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Husband and I both are clueless if problem comes up with our iPhones and laptop. Even when something goes wrong w/TV, we have to call tv service and hope that they can help us.

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Maybe get away from the Apple products and go with a more basic phone.
You could also ask around your neighborhood and find out if there is a older teen or other person that could be your "go to tech" person. That would cost you less than calling your tv service person. Although most "problems" can be handled with a rep on the phone they can talk you through most problems.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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You can self-solve many problems by going to YouTube and typing in a description of the device, the OS (operating system, like mine is Sequoia 15.6.1) and what the problem is. Almost everything has a YouTube tutorial for fixing things, even problems with your remote and tv (you need to know what models when you search for a tutorial).

But maybe you'd be better off buying Apple Care support. They give excellent real-person help and are *very* patient with people who aren't "techies". I've been using only Apple products in our family graphics/marketing business since 1989 and still have laptops, iPhones, iPads, etc.

It may turn out that your devices are too old to be able to purchase Apple Care support. If you live in a metro area, many malls have an Apple Store where you can take classes. The last time I went to my Apple Store, many of the tech assistants were my age or older (66+).

Sometimes you can post your issue on Nextdoor.com. I've participated on many posts where someone is having a tech problem and people in their community respond with advice, and sometimes they meet up (since Nextdoor is a non-anonymous intranet of people on your actual block, your town, your local area).

I hope this helps!
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Reply to Geaton777
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JuliaH Oct 14, 2025
I like your info up to the point of meeting people for help. This is where seniors become vulnerable. We don't know who's out there and the information/ property that they can steal from us. I wouldn't trust someone that I just met even in a public place, because they could access my accounts. I do the YouTube tutorials!
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Do know also that there is a of tech support out there often at your local library. Mine is FULL of tech support for phones, laptops and etc. Many classes. Many stop ins.

Check out AARP also for tech support and people to talk with.

Geaton here is out Iphone go to, so reread any advice she gives you.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Do know also that there is a of tech support out there often at your local library. Mine is FULL of tech support for phones, laptops and etc. Many classes. Many stop ins.

Check out AARP also for tech support and people to talk with.

Geaton here is out Iphone go to, so reread any advice she gives you.

Do know that for some who are not tech savvy Lively Smartphone 4 is GREAT and EASY and I love mine. My partner, now 85 is switching from the more complicated iphone to one like mine just for the ease of it. During periodic visits from my daughter, an iphone junkie, he can get his all good on bells and whistles, but its harder for him to keep that level up when she's gone; we kind of just have to maneuver this brave new world best we can.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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I don't use Apple products. My stuff is Samsung. I use a tablet and phone. My daughter tells me to Google it. Google usually works. I have an OLD HP that Windows no longer supports.

I really can't imagine what kind of problems you could be having but there is usually an Apple store in every Mall.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Best Buy stores have the "geek squad", I'm not sure if you have to purchase from them but they are very tech savvy! Could you give us an idea of what's happening? Seems like you need to simplify your needs to an age appropriate system. I was constantly running over to my mom's(88yo) to straighten out her electronics. If you back up your system frequently (laptop), sometimes hitting system restore will bring it back to where it was working. Jitterbug has an iPhone that is easier for seniors to use, not the flip but the flat. That one would be good for Internet use and Xfinity has a Wi-Fi hotspot connection for $10 month and you can spend hours without extra charges if you aren't hooked up with a cable service. The one thing I do know is that going into settings and hitting the subject of your difficulty will usually guide you through and will ask "did this help?" If not it will give you another reference to go to. This usually works with the TV newer models,too. The big issue with my mom was the source button, she would change the TV from cable to antenna and DVD player and say she wasn't getting reception. Once a TV is programmed, it's very difficult to mess up. I hope you don't have to purchase another phone and the settings will help you. If you have a specific topic please let me know. I've been fixing my mom's stuff for years and its quite the learning experience without any schooling.
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I think most caregivers could help you. I usually google the problem. I have to try different answers, but usually hit the right one eventually. You have to be persistent. I did this one time after calling a tech. She said it was prob. the hard drive. I knew it wasn't and I was right, just the software. I am not crazy about fixing stuff, but I do usually do it myself.
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Reply to Nan333
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Just a suggestion, don't over think the problem. Things now are so much better to get around. Do you remember DOS? You did most of the work. Now its just pushing a button, so to speak. I do find a tablet easier than my laptop, but then my laptop is 16 yrs old.
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