How to Solve Your Parents’ Tech Problems from Home: A Simple Guide
Have you ever found yourself making the long drive to a loved one’s house just to fix a minor tech issue? Well, here’s a game-changing tip: you don’t have to! With just a simple FaceTime call, you can assist them from the comfort of your couch. Let’s dive in!
(Note: You can find this video tutorial with screenshots on your favorite platform: Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok.)
The Benefits of Remote Tech Support
If you have older parents who often turn to you for tech support, this method will save you time, gas, and frustration. Not only is it convenient, but it’s also super easy once you get the hang of it.
What You Need to Help:
- Apple Devices Only: This tutorial is specifically for Apple devices, such as iPhones and iPads. If your parents are not very tech-savvy, I always recommend sticking to iPhones. They are user-friendly and can help avoid many headaches.
- Reboot First: Before diving into troubleshooting, remind your parents to turn their phone off and back on. A simple reboot can resolve many issues.
- Don’t Stress: If you’re the one receiving help, don’t worry about understanding everything. Just focus on the instructions provided, and you can always share or tag others in this guide for additional help.
Screen Sharing with FaceTime
- Initiate a FaceTime Call: Start by calling the person you want to help. There’s no need for additional apps—FaceTime is built into every iPhone.
- Access Screen Sharing: During the call, have them look for the button that appears cloudy with three dots. Once they tap it, a menu will pop up with various options, including screen sharing.
- Share Your Screen: They will need to select “Share” when prompted. Sometimes, they may not see the command right away, especially if they’re holding the phone up to their ear. Be patient and guide them to tap the share button.
- Try Again if Necessary: If they dismiss the share request, you may need to ask them to initiate screen sharing again or even restart the call.
Taking Control of Their Phone Remotely
Once screen sharing is successful, you’ll see their screen. Here’s what to do next:
- Navigate Their Phone: You’ll be able to move around their screen, accessing settings, apps, and more. This means you can check battery percentages, adjust settings, and even order food directly for them.
- Interact Seamlessly: Depending on the model, you might need to adapt how you interact with their screen—whether through physical buttons or swipe gestures.
- From there, you can see have them show you whatever needs to be done, and you can control the phone so you can do the action if they don’t understand how.
Examples of Actions to Control Remotely
You can fix settings, install or delete apps, fix a setting on apps that they don’t like, set up GPS routes for them, you can input a Chick-fil-A order for them to pick up, input a DoorDash order, correct their location on the Weather App, pull up a website, close their apps (!) lol, and many others. The possibilities are endless!
Wrapping Up
Once you’ve resolved the issue, simply end the call. This method empowers you to provide tech support without leaving your home, making life a lot easier for both you and your parents.
If you found this guide helpful or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment! Sharing is caring, so if you think this could help someone else, don’t hesitate to share it.
Thanks for reading! Happy tech troubleshooting!