Basic Controls
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In this section, you'll learn how to operate your Above Phone with confidence through a clear overview of its basic controls and functions. Discover how to navigate its control panels and quickly find what you need.
The Above Phone offers multiple pathways between features, apps, tasks, and privacy settings, allowing you to move fluidly without roadblocks.
Join us as we explore the essentials of navigating and using your new private phone!
Before we go into the specifics, let’s make sure we got the basics covered.
Video guide
Physical buttons
With all our current models, the physical buttons are located on the right side of the device.
Button name | Location | Function |
|---|---|---|
Power button | separate button at the top | Lock / Unlock screen Press and hold: |
Volume up button | upper button from the two connected ones below the power button | Raise Volume of currently active audio |
Volume down button | lower button from the two connected ones below the power button | Lower Volume of currently active audio |
Basic actions
Since the device mainly offers the touchscreen to interact with it, note that there are different actions that may trigger different outcomes.
Let’s define the three most used actions first:
Tap
Briefly touch your finger on an element / button on the screen. Release the finger immediately, otherwise it may trigger a press & hold action
Press & hold
Hold down on an element / button for about 1-3 seconds.
Note that this will trigger a different action than tapping.
Swipe
Use one finger to slide in a straight line on the touchscreen on any direction.
Examples
Element | Tap | Press & hold | Swipe |
|---|---|---|---|
App icon | Opens app | open other options, like App info or widgets | No action on simple swipe Press & hold + Swipe will allow to move a shortcut on around on the home screen |
Dialpad | Enters a number | On number 1 it will dial voice mail No action on other numbers | No action |
Keyboard | Enters letter / number / symbol | create special character / modified letter | No action Keyboard apps can have a Swipe / Glide feature, which will allow to create words by swiping across individual letters in one single connected motion. |
Quick settings | Toggle quick setting | Opens specific menu / gives more options | Swipe left / right: change pages Swipe up / down: show / hide quick settings In editing mode (🖍 pencil): |
Notification | Opens notification / app | Allows to customize notification | Swipe to sides dismisses notifications |
While these 3 basic actions cover the vast majority of what can be done with the phone, there are also some other actions that are more specific to certain apps.
Press & hold + Swipe
First, hold down for 1-3 seconds, then while keeping the finger on the screen swipe to a direction
Examples:
selecting multiple pictures in a gallery app (ex. Aves Libre)
selecting multiple files in the Files app
Pinch in
Use two fingers and move them closer together while touching the touchscreen.
This action is generally used on https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/maps-0d5abJtBFF, pictures or https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/camera-open-camera-vm1bNAnCoh apps to zoom out.
Pinch out
Use two fingers and move them further apart while touching the touchscreen.
This action is generally used on https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/maps-0d5abJtBFF, pictures or https://learn.above.im/s/12aef602-75ec-4367-b619-07ad051e2a6f/doc/camera-open-camera-vm1bNAnCoh apps to zoom in.