Guided Access: Lock Your iPhone to One App

Guided Access is a built-in iPhone feature that temporarily locks your device to a single app and lets you disable touch areas, buttons, and even the side or Home button. It is ideal for handing your phone to a child, keeping a presentation on screen, or preventing accidental exits during a video. You only need an iPhone with iOS 12 or later and a passcode or Face ID/Touch ID set up.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone running iOS 12 or later
• A device passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID enabled (required to set up and exit Guided Access)

Step-by-Step

1. Enable Guided Access in Settings. Open the Settings app, tap Accessibility, then scroll down and tap Guided Access. Toggle on Guided Access.
2. Set a passcode (if you don’t want to use Face ID/Touch ID). In the same Guided Access settings screen, tap Passcode Settings and choose Set Guided Access Passcode. Enter a 4- or 6-digit passcode. You can also enable Face ID or Touch ID as an alternative way to end the session.
3. Open the app you want to lock. Launch the app you want the person to use, such as a game, video, or photo album.
4. Start Guided Access. Depending on your iPhone model:
   • iPhones with Face ID: Triple-click the side button.
   • iPhones with Touch ID (Home button): Triple-click the Home button.
5. Adjust the options (optional). The Guided Access screen appears. You can:
   • Disable touch areas: Use your finger to circle any parts of the screen you want to ignore. For example, circle a button that should not be tapped.
   • Disable hardware buttons: Tap Options in the bottom-left corner. Here you can turn off the Side Button, Volume Buttons, and Motion (so the screen doesn’t rotate). You can also set a Time Limit for the session.
6. Start the session. Tap Start in the top-right corner. The screen will lock to that app, and the disabled areas will not respond to touch.
7. Exit Guided Access. To end the session, triple-click the side or Home button again. Enter your passcode, or use Face ID/Touch ID. Then tap End in the top-left corner.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to set a passcode: If you don’t set a Guided Access passcode and you don’t have Face ID/Touch ID enabled, you won’t be able to exit the session easily.
• Not disabling the side button: If you don’t turn off the Side Button in Options, the person can still press it to bring up Siri or the power off screen, which can break the lock.
• Circling too much of the screen: If you circle a large area, you might block content the person needs to see or tap. Be precise with your circles.
• Leaving motion enabled: If the device rotates unexpectedly, the layout can change and make disabled areas misaligned. Turn off Motion to keep the screen orientation fixed.

Tips

• Use a time limit for kids: In the Options menu, set a time limit. When time is up, Guided Access automatically ends, and the child is prompted to ask for more time.
• Combine with Screen Time: For more robust parental controls, use Screen Time’s App Limits alongside Guided Access for scheduled breaks.
• Test the disabled areas before handing over: After starting, tap the areas you circled to confirm they don’t respond.
• Keep the passcode different from your device passcode: This prevents a child from guessing the device passcode and exiting the session.
• Use Guided Access for presentations: Lock the screen to a slide deck or a video to avoid accidental swipes during a talk.

Troubleshooting

• Triple-click doesn’t open Guided Access: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and make sure it is toggled on. Also check that you are triple-clicking the correct button (side button on Face ID models, Home button on Touch ID models).
• Can’t exit the session: If triple-clicking doesn’t work, try pressing the side button once to wake the screen, then triple-click again. If that fails, force restart the iPhone (press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears). This will end Guided Access, but you will need to re-enter your device passcode.
• Guided Access passcode forgotten: If you forgot the Guided Access passcode and Face ID/Touch ID is not enabled, you must restore the iPhone via a computer. Connect to a Mac or PC, put the device in recovery mode, and restore. This erases data, so only do this as a last resort.
• Screen areas still respond after disabling: Make sure you circle the area completely and that the circle is not too small. Also, if the app has multi-touch gestures, you may need to disable Touch entirely in Options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Guided Access with Face ID?

Yes. In Guided Access settings, you can enable Face ID as a way to end the session. When you triple-click to exit, Face ID will authenticate and you can tap End.

Does Guided Access work with all apps?

It works with most apps, but some apps that require specific hardware or gestures (like camera apps or games that use the gyroscope) may behave unexpectedly. You can disable Motion to prevent orientation changes.

Can I set a time limit for Guided Access?

Yes. In the Options menu when starting a session, tap Time Limit and choose a duration. When the time is up, Guided Access will end automatically.

What happens if I receive a phone call during Guided Access?

Phone calls will still come through, but the call interface may be limited. You can disable the Side Button in Options to prevent the person from answering or ending calls.

Can I use Guided Access to lock my iPhone to a single photo?

Yes. Open the Photos app, display the photo, then start Guided Access. You can disable touch entirely so the person cannot swipe to other photos.

Is Guided Access available on iPad?

Yes, Guided Access is available on iPad as well, and the steps are similar. On iPads with Face ID, triple-click the top button; on iPads with a Home button, triple-click the Home button.

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