Laptop or desktop

Set up your laptop or desktop and learn to adapt the settings to your needs.

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Introduction
1. What to check first 2. Get started with settings 3. Make it work for you 4. Keeping your device safe

Introduction to 'Laptop or desktop'

Whether you have your own device or are using someone else’s, you’ll need it to meet your needs. It’s no good if the text is too small for you to read, or the volume’s too low. 

In this lesson, we'll show you how to find your way around the settings that can help you feel more comfortable when you use your computer.

If  you need help with setting up a device for the first time, our Digital Helpline can help. Free to use, just call us on 0345 222 0333. It’s open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.  

You can use this service if you live in the UK or Channel Islands and you’re over 18 (or supervised by a parent or guardian if under 18).  

Not sure whether you need our Digital Helpline? Use Chapter 1 to test what you know. You can also use it to help someone else. 

Once you’re set up, this lesson can help you make the most of your device, including how to adapt it to meet your needs. 

What you'll learn

  • How to check you're ready to set up your device.
  • The settings - what they are and where to find them.
  • Ways to make your device work better for you.

How long it takes

11 minutes

Chapter 1 - What to check first

What to check first

Chapter 1

How long it takes

1 minute

How to check you know the basics

 

Are you or the person you’re trying to help able to:

  • Turn on the device?
  • Use the controls?
  • Understand the parts of the device – like the charger, screen, volume buttons?
  • Log in to the device?
  • Lock and unlock the device?
  • Use your keyboard, mouse or touchpad to use the device?

How did you do?

I answered no

You may need some extra help before starting chapter 2. Our Digital Helpline is free to use, and we’ll help you get started. You can call the Helpline on 0345 222 0333.

I answered yes

Great, you’re ready to go straight on to chapter 2.

Introduction - Laptop or desktop
Chapter 2 - Get started with settings

Get started with settings

Chapter 2

How long it takes

3 minutes

Getting started

Changing some settings on your device can make it easier for you to use. In this chapter, we’ll look at what you can change. Each device is different, so we won’t be able to tell you exactly where to find these features on yours. But we’ll give you some general tips on what settings there are, what they do and where to look for them.

Finding your settings

You’ll need to use a mouse, touchpad or touchscreen to access the settings. They’re usually on your desktop or start menu, but it might depend on the device you’re using. 

The ‘settings’ symbol can often look like a small cog or gear.

How your device can help

There’s a search option on most devices. You can use this to find where the settings are. You can also search for a certain setting that you’re looking for. For example, you can search for ‘display settings’ or ‘sound’.

 

Using settings you can:

Make your device easier to use

Change the look and size of items on your screen, remove annoying popups and adjust the sound.

Connect and set up your devices

Use wires or wireless connections to link devices like your mouse, keyboard and phone.

Keep your device and your data safe

Security settings can help you keep your devices and your information safe and private.

What these settings do

System settings are key to how your computer runs. They’re the controls that let you change how your device works and how it feels. Just like the controls on a washing machine or TV, they can help make your device comfortable and easy to use.

 

Let's look at some of the things you're likely to see in your settings.

What your screen looks like

How bright the screen is, the contrast between light and dark items, plus being able to use colour filters. You can also change the size of text and other items on your screen.

Sounds you can hear

From turning sounds up or down to switching them off completely. You can also change sounds for certain apps or alerts and use different audio devices like headphones, speakers and soundbars. 

Notifications

These are alerts that come up on your screen and tell you information. They can remind you to do something or let you know you’ve got a new message. You can change how these look or sound, or switch them off individually or all together.

Security

This includes setting what different apps can see and use, like your location or a microphone. Plus, how you access and lock your device, with things like passwords, passcodes and face id.

System updates

These help to keep your device safe and let you use new features. Your device will let you know when they’re available and you can set them up to run automatically or when it’s convenient for you.

Connecting other devices

You may be able to connect different devices to help you use your computer. Like a mouse, switch, keyboard or microphone. When you connect one of these, you can use settings to make it work in a way that suits you.

Idea

By connecting your phone and another device, like a laptop, you’re able to see and transfer web pages, images and text between the two.

Chapter 1 - What to check first
Chapter 3 - Make it work for you

Make it work for you

Chapter 3

How long it takes

5 minutes

Personalising your device

These settings help you change the look and feel of your device. For example, you can change your background and the colours of your windows. They can also help you change how you move around your device, by adapting your start menu, lock screen and other windows to suit you.

Changing your accessibility settings

These settings take personalisation one step further. Changing these can make your device much easier to use. Look for ‘accessibility’ or ‘ease of access’ to find them. Most devices will help with three main things: vision, hearing and interaction.

This can help anyone, at any time, especially if you’re finding your device hard to use. You might need your device to work differently for a short while or long term. For example, say you’ve broken your arm. You’ll be using your device with just one hand. So, it will need to work this way just until your arm is better. If you have a visual impairment, you might need more permanent changes.

How to adapt your device to suit your needs - select each heading to learn more

 

  • There are many settings on your device to make text and other objects on your screen easier to see.

     

    You can:

    Change the text and apps on your screen

    You might find the writing on your device too hard to read. Maybe you’re out and you’ve forgotten your reading glasses. You can make text bigger, bolder or easier to read. You can make other items on the screen bigger, too.

    Change how your cursor appears

    Your cursor is the pointer that moves around the screen as you move your mouse. On most laptops and desktops, you’ll have the choice to change the colour and size of the cursor. This can make it more visible and help you use your device.

    Change how your text cursor appears

    Your text cursor is the line that appears when you’re writing text. Just like the cursor, you can make this bigger, thicker or change the colour.

