The easiest way to set up new holiday tech is to do the boring part before the big day: charge it, update it and connect it to WiFi. Then spend five minutes on privacy and parental settings so it works the way you want from the start.
Before you wrap it
- Charge it and update it. New devices often need a large update the first time they turn on. Doing it early means nobody waits an hour on the morning they open it.
- Check what account it needs. Tablets, speakers and TVs usually want an Apple, Google or Amazon account. Decide whose account it goes on, and have that password handy.
- Write down your WiFi name and password. Every new device will ask for it.
- Keep the receipt and gift receipt together in case something does not work or is the wrong model.
New TV
Connect it to WiFi (or a network cable if the router is close), sign in to your streaming apps and run the software update. Then turn off the settings most people do not want, such as viewing-data sharing and extra ads on the home screen. Our smart TV setup guide walks through those step by step, or we can do it for you with our TV and streaming setup service.
Tablet for a child
- Set it up as a child account, not on a parent's account. Apple uses Family Sharing and Screen Time, Google uses Family Link, and Amazon Fire tablets have Amazon Kids.
- Require approval for purchases and downloads, so in-app purchases do not show up as a surprise on your card.
- Set daily time limits and a bedtime in the same settings, and agree on them together.
- Turn on content filters for the web browser and app store that fit your child's age.
- Add a case and screen protector before handing it over.
Smart speaker or display
- Place it near the middle of the room, away from walls and the TV, so it hears you clearly and does not wake up from TV voices.
- Turn off voice purchasing, or protect it with a PIN, in the Alexa or Google Home app.
- Review the privacy settings in the app, including how long voice recordings are kept, and delete old recordings if you like.
- Know the mute button. It turns the microphone off, and a light shows when it is muted.
- Set up voice match so it can tell family members apart and keep personal results, such as calendars, private.
If your WiFi is already struggling
A new TV and a few more devices can be the tipping point for an older router or a weak signal at the far end of the house. If things slow down after the holidays, read why your WiFi is slow first.
Prefer not to spend the holidays reading setup screens? We can come to your home, set everything up, connect it all to your WiFi and show the family how it works. See our smart home setup service.