We have all experienced the anxiety of handing our unlocked iPhone to a friend so they can look at a specific photo, read a text, or play a game. The fear that they might accidentally (or intentionally) swipe into your private emails, bank apps, or photo gallery is a common frustration. Parents face a similar issue when handing an iPad or iPhone to a toddler to watch a video, only to have the child press the home button and delete an important app.
Apple solved this problem years ago with a powerful, deeply hidden accessibility feature called Guided Access. When activated, Guided Access temporarily restricts your iPhone or iPad to a single application, completely disabling the ability to swipe home, switch apps, or access the notification centre without a passcode.
How to Enable Guided Access in Settings
Because it is technically an accessibility tool, Guided Access is turned off by default. You must enable it in your main settings before you can use it.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
- Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and tap Guided Access (found under the General section).
- Toggle the main switch to the On position (green).
- Tap Passcode Settings and select Set Guided Access Passcode. This should be a different PIN than your main lock screen passcode, as you might need to give it to someone else. You can also enable Face ID or Touch ID here to end sessions quickly.
How to Start a Guided Access Session
Once enabled in settings, you can launch the feature at any time, from within any application.
- Open the specific app you want to lock the user into (for example, the Photos app or a mobile game).
- Triple-click the Side button (on iPhones with Face ID) or the Home button (on iPhones with Touch ID).
- The screen will briefly shrink, and the Guided Access menu will appear.
- In the top right corner, tap Start.
The screen will return to normal, but your iPhone is now locked into that single app. Swiping up from the bottom will do nothing. The volume buttons and lock button are disabled by default.
How to Customise Restrictions
Guided Access allows for incredibly granular control. Before you tap ‘Start’ to begin a session, you can tap the Options button in the bottom left corner. This reveals several powerful features:
- Disable Touch: You can completely disable the touchscreen. This is perfect for letting a toddler watch a video without them pausing or skipping it.
- Time Limit: You can set a strict timer. When the timer runs out, the screen goes black and the device locks itself.
- Hardware Buttons: You can choose whether to allow the user to adjust the volume or use the physical lock button.
Furthermore, you can use your finger to draw circles on the screen over specific UI elements (like the ‘Delete’ button in the Photos app). These drawn areas become dead zones; the screen will not respond to touches within those specific circles.
How to End a Guided Access Session
To return your phone to normal operation, you must authenticate yourself.
- Triple-click the Side button or Home button again.
- Enter the specific Guided Access passcode you created earlier. (If you enabled Face ID, simply double-clicking the side button while looking at the phone will end the session instantly).
- Tap End in the top left corner of the screen.