Guided Access locks an iPhone into the app currently open. It can block the Home Screen, other apps, Control Center, hardware buttons, keyboard, rotation, touch areas, and time use until someone exits with the Guided Access passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID.
Guided Access is built into iPhone under Accessibility settings.
Does This Affect You?
Use this when handing an iPhone to a child, student, customer, visitor, or demo user and you want them to stay inside one app.
Set Up Guided Access
- Open Settings > Accessibility.
- Tap Guided Access.
- Turn Guided Access on.
- Open Passcode Settings and set a Guided Access passcode. This is separate from the iPhone passcode.
- Optionally enable Face ID or Touch ID to end sessions.
- Turn on Accessibility Shortcut if you want triple-click access.
- Adjust Time Limits or Display Auto-Lock if needed.
Start, Customize, and End a Session
- Open the app you want to lock.
- Triple-click the side button or Home button.
- Choose Guided Access if the Accessibility Shortcut menu appears.
- Circle any screen areas that should ignore touch. Resize or remove those areas as needed.
- Tap Options or Session Settings to disable buttons, motion, keyboard, touch, or set a time limit.
- Tap Start.
- To end, triple-click again, enter the Guided Access passcode or use Face ID/Touch ID, then tap End.
Guided Access Notes
If You Are Locked In
If biometric exit is not enabled and you cannot remember the Guided Access passcode, force-restarting the iPhone can end the session without erasing data.
Time Limits
A session time limit can show Time Expired and require authentication before normal use resumes.
Shortcut Behavior
If Guided Access is the only Accessibility Shortcut, triple-click may start it directly. If several shortcuts are enabled, iPhone shows a menu.
Screen Time Is Different
Guided Access is temporary and app-specific. For ongoing child restrictions or content limits, use Screen Time instead.
Sources
- Apple Support: Use Guided Access on iPhone or iPad