Basic iPad Lessons to Teach You the iPad

Unbox and Set Up Your iPad

When you first unbox an iPad, getting to know the physical buttons, charging cables and options, setting up iCloud access, Wi-Fi, and other settings are helpful first steps.

If your model has a Home button, a circular button at the bottom of the device, you can use it to return to the Home screen, switch between apps, and take screenshots.

Models with a fingerprint sensor built in to the Home button also serve as a method for unlocking the device with Touch ID.

If your iPad supports it, another important setup step is connecting an Apple Pencil via a USB-C or Lightning cable or from the magnetic rest on the side of the tablet.

Organize iPad Apps

The iPad comes with numerous built-in apps, just like iPhones and Macs, which you can arrange and organize as you please.

Did you know you can create a folder on your iPad and fill it with apps? Folder creation is as simple as dragging one app on top of another. You can rename folders, add and remove apps, or delete the folder if you don't want to use it anymore.

To customize the apps that appear in your Dock, drag and drop app icons as you would for folder organization. You can also add widgets to your iPad to get at-a-glance info or interact with your most frequently used apps.

Learn About the Best Uses for the iPad

The iPad has a lot of cool uses that most of us might not ever think of on our own such as using it as a portable TV, as a photo album or even as a GPS device for the car.

Use this guide to spark your creativity and consider different ways that you might use the iPad both around the house and on the go.

Let Siri Help You Be More Productive

Once you really get to know Siri, the voice-recognition personal assistant living inside your tablet, it can become indispensable. 

Perhaps the easiest way to use Siri is to tell it to open an app by saying, "Launch app name" or play music by saying, "Play The Beatles." But Siri can do much, much more than that if you know how to ask.

Shop Free iPad Apps

This collection of apps covers topics including streaming high-quality movies, listening to the radio, light gaming, and studying.

There's an app for almost everyone in this list, and best of all, these apps are absolutely free. So even if you don't like one of these recommendations, it won't cost you a dime. 

Learn Hidden Tips Every iPad Owner Should Know

If your new to the iPad, some of the device's abilities are a little more hidden and less talked about than others.

For example, you can ask your iPad to read text to you, forego the scroll bar when navigating the web, multi-task with Split View, and use your iPad as a second monitor.

Organize Your Life Using the iPad

The iPad can be a wonderful organizational tool capable of assisting you with your daily tasks.

Use the Reminders app with the help of Siri to remind you to take out the trash, task the Calendar app to keep up with your busy schedule, or use Notes or a third-party app to help you keep your tasks organized by quickly making to-do lists.

Childproof Your iPad

Whether you are buying an iPad for a child or if your kid is simply going to be using your iPad, it is important to know how to lock down the device. 

Protecting your iPad might be as simple as disabling in-app purchases or restricting the Safari web browser from bringing up adult websites. Both of these safeguards can be great protections for your child and still allow you to use the iPad without much notice of the restrictions. 

Childproofing can be as thorough as only allowing "G" rated apps, music and movies, completely disabling the App Store, blocking apps like FaceTime and iMessage, and even using Screen Time to limit how long kids can use the tablet per day.