What Guided Access does and when to use it

Guided Access locks your iPhone to a single app and disables everything else — the home button, gestures, hardware buttons, and the ability to switch apps. Once you turn it on, the only way out is to enter a passcode or use Face ID or Touch ID. It is built into every iPhone and requires no download.

Use Guided Access when you want to hand your phone to someone without letting them access your messages, photos, settings, or other apps. Parents use it to let children play a game without accidentally calling someone or deleting photos. Teachers use it to keep students focused on one learning app during a lesson. You can also use it to prevent yourself from leaving an app — some people turn it on during work hours to stay on task.

Guided Access is different from Screen Time, which limits when and how long you can use an app. Guided Access physically prevents you from leaving the app at all until you unlock it.

Key Takeaways

  • Guided Access locks your iPhone to one app and requires a passcode to exit, making it useful when sharing your phone with others.
  • You must turn on Guided Access in Settings under Accessibility before you can use it the first time.
  • Once Guided Access is enabled, triple-press the side button (or home button on older iPhones) while in any app to activate it.
  • You can disable specific areas of the screen or hardware buttons before locking in, so certain features stay available if you need them.
  • The passcode you set for Guided Access is separate from your iPhone passcode and can be different.

Turn on Guided Access in Settings

Guided Access is off by default. You need to turn it on once in Settings before you can use it. Open Settings and go to Accessibility. Scroll down and tap Guided Access. Toggle the switch next to Guided Access to on — it will turn green.

While you are in this screen, you will also set a passcode. Tap Passcode Settings. Choose Create Guided Access Passcode. Enter a four-digit or six-digit code, then enter it again to confirm. This passcode is separate from your iPhone lock screen passcode — you can make it the same or different. Write it down or save it somewhere you will remember, because you will need it to exit Guided Access later.

If you use Face ID or Touch ID, you can also toggle on the option to use your face or fingerprint to exit Guided Access instead of typing the passcode. This is faster if you are the only person who will be exiting the session.

Start a Guided Access session in any app

Once Guided Access is turned on in Settings, you can activate it from any app. Open the app you want to lock into — for example, a game or a productivity app. Triple-press the side button (on iPhone X and newer) or the home button (on iPhone 8 and earlier). The Guided Access screen will appear.

You will see the app on your screen with a menu at the bottom. This is your chance to disable features before you lock in. By default, everything is enabled. If you want to disable the home button, volume buttons, or rotation, toggle those off. You can also draw circles or rectangles on the screen to disable touch in those areas — useful if you want to prevent someone from tapping a specific button or link.

When you are ready, tap Resume in the top right corner. Enter your Guided Access passcode. The app will now be locked. The home button, gestures, and app switcher will not work. The only way to exit is to triple-press the side button again and enter the passcode.

Disable specific buttons or screen areas

Before you lock in, you can turn off hardware buttons so they do not work during the session. Tap the minus sign next to Volume, Rotation Lock, or Sleep/Wake to disable them. This is useful if you are worried someone might accidentally press a button and interrupt what they are doing.

You can also disable touch in specific areas of the screen. Tap the circle icon at the bottom of the menu. Draw a circle or rectangle around any button, link, or area you want to block. For example, if you are letting a child use a drawing app, you could circle the delete button so they cannot accidentally erase their work. You can draw multiple shapes if you need to block several areas.

If you make a mistake, tap the shape you drew and it will disappear. When you are happy with your settings, tap Resume and enter your passcode to lock in.

Exit Guided Access and return to normal use

To exit Guided Access, triple-press the side button (or home button on older iPhones) again. A menu will appear asking you to end the session. Tap End Session in the top right. You will be asked to enter your Guided Access passcode. Type it in and tap Done. Your iPhone will return to normal — you can now use the home button, switch apps, and access everything else.

If you set up Face ID or Touch ID for Guided Access, you can use your face or fingerprint instead of typing the passcode. This is faster and useful if you are the only person who will be exiting.

Troubleshoot if you forget your passcode

If you forget your Guided Access passcode and cannot use Face ID or Touch ID, you are locked in the app. The only way out is to restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears. Slide to power off, wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again to turn it back on. This will exit Guided Access and return you to the home screen.

To prevent this, write down your passcode or store it in a password manager. If you change your mind about the passcode, go back to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Passcode Settings and tap Change Guided Access Passcode.

Use Guided Access with Screen Time for extra control

You can combine Guided Access with Screen Time for more control. Screen Time lets you set time limits on apps, while Guided Access locks you into a single app. For example, you could use Screen Time to limit a game to 30 minutes, and then use Guided Access to prevent someone from switching to a different app when the time is up.

These two features work independently — turning on one does not affect the other. Screen Time is managed in Settings > Screen Time, while Guided Access is in Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access. You can use both at the same time if you need that level of control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone exit Guided Access if they know the passcode?

Yes. If you share your Guided Access passcode with someone, they can triple-press the side button and exit whenever they want. If you want to prevent this, do not tell them the passcode. You can also disable the side button in Guided Access settings so they cannot triple-press it to bring up the exit menu.

Does Guided Access work with all apps?

Guided Access works with almost every app, including games, productivity apps, and web browsers. Some system apps like Settings or Phone may have limitations, but you can still lock into them. If an app crashes or closes while Guided Access is on, you will exit Guided Access automatically.

Can I use Guided Access on iPad too?

Yes. The steps are the same on iPad. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access, turn it on, set a passcode, then triple-press the top button (or home button on older iPads) to activate it in any app.

What happens if the battery dies while Guided Access is on?

When you turn your iPhone back on, Guided Access will still be active. You will need to enter your passcode to exit. This is why it is important to remember your Guided Access passcode — you cannot use your iPhone normally until you do.

Can I set different passcodes for different people?

No. Guided Access uses one passcode for your entire iPhone. Everyone who exits a Guided Access session will need to enter the same code. If you need different people to have different access levels, you would need to set up separate user accounts, which is not possible on iPhone.