Very easy to hook up. Just unpack plug into electrical outlet for the answering machine part & into a landline phone jack. Then set date & time. This is our third phone of this type. If you have more then one shut answering machine off on others , very easy to do. It comes w/ manual & a short version for quick set-up. Have used this style for yrs. You can also retrieve messages remotely. I can the manual w/ me when traveling , just in case power goes off . You can do some functions remote. Everything you need is in the box.