Your iPhone is doing something strange. The text is tiny, the ringer is silent, or an app will not open. AI can walk you through the fix, and one small change to your question makes it much easier to follow.
When this helps
Use this for any phone, tablet, or computer problem you would normally ask a grandchild about. Common ones: making text bigger, turning the ringer back on, freeing up storage, connecting to Wi-Fi, or turning off a setting that changed by accident.
Step by step
- Describe the problem in your own words. Say which device you have, for example "iPhone 13" or "iPad."
- Add the words below so the AI gives you only one step at a time.
- Do the step. Then type "done," or describe what you see on the screen.
- If a step does not match your screen, say so. The AI will adjust.
Copy these words
“My iPhone [describe the problem]. Walk me through fixing this one step at a time. Give me only the first step, and wait until I say done before giving me the next one.”
Fill in anything in [brackets] with your own details, then send.
Good follow-up questions
- "I don't see that button. Here is what I see: [describe it]."
- "Explain what that setting does before I change it."
- "How do I undo what we just did?"
Before you trust the answer
Menus change between phone models and software versions, so the AI's description might not match your screen exactly. To find your version on an iPhone, open Settings, then General, then About. Tell the AI the version number for more accurate steps. Never give AI your Apple ID password or a verification code.
Frequently asked questions
Why ask for one step at a time?
A list of ten steps is hard to follow on a small screen, and you lose your place when you switch between apps. One step at a time lets you check each one before moving on.
Can I use this for Android phones and computers?
Yes. Name your device in the first sentence, for example "My Samsung Galaxy phone" or "My Windows laptop."
Can the AI see my phone screen?
No. It only knows what you tell it. You can send a screenshot of the screen to show it what you see.
Get 5 more tasks like this, free
The free guide 5 Everyday Things AI Can Help You With gives you one task per page in large print, with the exact words to copy and a list of what to never give AI.
About the author: Nelson Lopatin
Nelson has worked on the internet since 1995 and runs US WebSites in the Rochester, NY area. He writes Easy AI for Seniors in plain English so adults 55 and older learn AI at their own pace.