A New User"s Guide to the iPad
Learning the iPad Basics
You've bought your iPad and gone through the steps to set it up so that it is ready to use. Now what?
For new iPad users who have never owned an iPhone or iPod Touch, simple things like finding good apps, installing them, organizing them or even deleting them might seem like an insurmountable task. Luckily, there is iPad 101. The lessons in iPad 101 are targeted at the new user who needs help doing the basics, like navigating the iPad, finding apps, downloading them, organizing them or simply getting into the iPad settings.
Ready to get started with the training?
First: Let's learn about basic iPad navigation.
Note: Apple made significant changes to the iPad with the iOS 7 update. If you have not updated to the latest operating system, you can get help on how to do so by clicking here.
Want to learn more? You can also sign up for a 4-day email training course that will cover the iPad basics from how to download your first app to how to personalize your iPad.
--- Go to the First Lesson -->
iPad Navigation and Using the iPad Home Button
Most navigation on the iPad is done with simple touch gestures, such as touching an icon to launch the application or swiping your finger left or right across the screen to move from one screen of icons to the next. These same gestures can do different things based on the application your are in, and usually, they have their roots in common sense.
For example, while swiping your finger across the screen will move you from one screen full of application icons when you are at the iPad's home screen, the same gesture will move you from one page of a book to the next while in the iBooks application.
In addition to tapping the screen and moving your finger across the screen, you will occasionally need to touch the screen and hold your finger down. For example, when you touch your finger against an application icon and keep your finger held down, you will enter a mode that allows you to move the icon to a different part of the screen.
Don't forget the about the iPad Home Button
Apple's design is to have as few buttons on the exterior of the iPad as possible, and one of the few buttons on the outside is the Home Button. This is the circular button at the bottom of the iPad with square in the middle. (Read more about the Home Button including a diagram pointing it out on the iPad)
The Home Button is used to wake the iPad when it is sleeping. It is also used to exit out of applications, and if you have put the iPad into a special mode (such as the mode that allows you to move application icons), the home button is used to exit that mode.
You can think of the Home Button as the "Go Home" button.
Whether your iPad is sleeping or you are inside of an application, it will take you to the home screen.
Next: Learn how to find iPad apps.
How to Find iPad Apps
With over 725,000 apps designed for the iPad and many more compatible iPhone apps, you can imagine that finding a good app can sometimes be like finding a needle in a haystack. Luckily, there are several ways to help you find the best apps.
One great way to find quality apps is to use Google rather than searching the App Store directly. For example,if you want to find the best puzzle games, doing a search on Google for "best ipad puzzle games" will yield better results than going through page after page of apps in the App Store.
Simply go to Google and put "best ipad" followed by the type of app you are interested in finding. Once you've targeted a particular app, you can search for it in the App Store. (And many lists will contain a link directly to the app in the App Store.)
Read Now: The First iPad Apps You Should Download
But Google won't always yield the best results, so here are a few other tips for finding great apps:
Next: Learn how to install iPad apps.
How to Install iPad Apps
Once you've found your app, you'll need to install it on your iPad. This requires a few steps and consists of the iPad both downloading and installing the app on the device. When it is finished, the app's icon will appear towards the end of your other apps on the iPad's home screen. While the app is still downloading or installing, the icon will be disabled.
To download an app, first touch the price tag button, which is located near the top of the screen just to the right of the app's icon.
Free apps will read "GET" or "FREE" instead of displaying a price. After you've touched the button, the outline will turn green and read "INSTALL" or "BUY". Touch the button again to start the install process.
You may be prompted for your Apple ID password. This can occur even if the app you are downloading is free. By default, the iPad will prompt you to enter a password if you haven't downloaded an app within the last 15 minutes. So, you can download several apps at one time and only need to enter your password once, but if you wait too long, you will need to enter it again. This process is designed to protect you in case someone picks up your iPad and attempts to download a bunch of apps without your permission.
Want more help downloading apps? This guide will walk you through the process.
Next: Learn how to move iPad apps.
How to Move iPad Apps
Once you have downloaded an app from the App Store, the iPad may put it on a second screen. You can switch between screens by swiping your finger across the iPad, but you may want to move the app to the first screen so you can get at it quicker.
You can move an iPad app by placing your finger on the app's icon and holding it down until all of the icons on the screen start jiggling. (Some icons will also show a black circle with an x in the middle.)
