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How To Set Up Your New iPad 2

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If you got an iPad 2 as a gift, but don’t know what to do next, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ll show you how to set up your new iPad 2, get started with apps, backup your iPad and a collection of fun things to do with your iPad 2.

Whether you got an iPad 2 as a gift or purchased one for yourself, we have the info you need to know to set it up right and make sure you get the most of your new tech toy.

To get started, set aside five to 10 minutes to get your iPad up and running. After that, you can start playing around with your iPad and having fun with your friends and family.

How to setup your new iPad 2

Set Up Your iPad the Right Way

iPad 2 setupAfter you turn on your iPad, you will need to provide your Apple ID, or create one. Either way, you will need an email address. If you have made purchases on iTunes in the past, you have an Apple ID. Sign in with it to get access to all of your purchased music.

In my Top 5 Things to Do When You Get Your iPad 2 guide, I recommend that you take a few steps right off the bat.

First off, turn on Find My iPad to help you track down a lost iPad. I also recommend that you add a passcode to your iPad to prevent others from using it without your permission. Other tips include syncing with iTunes, which you can now do over WiFi, and setting a lockscreen message with your contact information.

Another thing to do when you get your iPad 2 is to put it in a case. Not only will this protect it from bumps, scratches and drops, it will make it easier to hold, prop up and carry.

Check out 30 iPad 2 Cases, Covers and Skins for a huge roundup of the best iPad cases around.

Keeping your iPad in good condition will help you resell it for top dollar when you want a new iPad.

Learn iPad Gestures

Now that you have your iPad basic setup done, it’s time to learn some gestures that will save you loads of time while you use your iPad 2 every day.  This is just one of many exciting iPad 2 features.

The best gesture is a four finger push up, which will launch the currently running iPad apps. This lets you kill apps or switch between apps without double tapping your home button all the time (which can wear it out).

You can also swipe left or right with four fingers to switch between apps and pinch four fingers together to close an app. All of these gestures are shown in the video above.

Find Great Apps

The iPad is made to be used with apps. Apps add tons of fun and functionality to your iPad. If you have an iPhone, you can use many of your same apps on the iPad. This guide will show you how to download your apps to the iPad.

To find new apps, check out the “App Store” on your iPad. I suggest looking at the Top app charts which show off the most popular free and paid apps of the day. You can also look for these on your computer.

To search for new apps, use the search box in the upper right. You can search by type of app or name. If you have trouble finding an app, you may do better searching for it on the web and then coming back to the App Store with a specific name.

To get started, here are some of our top app picks:

You can read more about our app coverage.

Setup iCloud

When you set up your iPad 2 with iOS 5, you can choose to use iCloud. This service not only backs up your iPad whenever it is connected to WiFi and plugged in (almost every night for most users), but it also allows you to keep your photos synced to your computer wirelessly.

New iPad 2 Setup

iCloud will also keep your game saves in sync between your iPad and iPhone for some games.

iMessage, Facetime and PhotoBooth

While you are having fun with your iPad 2, and are surrounded by friends and family, why not use PhotoBooth to take some fun pictures to remember the moment by. With several filters you’re guaranteed a laugh.

https://youtu.be/KtWhOR3Gkcw

Next up, ope up FaceTime and video call your far off relatives to bring the family together. They will need an iPhone, iPad 2, iPod Touch or a Mac to be on the other end of this video call.

Finally, don’t forget that you can use iMessage to send texts, photos and videos to your iPhone and iPad owning friends and family, so why not share those PhotoBooth photos.

Before you forget to say thanks, why not send an instant thank you card right from your new iPad. We show you how to send a thank you card from your iPad. A real card that arrives in the mail in a few days.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. C. Toto

    12/27/2011 at 7:35 am

    Lame article.  How to set up your IPad?  Where do you explain how to set up an iPad?

    “After
    you turn on your iPad, you will need to provide your Apple ID, or
    create one. Either way, you will need an email address. If you have made
    purchases on iTunes in the past, you have an Apple ID. Sign in with it
    to get access to all of your purchased music.”

    This is a How to…?     

  2. Knewmy

    01/23/2012 at 6:30 pm

    I cannot get the iPad to accept the wifi that is available. It is showing that it is there and has good strength but gives me an error of unable to join network. I have an iPad I and it has no problem picking it up. What do I do

  3. Pep

    02/25/2012 at 10:08 pm

    C. Toto is spot on … lame article. 

  4. ta

    02/27/2012 at 12:56 pm

    i cant get this ipad to verify my password under icloud it will not verify my account

  5. Mahesh Makvana

    03/15/2012 at 9:50 am

    Some great tips you’ve provided here for the new owners of iPad 2, it will probably help them a lot in getting started with their new iDevice.

    I really appreciate your work.

  6. Haley69uk

    03/21/2012 at 10:50 am

    my ipad will not sync my itunes and i cloud account

  7. rob

    05/04/2012 at 2:13 pm

    you are all lame

  8. Percy

    08/15/2012 at 3:40 am

    This has not helped me at all. I do not wish to use this for internet access unless by WiFi and want only to read eBooks and store and view photos as well as play music. Very useless info

  9. Kaase

    08/20/2012 at 7:32 am

    What a waste of time, is this how to make a tutor? U better look up to something better to do than to west people’s time.

  10. laura

    10/24/2012 at 10:14 am

    when u set up ur ipad2 do u need to have wifi because i have a ipad2 and i got to chose the lauge and the contry and now its saying something about choose a network i dnt have internet acess unless i use my dongal and so im just wondering if u need internet acess ?

  11. kimmie

    12/30/2012 at 5:15 pm

    thanks for the help. i had the ipad and now i have ipad4 it is still helpful..

  12. sue fosson

    06/07/2013 at 3:44 am

    How do I get sent from my ipad to appear on my facebook posts?

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