Help + Tips app: Your Windows Phone 8.1 Primer

If you’re new to Windows Phone or just bought yourself a brand-spanking new Lumia with WP 8.1, make sure the new Help+Tips app is on your Start screen.

My husband recently made the switch to Lumia. He got the ever-popular Lumia 520 with Windows Phone 8.1 in matte black and loves it.

He’s quickly learning all of the ins and outs of the smartphone (he especially loves Cortana), but he’s still getting used to the new operating system and has questions like: How do I transfer my contacts? How do I add my favorite apps? How can I get my Word and Excel documents on my phone?

Your Primer for Windows Phone 8.1

So to help him become a Windows Phone ninja, I just installed the brand-new Help+Tips app on his Lumia 520. This free app is the primer for all things Windows Phone 8.1.

True to its name, Help+Tips is chock-full of useful information organized under Videos, Tips, and FAQs. For example, you can tap and view the videos, “Windows Phone for beginners” and “What’s new in Windows 8.1.”

Tips include how to manage your phone’s data usage, create folders on your Start screen, and how to make the text on your Lumia easier to read. FAQs include, “How can I find my lost phone?” and “What’s a Microsoft account and why do I need one?”

In addition, the app’s Home screen features some of the most pertinent info for users new to WP 8.1, grouped under helpful headings including, “Making the switch” and “Sync with my PC.”

Updating to Windows Phone 8.1

If you’re already a longtime Lumia user, have you updated to Windows Phone 8.1 yet? If not, check out this helpful infographic — it gives you step by step directions on how to do so.