We will call this the "move state". While your iPad is in the move state, you can move icons by holding your finger down on top of them and simply moving your finger. The icon will move with your finger so long as you keep your finger on the screen.
To move the iPad app to another screen, hold your finger down on the icon to initiate the move, and then slide your finger to the edge of the screen. You will want to stop at the spot on the screen where the display gives way to the black edge of the iPad. (If you move your finger onto that black edge, the iPad will not recognize where your finger is placed.)
If you move the app's icon to the left side of the display, the iPad will shift to the screen to the left. If you move the icon to the right side of the display, it will shift to the screen to the right.
To place the app's icon, simply lift up your finger.
When you are finished moving iPad apps, you can leave the "move state" by clicking the Home Button. Remember, this button is one of the few physical buttons on the iPad and is used to let you exit from what you are doing on the iPad.
Next: Learn how to delete iPad apps.
How to Delete iPad Apps
You can delete an iPad app similar to how you would move the icon for an iPad app. First, tap and hold the icon until all of the icons on the screen are jiggling. This is the "move state" from the Moving Apps tutorial. When in this state, some of the icons will have a black circle at the top with an "x" in the middle.
Simply tap the "x" button to delete an app. Don't worry about accidentally deleting an app.
The iPad will confirm your choice before the app is actually deleted.
How to Fix a Slow iPad
What about apps that do not have an "x" button?
You are not allowed to delete the default applications that came installed on your iPad. These include the Calender, Contacts, iTunes, App Store, Game Center, etc. You can remove some of these applications by enabling parental controls on your iPad. Find out how to enable parental controls.
Next: Learn how to create folders to organize your iPad apps.
You can also create a folder of icons on the iPad screen. To do this, enter the "move state" by touching an iPad app and holding your finger down on it until the app icons are jiggling.
If you recall from the tutorial on moving apps, you can move an app around the screen by keeping your finger pressed down to the icon and moving the finger on the display.
You can create a folder by 'dropping' an app on top of another app.
Notice that when you move an application's icon on top of another app, that app is highlighted by a square. This indicates that you can create a folder by lifting your finger, thereby dropping the icon on it. And you can put other icons in the folder by dragging them to the folder and dropping them on it. (Watch Video)
When you create a folder, you will see a title bar with the name of the folder on it and all of the contents below it. If you want to rename the folder, simply touch the title area and type in a new name using the on-screen keyboard. (The iPad will try to give the folder a smart name based on the functionality of the apps you have combined.)
In the future, you can just tap the folder icon to get access to those apps. When you are in the folder and want to exit out of it, simply press the iPad home button. The home is used to exit out of whatever task you are currently doing on the iPad.
The Best Free Apps for the iPad
Hint: When you are moving an app from one screen to the next, it can be difficult to create a folder. This is because the iPad wants to rearrange the icons on the new screen to fit your new app onto it. So it is easiest to just drop the icon on its new screen, and then pick it up again to create a new folder.
Next: How to Learn More About the iPad.
Now that you have the basics out of the way, you can dive right into the best part of the iPad: using it! And if you need ideas on how you can get the most out of it, read about all the great uses for the iPad.
Still confused by some of the basics? Take a guided tour of the iPad. Ready to take it a step further? Find out how you can personalize your iPad by choosing a unique background image for it.
Want to connect your iPad to your TV? You'll know find out how in this guide. Want to know what to watch once you have it connected? There are a number of great apps to stream movies and TV shows available for the iPad. You can even stream movies from iTunes on your PC to your iPad.
How about games? Not only are there a number of great free games for the iPad, but we also have a guide to the best iPad games.
Games not your thing? You can check out 25 must-have (and free!) apps to download or just look through our guide to the best apps.
Want to learn more? Be sure to check out the iPad blog and sign up for the iPad Newsletter.
You've bought your iPad and gone through the steps to set it up so that it is ready to use. Now what?
For new iPad users who have never owned an iPhone or iPod Touch, simple things like finding good apps, installing them, organizing them or even deleting them might seem like an insurmountable task. Luckily, there is iPad 101. The lessons in iPad 101 are targeted at the new user who needs help doing the basics, like navigating the iPad, finding apps, downloading them, organizing them or simply getting into the iPad settings.
Ready to get started with the training?
First: Let's learn about basic iPad navigation.
Note: Apple made significant changes to the iPad with the iOS 7 update. If you have not updated to the latest operating system, you can get help on how to do so by clicking here.
