Is your parent's phone set up safely?
Check off each item to see exactly how protected your parent's phone is — and what's still leaving them at risk. Covers iPhone and Android.
8 items · Takes about 5 minutes · Share with a sibling when done
Start checking items to see your progress
0%Large text & display size
Small text is one of the biggest sources of frustration. Larger text reduces mistakes, squinting, and dropped calls from mis-taps.
iPhone:
Settings → Display & Brightness → Text Size (drag right). Also enable Larger Accessibility Sizes under Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size.
Android:
Settings → Display → Font size & style → increase to Large or Extra Large.
Simplified home screen
A cluttered screen with dozens of apps is overwhelming. A clean screen with only the essential apps makes everything less stressful.
iPhone:
Use Focus Modes (Settings → Focus → Personal) to hide unused apps. Or delete rarely-used apps and put the 5–6 most important ones on page 1.
Android:
Long-press home screen → use a simple launcher (e.g. Doro or Big Launcher) or delete unused apps. Keep only Phone, Messages, Camera, and top 3 apps on the main screen.
Emergency contacts & Medical ID
If your parent is in an accident, first responders can access Medical ID even when the phone is locked. Family members should be in Favorites for one-tap calling.
iPhone:
Health app → your profile photo → Medical ID → fill in conditions, medications, emergency contacts, and check 'Show When Locked'. Also add family to Phone → Favorites.
Android:
Settings → Safety & emergency (or search 'emergency') → Emergency information. Add contacts and medical details. Add family to the dialer Favorites tab.
Scam & robocall blocking
Older adults receive far more scam calls than average. Even one answered scam call can lead to financial loss. Blocking at the carrier and app level is essential.
iPhone:
Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers (ON). Also add a free app like Hiya or Nomorobo from the App Store.
Android:
Phone app → Settings → Caller ID & spam → Filter spam calls (ON). Carrier apps like T-Mobile Scam Shield or AT&T ActiveArmor add extra protection.
Automatic updates enabled
Security patches come through software updates. A phone that never updates is an easy target for malware and has known vulnerabilities.
iPhone:
Settings → General → Software Update → Automatic Updates → turn on both 'Download iOS Updates' and 'Install iOS Updates'.
Android:
Settings → Software update → Auto download over Wi-Fi (ON). Also Settings → Google Play Store → Settings → Auto-update apps.
Trusted-contact / family sharing setup
A trusted adult child should be able to remotely help when something goes wrong — without a 20-minute phone call walking through menus.
iPhone:
Set up Family Sharing (Settings → [name] → Family Sharing) so you can share location and help remotely. Also enable Find My (Settings → [name] → Find My → Share My Location).
Android:
Google Family Link for parental oversight (if appropriate), or simply share location via Google Maps → Share Location with a family member permanently.
Screen lock & passcode
A phone without a passcode is an open door to private photos, banking apps, email, and contacts if it's ever lost or stolen.
iPhone:
Settings → Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode) → set a 6-digit PIN. Enable 'Require Passcode: Immediately'. Avoid simple codes like 1234.
Android:
Settings → Security → Screen lock → choose PIN (6+ digits) or Fingerprint. Set 'Lock after screen timeout: 30 seconds' or less.
Remote assistance enabled
When something goes wrong, being able to see or control the screen remotely saves an enormous amount of stress for both parent and child.
iPhone:
QuickSupport app (free, from App Store) lets a family member remotely view the screen. Apple's built-in Screen Sharing works in a FaceTime call (iOS 15+): during a FaceTime call, tap the share icon.
Android:
TeamViewer QuickSupport (free, from Play Store) allows full remote screen control with permission. Google Remote Desktop is another option.
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Tip: Click any item to check it off. Click the arrow to see step-by-step instructions for iPhone and Android.