The basics
In this section I will explain how to use these Tamagotchi releases.
The buttons
Use the Ⓐ button (left) to make a selection. It lets you go from one option to another and change the letters / numbers when you are inputting data.
Use the Ⓑ button (middle) to confirm a selection. You can also use it to switch between Tamagotchi mode and clock mode.
Use the Ⓒ button (right) to cancel a selection or go back.
If you press Ⓐ and Ⓒ at the same time in Tamagotchi mode, you will be able to turn off the sound.
Choose the first option if you want your Tamagotchi to beep or the second one if you want them to stay quiet.
Press Ⓐ and Ⓑ at the same time in Tamagotchi mode to pause.
You can't do this with a rerelease…
If you press Ⓐ in clock mode you will be able to switch between 12-hour mode and 24-hour mode and
if you press Ⓐ and Ⓒ at the same time in clock mode, you will be able to change the date and time.
To set the time, press Ⓐ to change the selected number, Ⓑ to confirm it and Ⓒ to go back.
The date format is Month/Date on the American (Connection) versions and the rerelease, but
the Connexion versions use Date/Month instead.
There's a cuckoo clock on the V3, which will make a sound if you use it before the hour changes. However, you must find a secret code to get it…
While the time is being set (with a number blinking), your Tamagotchi will be paused!
This can be useful if you have to leave them alone for a long time. Since you can pause
the original V2 and V3 releases, you won't need to do this if you have one of those.
Your Tamagotchi won't grow while it's paused!
Unless you have to leave them for over 12 hours, it might be better to just change the time so they sleep instead.
You can use the reset button (behind) to reset your Tamagotchi.
This screen will appear if you press it.
Choose the first option to continue raising your current Tamagotchi.
Choose the other one to erase all the save data and start over.
This screen will also appear after you put a new battery in. (Sometimes you need to press the reset button after inserting the battery for it to turn on.)
You'll see this screen when you need to change the battery.
To do this, you must open the device's back cover by loosening the screw.
Click on the screw on the image above (the one showing a Tamagotchi from behind) to see what it looks like once you open it.
How to check your Tamagotchi's ROM version
If you hold down all buttons (Ⓐ, Ⓑ, Ⓒ & reset) and then release the reset button while you keep holding the rest,
your Tamagotchi will enter test mode.
First, the screen will appear completely black. If you press Ⓐ, Ⓑ and Ⓒ in that order, you will see the screen change.
Press Ⓐ to see the ROM version screen.
If you press Ⓐ once again, the EEPROM will be tested and all save data will be lost (you won't lose it before this point.)
You must NOT press Ⓐ on the 2024 version. You must also make sure to hold the other two buttons until the version screen shows up, which will
be the first thing to do so. You'll be able to test the screen (what happens first on the original ones) and the EEPROM afterwards.
On this release, you'll also be able to test all the sound effects by holding Ⓐ & Ⓒ instead of Ⓑ & Ⓒ after letting go of the reset button.
How to raise your first Tamagotchi
After turning on a Tamagotchi with no save data or deleting the existing data, you have to set the time.
After doing that, you have to write your birthday.
(Remember the date format your Tamagotchi uses.)
You'll also have to write your name on the V3 and the rerelease. On the V3, this was the username you had to use in TamaTown.
An egg will appear and, after a minute, your new Tamagotchi will be born!
Before being able to take care of them, you have to give them a name.
You will be able to use the Latin alphabet and the exclamation and question marks.
On the 2024 version, you'll also be able to use 25 symbols and hiragana,
if you chose to play in Japanese.
Now you'll have a hungry and sad baby Tamagotchi… 
Use the care icons to raise them!
Press Ⓐ to choose an icon and Ⓑ to confirm your selection.