What Guided Access does and why you might use it

Guided Access locks your iPad to a single app and disables touch outside that app until you exit. It's built into every iPad running iOS 6 or later. When Guided Access is on, you can't swipe to home, open other apps, or access settings — only the app you're in responds to your screen.

This is useful if you're handing your iPad to someone else — a child, a patient, a person in a waiting room — and you want them to use only one specific app. It's also helpful if you find yourself distracted by notifications or the urge to switch apps, since Guided Access physically prevents that.

Guided Access is not the same as parental controls. It doesn't restrict what the app can do; it just prevents leaving the app. If you want to block certain apps entirely or limit screen time, you'll want Screen Time instead. Guided Access is for "lock me into this one thing right now."

Key Takeaways

  • Guided Access is turned on in Settings under Accessibility, then Display and Text Size, then Guided Access — you toggle it on and set a passcode.
  • Once enabled in settings, you activate it for any app by triple-clicking the side button (or home button on older iPads) while the app is open.
  • While Guided Access is active, you can draw circles on the screen to disable touch in specific areas, useful if an app has buttons you want to block.
  • You exit Guided Access by triple-clicking the side button again and entering your passcode.

Turning on Guided Access in Settings

Open Settings on your iPad. Tap Accessibility — it's usually near the bottom of the main settings list, below Privacy.

In Accessibility, scroll down and tap Guided Access. You'll see a toggle at the top that says "Guided Access." Tap it to turn it on. The toggle will turn green.

Below that toggle, you'll see "Passcode Settings." Tap it. You'll be asked to set a passcode — this is what you'll need to enter to turn Guided Access off later. Use a four-digit code, a six-digit code, or Face ID or Touch ID if your iPad supports them. If you choose a numeric code, you'll enter it twice to confirm.

That's it. Guided Access is now enabled on your iPad. You don't have to do anything else in settings. The next time you open an app and want to lock into it, you'll use the side button.

Activating Guided Access for a specific app

Open the app you want to lock into. Once the app is fully loaded and you're on the screen you want to stay on, triple-click the side button (the power button on the right edge of the iPad). On older iPad models with a home button, triple-click the home button instead.

A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Tap Guided Access. You'll see a preview of the app with a circle drawn around the entire screen — this means the whole app is active and touch is enabled everywhere.

If there are buttons or areas you want to disable — for example, a settings button or a link to another app — you can draw circles around them now. Each circle you draw disables touch in that area. This is optional; if you want the whole app to be touchable, just skip this step.

Once you're ready, tap Start in the top right. Guided Access is now active. The app is locked, and the only way out is to triple-click the side button again and enter your passcode.

Disabling areas of the screen while Guided Access is active

Before you tap Start, you can draw circles on the screen to block touch in specific places. This is useful if an app has a settings button, a home button, or a link you don't want the user to tap.

To draw a circle, use your finger to draw around the area you want to disable. You don't have to be precise — just circle the general area. Each circle you draw turns that region gray and disables touch there. If you make a mistake, tap the circle and it will disappear.

You can also set a time limit for Guided Access. Below the screen preview, you'll see "Time Limit." Tap it and set how long Guided Access should stay active. When the time runs out, Guided Access will exit automatically — though you'll still need your passcode to confirm the exit.

Exiting Guided Access

To turn off Guided Access, triple-click the side button (or home button on older models) again. A menu will appear asking you to confirm. Tap End Guided Access.

You'll be prompted to enter your passcode. Type it in and tap End. Guided Access will turn off, and you'll be back to normal iPad use — you can swipe home, open other apps, and access settings again.

If you set a time limit and it expires, Guided Access will prompt you to end it, but you'll still need your passcode to confirm.

Changing your Guided Access passcode

Go back to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Passcode Settings. Tap Change Passcode. You'll be asked to enter your current passcode first, then enter a new one twice.

If you forget your passcode, you'll need to reset your iPad to remove it. There's no way to bypass or recover a forgotten Guided Access passcode without erasing the device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Guided Access on an iPad with Face ID?

Yes. When you set up Guided Access, you can choose to use Face ID instead of typing a passcode. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Passcode Settings and toggle on "Face ID." You'll still need to set a numeric passcode as a backup in case Face ID fails.

What happens if someone triple-clicks the side button while Guided Access is on?

The end menu appears, but they can't exit without your passcode. They'll see the prompt to enter the code, and if they don't have it, they're stuck in the app. This is the whole point — it prevents accidental or intentional exit.

Can I use Guided Access on multiple apps at once?

No. Guided Access locks you into one app at a time. If you need to switch apps while Guided Access is on, you have to exit Guided Access first, then activate it for a different app.

Does Guided Access block notifications?

Notifications may still appear at the top of the screen, but you can't tap them to leave the app. The app stays locked even if a notification arrives.

Is Guided Access the same as Screen Time?

No. Screen Time limits how much time you can spend on an app or category of apps, and it can block certain apps entirely. Guided Access just locks you into one app right now. They serve different purposes and can be used together.