If you’ve ever felt frustrated trying to figure out your phone or computer, you’re not alone. These are the ten questions we hear most often from people navigating technology – and the simple solutions that actually work.
1. How do I make the text bigger on my phone?
For iPhone: Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then tap Text Size. You’ll see a slider – drag it to the right to make text larger. When it looks good to you, just tap the back arrow. The changes happen automatically.
For Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen and tap the gear icon to open Settings. Look for Display, then Font Size. Move the slider to the right until the text is comfortable to read.
Pro tip: If you want even bolder text on iPhone, go back to Display & Brightness and turn on Bold Text. Your phone will restart, but everything will be thicker and easier to see.
2. How do I block spam calls?
The easiest way on iPhone: When you get a call from a number you want to block, open your Phone app and tap Recents. Find that number, tap the little “i” next to it, scroll all the way down, and tap “Block this Caller” in red. Confirm by tapping “Block Contact.” That number won’t be able to call, text, or FaceTime you anymore.
On most Android phones: Open your Phone app, find the number in your recent calls, tap it, then tap “Block” or “Block/report spam.” The exact wording varies by phone, but it’s usually right there when you tap on the number.
Even better: On iPhone, you can silence ALL unknown callers by going to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. Turn that on, and only people in your contacts will ring through. Everyone else goes straight to voicemail.
3. Why is my phone storage full?
Your phone stores everything – photos, apps, messages, emails. Over time, it fills up.
Quick fix for iPhone: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Wait a moment for it to load. You’ll see what’s taking up space. Usually it’s Photos. Tap on Photos and look for “Review Large Attachments” or “Review Personal Videos” – these show your biggest files. Delete what you don’t need anymore.
Quick fix for Android: Go to Settings > Storage. Tap “Free up space” and it will show you what you can delete – old downloads, apps you don’t use, backed-up photos.
Long-term solution: Back up your photos to Google Photos (free) or iCloud, then delete them from your phone. They’ll still be accessible online, but they won’t take up phone space.
4. How do I unsubscribe from unwanted emails?
Open the email you want to stop receiving. Scroll all the way to the very bottom – past everything. Look for tiny text that says “Unsubscribe” (it’s often gray and easy to miss). Tap that link. It will take you to a page that says something like “You’ve been unsubscribed” or asks you to confirm. Follow the steps.
Important: Only click “Unsubscribe” on emails from real companies you recognize. If you get a weird email from someone you don’t know, don’t click anything – just delete it or mark it as spam.
Pro tip: Do this for 2-3 emails every day instead of trying to do them all at once. Within a couple weeks, you’ll notice way fewer emails cluttering your inbox.
5. How do I attach a photo to a text message?
On iPhone: Open Messages and start a new message (or open an existing conversation). Look for the camera icon or a “+” symbol near where you type. Tap that. You’ll see options – tap “Photo Library” (or it might just show your recent photos). Pick the photo you want, then tap the blue arrow to send.
On Android: Open your Messages app and start a conversation. Look for a paperclip icon, a “+” sign, or a photo icon. Tap it, choose the photo from your gallery, then tap send.
Common confusion: If you don’t see your photos, you might need to give the Messages app permission to access your photos. Your phone will usually ask you the first time – tap “Allow.”
6. How do I connect to WiFi?
On iPhone: Go to Settings (the gray gear icon). Tap Wi-Fi at the top. Make sure the switch is green (on). You’ll see a list of available networks. Tap the name of your home WiFi network. If it asks for a password, type it in carefully (it’s case-sensitive – capital letters matter). Tap “Join.” If it connects, you’ll see a checkmark next to the network name.
On Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen. Look for the WiFi symbol and tap it (or long-press it to open WiFi settings). Make sure WiFi is turned on. Tap your network name, enter the password if needed, and tap “Connect.”
Can’t remember your WiFi password? It’s often printed on a sticker on your router (the box your internet company gave you). Or call a family member who helped set it up – they might have it written down.
7. How do I update my phone without breaking anything?
Updates are important for security, but they can feel scary. Here’s how to do it safely:
On iPhone: Plug your phone into the charger (updates can take a while and drain battery). Connect to WiFi. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap “Download and Install.” Your phone will do the rest. It might restart a few times – that’s normal. Don’t worry, you won’t lose anything.
On Android: Plug in your charger and connect to WiFi. Go to Settings > System > System Update (the exact path varies by phone). If there’s an update, tap “Download and Install.” Your phone will restart when it’s done.
What you won’t lose: Your photos, contacts, apps, and messages all stay exactly where they are. Updates just improve how your phone works.
8. How do I make a video call (FaceTime)?
On iPhone: Open the FaceTime app (green icon with a video camera). At the top, tap the search box and type the name of the person you want to call – they need to be in your contacts. When their name appears, tap it. Then tap the video camera icon to start a video call. When they answer, you’ll see them on your screen.
Want to see yourself instead of them for a moment? Tap the small box showing you (usually in the corner) and it will switch views.
To end the call: Tap the red phone icon at the bottom.
On Android: Most Android phones use Google Duo or another video app. Open the app, find the person’s name, and tap the video camera icon. The steps are similar.
9. Why do I have so many unread emails?
This happens to everyone. Here’s the fastest way to deal with it:
The “Mark All as Read” approach: If you have thousands of old emails you’ll never read, it’s okay to just mark them all as read and start fresh. In most email apps, you can select all emails and mark them as read. Then going forward, only deal with new ones.
The “Unsubscribe as You Go” approach: Every day, unsubscribe from 3-5 newsletters or store emails you don’t want. Within a few weeks, you’ll get way fewer emails and it won’t pile up as fast.
Don’t feel bad about deleting old emails. If you haven’t looked at it in 6 months, you probably don’t need it.
10. How do I know if an email is a scam?
Great question. Here are the red flags:
It’s probably a scam if:
- It says your account is “suspended” or “locked” and you need to click a link right away
- It asks for your password, Social Security number, or credit card info
- It says you won a contest you never entered
- The email address looks weird (like “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com”)
- There are lots of spelling mistakes
- It pressures you to act “immediately” or “within 24 hours”
What to do: Don’t click any links. Don’t reply. Just delete it. If you’re unsure whether an email is real, call the company directly using a phone number you find on their official website – not the number in the email.
Real companies will never ask for your password in an email.
Still Have Questions?
These are just the most common tech questions we hear. If you’re dealing with something else – or if you tried these steps and got stuck – that’s exactly what Tessa is here for.
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