YES - Urgent situations:
- No internet (and need it for work/school)
- Security warning or suspicious activity
- Can't access important accounts
- Something sparking, smoking, or overheating
→ Call or text Dad immediately
NO - Can wait a bit:
- Printer not working
- Can't find a feature
- Want to learn something new
- General questions
→ Try the steps below first
These fix 80% of problems:
- Turn it off and on again (really!)
- Check connections (plugged in? WiFi on?)
- Close and reopen the app
- Update the app if prompted
- Restart your device
Look for answers in:
Before calling, write down:
- What were you trying to do?
- What happened instead?
- Any error messages (take a photo!)
- What device/app?
- Did it work before?
Best for:
- Home network issues
- Server/service problems
- Complex technical questions
- Security concerns
- Setting up new devices
How to reach:
-
Text: Send message with:
-
Call: For urgent issues
-
In person: For hands-on help
- Brief description
- Photo of error/issue
- Urgency level
Response time:
- Urgent: Within minutes
- Normal: Within few hours
- Low priority: By end of day
¶ From Kandace (General Help)
Best for:
- App questions
- iPhone/iPad basics
- Photo organization
- Social media
- Shopping apps
Best for:
- Social media features
- Phone tips and tricks
- Fun apps
- School technology
- Press Side Button + Volume Up together
- Screen flashes white
- Thumbnail appears in corner
- Find in Photos app
- Share via Messages
- Press Cmd + Shift + 4
- Click and drag to select area
- Find on Desktop
- Attach to message
- Shows exact error message
- Displays current state
- Helps diagnose remotely
- Faster than explaining
- Check WiFi icon (connected?)
- Try opening different website
- Restart device
- Check if others have internet
- Restart router (unplug 30 sec)
- Close all apps
- Restart phone
- Check storage (Settings → General → Storage)
- Update iOS if needed
- Delete unused apps/photos
- Check printer is on
- Check WiFi connection
- Try printing from different app
- Restart printer
- Check paper/ink
- Force quit app
- Restart device
- Update app
- Delete and reinstall
- Check for iOS updates
Act immediately if:
- "Your password has been compromised"
- Unexpected charges
- Account logged in elsewhere
- Suspicious emails asking for info
- Pop-ups saying "You have a virus"
What to do:
- Don't click anything
- Take photo of screen
- Call Dad immediately
- Don't enter any passwords
Stop using if:
- Device very hot
- Strange smell
- Swollen battery
- Sparks or smoke
- Unusual noises
Safety first!
Apple Support
Our Wiki
- Browse How-To Guides
- Check service documentation
- Family-friendly explanations
- Apple Support: Official guides
- MacMost: Mac tutorials
- Proper Honest Tech: Simple explanations
Dad can see your screen to help:
iPhone/iPad:
- During FaceTime call
- Tap screen share button
- Dad can guide you
Computer:
- Use Messages screen sharing
- Or dedicated remote app
- You maintain control
- Complex settings changes
- Walking through processes
- Troubleshooting together
- Learning new features
When asking for help, include:
Device: [iPhone/iPad/Computer/TV]
Problem: [What's not working]
When started: [Today/Yesterday/Last week]
What changed: [New app/Update/Nothing]
Error message: [Exact text or photo]
Urgency: [High/Medium/Low]
Tried: [What you already tried]
- Weekdays: 5 PM - 9 PM
- Weekends: Anytime reasonable
- Holidays: Urgent only
- Security issues: Anytime
- Work/School critical: Anytime
- Safety concerns: Anytime
- No question is "too simple"
- It's okay to ask for help
- We're here to support each other
- Technology should make life easier
- When in doubt, ask!