As an iPad owner, you probably know these devices are amazing. It lets you type, sing along, record yourself, draw pictures, anything and everything. Sadly, without some knowledge, you’ll never be able to use it to its full abilities. Keep reading to learn more tricks for iPad users who want to get the most from their device.

Does your screen get scratched? You need a screen protector! This protects your iPad, because the last thing you want is your crystal-clear screen becoming marred with annoying scratches.

Podcasts can be passed on to family and friends without much effort. If you find an interesting podcast that you want to share, you can do so without interrupting your listening. Just tap the Email icon to share. You will be presented with the opportunity to select your recipients and you can send it right then.

Get an external keyboard you can use with your iPad. If you plan on typing a lot with your iPad, such as tons of emails or long documents, the keyboard will save you a lot of time. These keyboards are wireless, easy to transport and will help you type more efficiently than the virtual keyboard of your iPad.

Read up on iPad forums. Here, you will learn a thing or two. You can also give people pointers that they might not have picked up on their own. If you ever have problems with your iPad, a special forum like this can help you address your problems.

Everyone knows that the iTunes store exists, but not everyone knows about its features. iTunes U is one of the best selections available. You can enjoy educational podcasts regarding professional and academic subjects.

The auto-brightness setting can help your battery last longer between recharges. Then, the iPad adjusts the lighting to its surroundings. This feature can go a long way when it comes to the amount of time that you get cordless use in a given day. Locate this setting in the area that is labeled “Brightness & Wallpaper”.

Even if you think this is unnecessary, it is wise to add a security feature to your iPad. You may lose it and a lot of personal information is on there.

Get to the sounds under general settings if your side buttons aren’t performing their functions. If you have the settings for Change on you can use all of the buttons. There is also a volume slider here, which can be used to adjust the volume directly.

Are you sick of typing? Instead of typing, just dictate. Simply tap the microphone on the keyboard to dictate text. Then, tap it once more. Click the microphone a second time to translate your words into text.

It is good to understand the right way to take care of an iPad. First, keep the iPad away from direct sun and never leave it in a hot car. The battery will begin to degrade in extreme heat. Don’t let it get wet either. You may also want to place a padded cover on top of it for even more protection.

Do you want the ability to read PDF files on your iPad? Just send them to your email and open them on the iPad using iBooks. You can also sync your computer’s PDFs and your iPad. There is a tab for books on your iTunes app.

Are you sick of sore eyes from reading books on the iPad? This can be resolved by decreasing your screen’s brightness. You can go to the setting for brightness and lower it in both the Settings and the application itself.

The iPad comes with a few apps that you’re probably not going to want to use. Many of them cannot be deleted. Drop them in a folder that is moved to a spot far away from your usual screen haunts. This will leave your home screen available for apps that you actually use regularly.

The factory setting for previewing an email shows you two lines before opening it. In some cases, you may want to see more before you open it. Under Settings, tap on Mail. Got to Mail and choose Contacts. After that choose Calendar and change the options for previewing mail.

It is easy to copy text on the iPad since all you do is simply double tap any given keyword. However, it is hard to use that method on a paragraph. Four taps on the text will copy a whole paragraph for you. This not only works for paragraphs, but it also works for the URL bar and addresses.

In your inbox, you may want to see more than the first few lines. Go to the Settings, go to the section that says Mail and seek out the setting that says Preview. Change the setting to 5 lines. This allows you to tailor how much you’ll see in the Mail app and lets you skim through your mail more efficiently.

You should erase the history if you do not want anyone to see it. You would hate to start the browser only to reveal something you would not want others to see. This browser will load up whatever page you looked at last, so pick out a page that you won’t be ashamed to show someone else.

Did you accidentally launch an app that makes a lot of noise? You can quickly turn the sound down by holding down the “vol -” button until it is muted. If you find you are in need of the mute function often, you can configure your iPad’s lock button to work as a full-time mute button.

Muting the iPad is fast and easy. When iPads were first out, there weren’t any buttons on it specifically for mute. The iOS 4.3 allowed its users to utilize the switch-lock. To quickly mute your iPad now, just press and hold the volume-down button.

Now that you’ve read this article, you will be able to accomplish more with your iPad. Remember this advice next time you power-up your iPad and pass the info along to others you know who own them. Knowing more about using your iPad will allow you to teach and help others.