Want to learn more? You can also sign up for a 4-day email training course that will cover the iPad basics from how to download your first app to how to personalize your iPad.
--- Go to the First Lesson -->
iPad Navigation and Using the iPad Home Button
Most navigation on the iPad is done with simple touch gestures, such as touching an icon to launch the application or swiping your finger left or right across the screen to move from one screen of icons to the next. These same gestures can do different things based on the application your are in, and usually, they have their roots in common sense.
For example, while swiping your finger across the screen will move you from one screen full of application icons when you are at the iPad's home screen, the same gesture will move you from one page of a book to the next while in the iBooks application.
In addition to tapping the screen and moving your finger across the screen, you will occasionally need to touch the screen and hold your finger down. For example, when you touch your finger against an application icon and keep your finger held down, you will enter a mode that allows you to move the icon to a different part of the screen.
Don't forget the about the iPad Home Button
Apple's design is to have as few buttons on the exterior of the iPad as possible, and one of the few buttons on the outside is the Home Button. This is the circular button at the bottom of the iPad with square in the middle. (Read more about the Home Button including a diagram pointing it out on the iPad)
The Home Button is used to wake the iPad when it is sleeping. It is also used to exit out of applications, and if you have put the iPad into a special mode (such as the mode that allows you to move application icons), the home button is used to exit that mode.
You can think of the Home Button as the "Go Home" button.
Whether your iPad is sleeping or you are inside of an application, it will take you to the home screen.
Next: Learn how to find iPad apps.
How to Find iPad Apps
With over 725,000 apps designed for the iPad and many more compatible iPhone apps, you can imagine that finding a good app can sometimes be like finding a needle in a haystack. Luckily, there are several ways to help you find the best apps.
One great way to find quality apps is to use Google rather than searching the App Store directly. For example,if you want to find the best puzzle games, doing a search on Google for "best ipad puzzle games" will yield better results than going through page after page of apps in the App Store.
Simply go to Google and put "best ipad" followed by the type of app you are interested in finding. Once you've targeted a particular app, you can search for it in the App Store. (And many lists will contain a link directly to the app in the App Store.)
Read Now: The First iPad Apps You Should Download
But Google won't always yield the best results, so here are a few other tips for finding great apps:
- Featured Apps. The first tab on the toolbar at the bottom of the App Store is for featured apps. Apple has chosen these apps as the best of their kind, so you know they are of higher quality. In addition to the featured apps, you'll be able to see the new and noteworthy list and the Apple staff favorites.
- Top Charts. While popularity doesn't always mean quality, it's a great place to look. The Top Charts are divided into multiple categories that you can choose from the top-right side of the App Store. Once you've chosen the category, you can show more than the top apps by swiping your finger from the bottom of the list towards the top. This gesture is commonly used on the iPad to scroll down lists or down the page on a website.
- Sort By Customer Rating. No matter where you are in the App Store, you can always search for an app by typing into the search box in the top-right corner. By default, your results will sort by 'most relevant', which might help you to find a specific app, but doesn't take into account quality. A good way to find the better apps is to choose to sort by the ratings given by customers. You can do this by tapping "By Relevance" at the top of the screen and choosing "By Rating". Remember to look at both the rating and how many times it has been rated. A 4-star app that has been rated 100 times is far more reliable than a 5-star app that has only been rated 6 times.
- Read Our Guide. If you are just getting started, I've put together a list of the best free iPad apps, which includes many must-have iPad apps. You can also check out the full guide to the best iPad apps.
Next: Learn how to install iPad apps.
How to Install iPad Apps
Once you've found your app, you'll need to install it on your iPad. This requires a few steps and consists of the iPad both downloading and installing the app on the device. When it is finished, the app's icon will appear towards the end of your other apps on the iPad's home screen. While the app is still downloading or installing, the icon will be disabled.
To download an app, first touch the price tag button, which is located near the top of the screen just to the right of the app's icon.
Free apps will read "GET" or "FREE" instead of displaying a price. After you've touched the button, the outline will turn green and read "INSTALL" or "BUY". Touch the button again to start the install process.
You may be prompted for your Apple ID password. This can occur even if the app you are downloading is free. By default, the iPad will prompt you to enter a password if you haven't downloaded an app within the last 15 minutes. So, you can download several apps at one time and only need to enter your password once, but if you wait too long, you will need to enter it again. This process is designed to protect you in case someone picks up your iPad and attempts to download a bunch of apps without your permission.
