How to Set Up a Digital Photo Frame for Grandparents
A digital photo frame can be a wonderful gift for grandparents. New photos of the grandkids show up on their table without them lifting a finger. But that only works if the frame is set up right.
Here's how to do it so the gift is a joy, not a puzzle.
Before you buy: check three things
- Their Wi-Fi. Most photo frames need Wi-Fi to get new photos. Do they have home internet? Do you know the network name and password, or can you get it?
- The app. Frames are usually set up with a phone app. You'll be the one using it, so make sure it works on your phone.
- Subscriptions. Some frames lock extra features behind a paid plan. Read the listing so you know what's free.
Step 1: Set it up at your house
Do the first setup yourself, before you wrap it:
- Download the frame's app on your phone and make an account.
- Plug in the frame and follow the steps on its screen.
- Connect it to your Wi-Fi for now.
Some frames, like Nixplay's, let you load photos and a message before the box is even opened.
Step 2: Add the first photos
Pick 30 to 50 good photos to start. Good choices:
- The grandkids, this year and when they were babies
- Family holidays and big moments
- Old family photos you've scanned
Skip blurry shots and photos with lots of small text. Bright, close-up faces look best on a small screen.
Step 3: Invite the family
Most frames let more than one person send photos. Invite siblings, cousins and the grandkids' parents. Then new photos keep arriving all year, not just from you.
Some frames also take photos by email or from a web browser, which helps family members who don't want another app.
Step 4: Connect it at their house
On Christmas Day, or your next visit:
- Plug the frame in where they sit most, like next to their chair or on the kitchen counter.
- Connect it to their Wi-Fi.
- Check that the photos play.
Step 5: Show them the basics
Keep it simple. Show them how to:
- Turn it on and off, if they need to
- Pause on a photo they like
- Do nothing at all, because new photos just appear
Write these steps on a card and tape it to the back of the frame.
Keep it fresh
Set a reminder to add new photos every month. A frame showing the same pictures for a year gets ignored. One showing last weekend's soccer game gets them calling you.
If they don't use Wi-Fi
If your grandparents don't have internet, a Wi-Fi frame isn't the right gift. A cozy gift that needs no setup at all, like a heated throw, may be a better fit.
For four gifts for grandparents compared on phones, Wi-Fi and sizes, see our best Christmas gifts for grandparents.