so you can see more. Swiping down from the very top of the screen usually shows you notifications and quick settings.

A pinch makes text and images larger or smaller. Place two fingers on the screen and move them apart (pinch out) to zoom in and see something bigger. Move them closer together (pinch in) to zoom out and see more of the page. This works in photos, maps, web pages, and most reading apps.

If you hold your finger on an item for a second or two without moving it, a menu usually pops up with extra options like copy, delete, or share. This is called a long press or press and hold.

Opening apps and switching between them

Apps are the programs that do different jobs on your tablet. To open an app, find its icon on the home screen and tap it once. The app will open in a few seconds. Common apps include Mail (for email), Safari or Chrome (for web browsing), Photos (to view pictures), and Calendar (to track dates and events).

If you can't find an app on the home screen, swipe left or right to see more pages, or look for a search icon (usually a magnifying glass) and tap it to type the app's name. Once you find it, tap to open it.

To switch between apps you already have open, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold for a moment, or swipe left and right along the bottom edge. You'll see thumbnails of your open apps. Tap the one you want to return to. To close an app completely, swipe it up and off the top of the screen, or tap the X button if one appears.

Connecting to Wi-Fi and using the internet

Your tablet needs an internet connection to browse the web, send email, or stream videos. Most tablets connect through Wi-Fi, which is wireless internet. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings menu. Look for a Wi-Fi icon and tap it to see available networks near you. Select your home network (you'll need the password, which is usually on the back of your router or in your internet bill), type it in, and tap connect.

Once you're connected, open Safari, Chrome, or another web browser app. Tap the address bar at the top (it usually says "Search" or shows a web address), type what you're looking for, and tap the search button. The browser will show you results. Tap any link to visit that page. Use the back arrow at the top left to return to the previous page.

If the internet is slow or stops working, swipe down to open quick settings again, turn Wi-Fi off and back on, and wait a few seconds. If that doesn't work, restart your tablet by holding the power button until a power menu appears, then tap restart.

Adjusting brightness, volume, and other settings

Swipe down from the very top of the screen to see quick settings — a row of icons for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, and sound. Tap the brightness icon and drag the slider left to dim the screen or right to make it brighter. Tap the volume icon to adjust how loud your tablet plays sound, or use the physical volume buttons on the edge of the tablet.

For more detailed settings, find the Settings app (usually a gear icon) on your home screen and tap it. Inside, you can change the text size, turn notifications on or off, manage which apps can use your location, and set up accounts for email or social media. Scroll down through the list to find what you need. If you're not sure what something does, tap it to read a description.

One important setting is auto-lock: go to Settings, find Display or Screen, and look for an option to set how long the tablet waits before locking itself. Shorter times (like 2 or 5 minutes) save battery and protect your privacy if you leave the tablet unattended.

Charging your tablet and keeping the battery healthy

Your tablet has a rechargeable battery. Plug the charging cable into the port at the bottom or side of the tablet, and plug the other end into a wall outlet or USB power adapter. A charging icon (usually a lightning bolt or battery symbol) appears at the top of the screen. Most tablets take 2 to 4 hours to charge fully from empty.

To keep your battery lasting longer, lower the brightness when you're indoors, close apps you're not using, and turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you don't need them. Avoid letting the battery drain completely before charging — it's healthier to charge when the battery reaches 20 or 30 percent. If your tablet gets very hot while charging, unplug it and let it cool down before using it again.

Restart your tablet once a week by holding the power button until the power menu appears, then tapping restart. This clears temporary files and keeps the tablet running smoothly. If your tablet freezes or an app stops responding, restart it — this fixes most problems.

Typing and using the on-screen keyboard

When you tap a text field (like a search box or email message), a keyboard appears at the bottom of the screen. Tap each letter or number you want to type. The keyboard predicts words as you type — if you see the word you want, tap it to insert it instead of typing the whole thing. This saves time and reduces mistakes.

To type capital letters, tap the up arrow (shift key) once before tapping the letter, or tap it twice to lock capitals on. To delete a letter, tap the back arrow (delete key). To add a space, tap the space bar. To type punctuation or numbers, tap the .?123 key to switch to a different keyboard layout.

If typing on the tablet feels awkward, you can connect a wireless keyboard using Bluetooth. Go to Settings, find Bluetooth, turn it on, and follow the pairing instructions that came with your keyboard. Once paired, you can type like you would on a regular computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between swiping and scrolling?

Swiping moves between pages or apps — you drag your finger across the screen and it changes what you're looking at. Scrolling moves through content on the same page — you drag up or down to see more of a list, article, or webpage without changing apps. Both use the same finger motion, but scrolling keeps you in the same place.

How do I take a screenshot on my tablet?

Press the power button and volume-up button at the same time and hold for a second. You'll hear a camera sound and see a flash. The screenshot is saved to your Photos app. On some tablets, you swipe down from the top with three fingers instead. Check your tablet's manual if neither works.

What should I do if my tablet is frozen and won't respond?

Hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds until the screen goes black and the tablet restarts. Don't let go early. Once it turns back on, it should work normally. If it freezes again, restart it again. If freezing keeps happening, go to Settings and look for an option to clear cache or reset the tablet.

Can I connect my tablet to a printer?

Yes. Make sure your printer is on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your tablet. Open the document or photo you want to print, tap the share or menu button, and look for a print option. Select your printer and tap print. Some older printers need a special app — check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's website.

How often should I restart my tablet?

Restart it once a week to keep it running smoothly and prevent slowdowns. If your tablet feels sluggish, an app crashes, or the internet stops working, restart it right away. Restarting clears temporary files and gives the system a fresh start without erasing your photos, messages, or other data.