Want more help downloading apps? This guide will walk you through the process.
Next: Learn how to move iPad apps.
How to Move iPad Apps
Once you have downloaded an app from the App Store, the iPad may put it on a second screen. You can switch between screens by swiping your finger across the iPad, but you may want to move the app to the first screen so you can get at it quicker.
You can move an iPad app by placing your finger on the app's icon and holding it down until all of the icons on the screen start jiggling. (Some icons will also show a black circle with an x in the middle.)
We will call this the "move state". While your iPad is in the move state, you can move icons by holding your finger down on top of them and simply moving your finger. The icon will move with your finger so long as you keep your finger on the screen.
To move the iPad app to another screen, hold your finger down on the icon to initiate the move, and then slide your finger to the edge of the screen. You will want to stop at the spot on the screen where the display gives way to the black edge of the iPad. (If you move your finger onto that black edge, the iPad will not recognize where your finger is placed.)
If you move the app's icon to the left side of the display, the iPad will shift to the screen to the left. If you move the icon to the right side of the display, it will shift to the screen to the right.
To place the app's icon, simply lift up your finger.
When you are finished moving iPad apps, you can leave the "move state" by clicking the Home Button. Remember, this button is one of the few physical buttons on the iPad and is used to let you exit from what you are doing on the iPad.
Next: Learn how to delete iPad apps.
How to Delete iPad Apps
You can delete an iPad app similar to how you would move the icon for an iPad app. First, tap and hold the icon until all of the icons on the screen are jiggling. This is the "move state" from the Moving Apps tutorial. When in this state, some of the icons will have a black circle at the top with an "x" in the middle.
Simply tap the "x" button to delete an app. Don't worry about accidentally deleting an app.
The iPad will confirm your choice before the app is actually deleted.
How to Fix a Slow iPad
What about apps that do not have an "x" button?
You are not allowed to delete the default applications that came installed on your iPad. These include the Calender, Contacts, iTunes, App Store, Game Center, etc. You can remove some of these applications by enabling parental controls on your iPad. Find out how to enable parental controls.
Next: Learn how to create folders to organize your iPad apps.
You can also create a folder of icons on the iPad screen. To do this, enter the "move state" by touching an iPad app and holding your finger down on it until the app icons are jiggling.
If you recall from the tutorial on moving apps, you can move an app around the screen by keeping your finger pressed down to the icon and moving the finger on the display.
You can create a folder by 'dropping' an app on top of another app.
Notice that when you move an application's icon on top of another app, that app is highlighted by a square. This indicates that you can create a folder by lifting your finger, thereby dropping the icon on it. And you can put other icons in the folder by dragging them to the folder and dropping them on it. (Watch Video)
When you create a folder, you will see a title bar with the name of the folder on it and all of the contents below it. If you want to rename the folder, simply touch the title area and type in a new name using the on-screen keyboard. (The iPad will try to give the folder a smart name based on the functionality of the apps you have combined.)
In the future, you can just tap the folder icon to get access to those apps. When you are in the folder and want to exit out of it, simply press the iPad home button. The home is used to exit out of whatever task you are currently doing on the iPad.
The Best Free Apps for the iPad
Hint: When you are moving an app from one screen to the next, it can be difficult to create a folder. This is because the iPad wants to rearrange the icons on the new screen to fit your new app onto it. So it is easiest to just drop the icon on its new screen, and then pick it up again to create a new folder.
Next: How to Learn More About the iPad.
Now that you have the basics out of the way, you can dive right into the best part of the iPad: using it! And if you need ideas on how you can get the most out of it, read about all the great uses for the iPad.
Still confused by some of the basics? Take a guided tour of the iPad. Ready to take it a step further? Find out how you can personalize your iPad by choosing a unique background image for it.
Want to connect your iPad to your TV? You'll know find out how in this guide. Want to know what to watch once you have it connected? There are a number of great apps to stream movies and TV shows available for the iPad. You can even stream movies from iTunes on your PC to your iPad.
How about games? Not only are there a number of great free games for the iPad, but we also have a guide to the best iPad games.
Games not your thing? You can check out 25 must-have (and free!) apps to download or just look through our guide to the best apps.
Want to learn more? Be sure to check out the iPad blog and sign up for the iPad Newsletter.
