Appendix A — Getting Set Up

There is only one thing to set up for this whole book, and this page walks you through it slowly, one step at a time.

You already did the harder part years ago when you learned your phone. This is easier. Take your time, and know that you cannot break anything.

First, the good news: it is free

You do not have to pay for anything to do this book.

The app you are about to get is free to install and free to use for everything we will do together. If a screen ever offers you a paid upgrade, you can simply skip it. You do not need it.

So relax. There is no bill coming. Let’s get you set up.

Two small things before you begin

Just two, and you very likely already have both:

• Be connected to the internet. The same Wi-Fi that lets you check email or watch videos is all you need. If those work, you are ready.

• Have a few unhurried minutes. This takes about five minutes the first time, and you never have to do it again. Make a cup of tea if you like.

That’s it. No cords, no computer, nothing to buy.

What we are installing

One app, called ChatGPT. Think of it as a patient friend who lives on your phone and answers questions.

We chose this one because it is simple and it can both listen to your voice and look through your camera — the two things that make it feel like magic later on.

That is the only app you need for this book.

The steps, one at a time

Do these in order. There is no rush, and no wrong way to go.

1. Find and tap the App Store. Look on your home screen for a blue icon with a white letter “A” made of drawing tools. It is usually called App Store. Give it one tap to open it.

2. Tap the search box. Look for the little magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen, or a search box at the top. Tap it. A place to type will appear.

3. Type the word: ChatGPT. Type it slowly, one letter at a time. It is spelled C-H-A-T-G-P-T. As you type, a list of choices may appear below.

4. Pick the right one. You are looking for the app named ChatGPT made by OpenAI. The maker’s name, OpenAI, is written in small gray letters just under the app’s name. That small line is how you know you have the real one.

5. Tap the “Get” button. Next to the app you will see a button that says Get (or a small cloud shape). Tap it. Your phone may ask you to confirm — with your face, your fingerprint, or your usual password. That is normal, and it is only checking that it is really you. Nothing is being charged.

6. Wait a moment while it installs. A little circle will spin as the app downloads. When it is done, the button changes to say Open. That is your green light.

7. Open the app. Tap Open right there, or find the new ChatGPT icon on your home screen and tap it. It is a plain black-and-white icon.

8. Create your free account, or sign in with Apple. The first time you open it, it will ask you to sign in so it can remember you. The easiest choice is the button that says Continue with Apple. Tap it, confirm it is you, and you are in — no new password to invent or remember. (You may also use an email address if you prefer. Either way is free.)

9. You made it. When you see a friendly, mostly empty screen with a box at the bottom that says something like “Ask anything” or “Message,” you are all set up. That box is where the fun begins.

Take a breath. The hard part is over, and you only ever do it once.

Find these two buttons — you’ll use them a lot

Near that box at the bottom of the screen, look for two small pictures. As of 2026 they sit right around the typing box.

• The microphone. It looks like a tiny old-fashioned microphone or a little sound wave. Tapping it lets you speak your question out loud instead of typing. This is wonderful for tired hands and eyes.

• The camera. It looks like a little camera or a small plus sign that opens a menu with a camera in it. Tapping it lets you show the app a photo or point it at something — a plant, a menu, a letter with tiny print.

You do not have to use them right now. Just notice where they are. We will use them together, gently, in the sessions ahead.

Don’t see them yet? No trouble at all. Sometimes the buttons hide until you tap the typing box once, or they live behind a small plus (+) sign next to it. Give that plus a tap and you’ll find the camera waiting inside. Nothing is missing — it is just tucked away.

A gentle word about your account

Signing in is safe, and it is only so the app can remember your past questions and greet you next time — the way your email remembers you.

One simple rule for the whole book, which we will repeat gently along the way: never type a password, a bank number, or a card number to any app. You will never need to, and we will never ask you to. Keep those to yourself, always.

The first time you tap the microphone or camera

The very first time you use your voice or your camera, the phone will pop up a small question asking if it is okay for the app to use them. This is your phone politely checking with you.

Tap Allow (or OK). That is what lets the app hear your question and see through the camera. It only asks once, and you can always change your mind later in your Settings.

If you’d rather use a different app

ChatGPT is the one this book follows, and it is all you need. But two other helpers are just as good and also free to install the very same way through the App Store:

• The Google Gemini app.
• The Claude app.

If a family member already uses one of these and offers to help you with it, that is perfectly fine — they all do the same friendly things. To keep this simple, though, our steps and examples will use ChatGPT.

If you get stuck

Getting stuck is normal, and it is not a sign of anything except that you are trying something new. Here are four easy ways to get a hand:

• Ask a family member or a friend. This is a five-minute favor for them, and most are delighted to help.

• Ask a grandchild. Truly — the younger ones set these things up in their sleep, and they love being the expert for once. It can be a sweet little visit, too.

• Visit the Apple Store’s free help. Any Apple Store has friendly staff who will sit down with you and set this up at no charge. You can walk in, or call ahead and book a free session at the “help” desk (they call it the Genius Bar).

• Try your local library. Many public libraries offer free technology classes and one-on-one help for exactly this. A quick phone call to your branch will tell you when they meet.

There is no shame in asking. Asking for a little help is simply how everyone learns something new — and once it is set up, it stays set up.

You’re ready

That’s the whole setup: one free app, signed in, with a microphone and a camera waiting for you. Nothing to pay, nothing to break, and nothing left to do but begin.

Whenever you feel ready, head to Session 1 and say your first hello.

And remember: there is no clock and no test. You did the hard part long ago. This is the easy, delightful part — welcome to it.