iPhone and iPad Basics, Second Edition

Master the fundamentals of your iPhone or iPad

Version 2.0, updated September 15, 2025

iPhones and iPads were intended to be easy to use, but over the years, a lot of complexity has crept in. As a result, most of us—even those who have been using these devices for years—jump through unnecessary hoops to perform basic tasks and overlook helpful but less-than-obvious features. This book walks you through everything you need to know to navigate your device with ease.

Apple doesn't include an instruction manual with iPhones or iPads, assuming that you'll search the web to learn how to do anything you can't easily figure out. That's a pity, because it spells frustration for new users and means a great deal of your fancy device's power may go unused. Glenn Fleishman is here to help with iPhone and iPad Basics, a friendly guide to all the information Apple never gave you.

Do you know the difference between the Lock Screen and the Home Screen? What Control Center is and how to customize it? How to use a share sheet? What to do when you get too many annoying notifications? How to find apps in a sea of icons? Ways to run multiple apps at the same time on an iPad? Those are just a few of the topics Glenn explains in detail.

You'll learn about:

• Terms and concepts: The names and meanings of important interface elements

• Hardware controls: What all the physical controls do, plus charging options and the StandBy feature for iPhones

• Cameras: Use the front- and rear-facing cameras on your iPhone or iPad

• Customization: Configure the Lock Screen, Home Screen, Dock, Control Center, and innumerable settings to your liking

• Apps: What all of Apple's built-in apps do, how to add new apps, and how to switch between apps

• Finding stuff: Use Spotlight to find apps, files, contacts, and more

• Siri: How to use your voice to interact with your iPhone or iPad

• Keyboards: All the tricks of the on-screen keyboard, plus what you can do with an external keyboard

• Sharing: Share nearly any sort of information on your device with other people or services using the share sheet

• Focus settings: Avoiding distractions with enhanced "Do Not Disturb" features

• Special iPad features: How to multitask on an iPad and more

• Switching from Android: Tips for moving to an iPhone or iPad from an Android device

This book keeps its focus on basics, deliberately avoiding advanced topics. Rather than serving as a comprehensive reference guide, it helps you find your footing and helping you feel confident with the major capabilities of your iPhone or iPad.