Phone basics: contacts, email, SMS, ringtones and location

Save and call a contact

Open Contacts, choose + or Create contact, enter the name and number, then Save or Done. If asked where to save it, choose the account you want to use for contact syncing. Store overseas numbers in international format; for an Australian mobile, +61 replaces the first 0. Open the saved contact and tap its call button. On a tablet, ordinary phone calls require supported hardware or a calling service.

Official details: Google Contacts: adding contacts ↗ · Apple: create and use contacts ↗

Send and reply to a text

Open Messages or Google Messages and choose New message, Compose or Start chat. Enter a phone number or select your saved contact, type a short message and check the recipient before Send. To reply, open the existing conversation. SMS uses your mobile service; internet chat features such as RCS or iMessage have different connection requirements. Pictures may use MMS or internet data and can have different charges. A Wi-Fi-only tablet is not automatically an SMS phone.

Official details: Google Messages: send and read messages ↗ · Apple: Messages basics ↗

Add an email account

1. Have your full email address, account password and approved second sign-in method ready.
2. In Gmail, tap your profile picture → Add another account and choose the correct provider. On recent iPhones using Apple Mail, open Settings → Apps → Mail → Mail Accounts → Add Account.
3. Complete the provider’s genuine sign-in flow. If it fails, use that provider’s recovery help; do not guess server or security settings.
4. Send a short test email to yourself and check both Sent and Inbox. Use Compose for a new message and Reply within a received message.

Official details: Gmail: add another account ↗ · Apple: Mail account setup ↗

Change a ringtone

Android: Settings → Sound & vibration → Ringtone (Samsung often calls this Sounds and vibration). Choose a tone and save if prompted. iPhone: Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Ringtone. Ring, media and alarm volumes can be separate. Our Ringtone Maker creates an MP3 clip; some Android phones can select it through their ringtone picker. iPhone custom tones require an additional supported import process, such as GarageBand—the downloaded MP3 does not install itself.

Official details: Android: volume and ringtone settings ↗ · Apple: tones and ringtones ↗

Choose location permissions

Android: Settings → Location → App location permissions. iPhone: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services, then select an app. Choose a permission that fits its purpose, such as only while using it, and review precise location if offered. Restricting location can affect navigation and nearby results. A location permission is different from changing your weather city: on Brisbane weather, use the pencil to save a chosen place.

Official details: Android: location permissions ↗ · Apple: Location Services ↗

Understand mobile data and roaming

Mobile data uses the SIM’s network; Wi-Fi is a separate connection. Roaming lets a SIM use a partner network away from its home network and may cost extra. On iPhone, look in Settings → Mobile/Mobile Data → the chosen SIM or Mobile Data Options → Data Roaming. Android menus often use Connections → Mobile networks or Network & internet → SIMs. Change the correct SIM, and confirm your provider’s pack before enabling it. Turning off data roaming does not necessarily block charged calls or texts; see overseas roaming.

Official details: Apple: data roaming ↗

A short practice session with a trusted person

Take one task at a time and write down the menu path that works on your device. Do not use a real payment, bank verification code or sensitive attachment as a practice message. If an online step fails, start with Wi-Fi connections rather than deleting the account.

1. Create a clearly named test contact and call them.
2. Send a brief message, wait for the reply and practise finding the conversation again.
3. Send an email to yourself, then find it in both Sent and Inbox.
4. Change a built-in ringtone and make a test call to check ring volume.