    Magnify the items on your screen

    Like to see things on your screen more closely? Some devices let you zoom in and out on everything on your screen. Look for ‘magnifier’ or ‘zoom’ in your settings to see if you have this, and how to use it.

    Change the colour of your screen

    Some people find it easier to use their device if the colours are a certain way. If you find it hard to look at a bright screen, a dark or ‘inverted’ mode could help. You might see this under ‘greyscale’. Some devices also give you colour filters to help with colour blindness. They do this by changing how colours appear on your screen.

    Switch to high contrast mode

    Most devices have a high contrast mode, where they use more distinct and bolder colours. This makes it’s easier for you to see items on the screen.

    Use screen readers

    These tools help by describing aloud what’s on your screen. This means you can use your device more easily, without having to rely on vision. Some devices have built-in screen readers. Look for ‘Narrator’ or ‘VoiceOver’. There’s also software that you can buy and install on your computer.

  • Most devices have settings to help you access audio content in different ways.

     

    For example, you can:

     

    Change your audio settings

    You can usually adjust your device’s audio.

    For instance, you can switch it to ‘mono’, so you hear sounds in only one headphone. This means you don’t miss any sounds if you struggle to hear in one ear.

    Use captions

    Do you prefer or need to read instead of listening to audio? Captions can help you do this.

    Most devices let you change the size, colour and other features of this text. You can also change the background behind the text to make it easier to see.

  • There are many different ways to use a laptop or desktop. Do you find it hard to use a keyboard or mouse?

    You may prefer to:

    Talk instead of type

    Most devices let you to use ‘dictation’. This means you can speak instead of type. It helps you to control your device using your voice. Look for ‘Speech’ or ‘Voice control’ settings.

    Use keyboard shortcut options

    Shortcuts are keys or sets of keys you can press together to make something happen. It’s not always easy to press more than one key at the same time, though. Most devices let you press a particular key or use ‘sticky keys’ so you can press one at a time. For instance, one shortcut we use is pressing ‘Ctrl’ and ‘C’ together to copy something. If you switch ‘sticky keys’ on, you can press ‘Ctrl’ first, then ‘C’. There’s also a helpful option on most devices for them to ignore when you accidentally press keys more than once – look in the ‘Keyboard’ settings for this.

    Control your cursor with your keyboard

    Do you find using a mouse difficult or uncomfortable? This setting lets you use your keyboard to move your cursor instead.

    Use an eye tracking device

    You can connect your eye tracking device to your laptop or desktop. This lets you use your eye movements to control your mouse and typing.

    Adjusting how your mouse or touchpad works

    Search settings for ‘mouse’ to see what you can do to help your mouse work better for you. The touchpad on your laptop works just like your mouse - search for ‘touchpad’ or ‘trackpad’.

     

    You may be able to:

    Change your cursor speed

    You can change how fast the cursor moves around the screen when you use your mouse or touchpad to control it – speed it up or slow it down.

    Switch the buttons

    Left-handed? You can switch what the buttons on your mouse do when you click them.

    Pick the scroll direction and speed

    You can change the direction you swipe your mouse. You can also make it faster or slower to scroll.

    Personalise the taps

    Tapping your touchpad lets you do different things. You can usually change what multiple taps and other gestures do.

    Reduce or switch off tapping options

    You can even remove touchpad options to make it simpler and stop you from tapping something by mistake.

Chapter 2 -Get started with settings
Chapter 4 - Keeping your device safe

Keeping your device safe

Chapter 4

How long it takes

2 minutes

Managing your privacy and security settings

These are part of your system settings. Use them to make sure you’re happy your device is safe and secure. You can do this by giving or taking ‘permissions’ from each app. You can also back up your files and update your software.

Here are some ways to keep your device safe.

Keep your software up to date

This makes sure your device is using the latest versions of everything. This includes the software that keeps your device running. You’ll see update notifications every so often. These include changes to make the software run better or do extra things. Some of them improve your security or fix security issues. 

Most devices let you know if you need to download an update. You can also check to see if your device’s security and software is up to date, by searching for ‘software update’. 

Set a password or code

Another way you can manage your device’s security is by protecting the device itself. In your settings, you can set a password or code for your device. This lets you lock your device and open it, and will keep others out.

Some devices also let you set up ‘biometrics’. These are ways of locking your device that are unique to you and no one can copy. For example, it may use your fingerprint, voice or the shape of your face. If you lose your device, this adds an extra layer of safety.

Set up 'Find my device'

Many devices have a ‘Find my device’ setting or app. Once you set this up, you can use it to track the location of your device. So, if it’s lost or stolen, you can track it down more easily. 

Do you have more than one device of the same make - like an Apple Mac laptop and iPhone, or a Windows desktop PC and tablet? You may be able to use this feature to track one of your devices from another. 

Activity

There are many other settings you can use to make your device suit you. Spend some time now to look through your settings, then answer these two questions.

What will be helpful for you in future?

Is there anything you want to change to make your device suit you more?

Need more help?

If you need more help using or changing these settings, you can:

  • Check your device's instructions.
  • Ask a friend or family member.
  • Call our Academy Digital Helpline on 0345 222 0333.
  • Go to AbilityNet.
Chapter 3 - Make it work for you

Want to learn more?

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Lloyds Bank Academy is committed to providing information in a way that is accessible and useful for our users. This information, however, is not in any way intended to amount to authority or advice on which reliance should be placed. You should seek professional advice as appropriate and required. Any sites, products or services named in this module are just examples of what's available. Lloyds Bank does not endorse the services they provide. The information in this module was last updated on 3rd February 2026.

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