What Guided Access Does and When to Use It

Guided Access locks your iPhone to a single app and disables the home button, side button, and gestures that would let someone leave that app. You set it up once in Settings, then turn it on whenever you need it. When it's active, the person using the phone stays in that app until you enter a passcode to exit.

This is useful if you're handing your phone to a child who should only use one app, if you're demonstrating something and don't want accidental taps to close it, or if you need to restrict access for any reason. You can also disable specific areas of the screen so taps in those zones don't register — useful if part of an app has buttons you want to hide.

Guided Access is built into every iPhone and requires no additional apps or subscriptions. It works on any app, including games, videos, books, or settings screens.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn on Guided Access in Settings under Accessibility, then tap Guided Access and toggle it on.
  • Set a passcode (separate from your lock screen passcode) that you'll use to exit Guided Access later.
  • Open any app, then triple-click the side button (or home button on older iPhones) to start a Guided Access session.
  • You can draw circles on the screen to disable specific buttons or areas before you start the session.
  • Only someone who knows your Guided Access passcode can exit the session and return to the home screen.

How to Turn On Guided Access in Settings

Open the Settings app and tap Accessibility. Scroll down and tap Guided Access. Toggle the switch to on (it will turn green). You'll see three options appear below: Passcode Settings, Time Limits, and Display Auto-Lock.

Tap Passcode Settings and choose Set Up Passcode. Enter a four-digit or six-digit passcode — this is separate from your lock screen passcode and is only used to exit Guided Access. You'll need to enter it twice to confirm. If you want to use Face ID or Touch ID to exit instead, toggle on Use Face ID or Use Touch ID in this same menu.

The other two options are optional. Time Limits lets you set how long a Guided Access session can run before it automatically ends. Display Auto-Lock controls whether the screen locks during a session. For most uses, you can leave these at their defaults.

Starting a Guided Access Session

Open the app you want to lock into. On iPhones with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), triple-click the home button. On iPhones with a side button (iPhone X and later), triple-click the side button. The Guided Access screen will appear with a preview of what's on your display.

At this point, you can draw circles or rectangles on the screen to disable specific areas. Any part of the screen you circle will not respond to taps — useful for hiding a close button, a settings icon, or any other control you don't want tapped. You don't have to disable anything if you just want to lock the app itself.

When you're ready, tap Start in the top right corner. The app is now locked. The person using it can tap and swipe within the app normally, but they cannot exit to the home screen, open Control Center, or access notifications without your passcode.

Disabling Specific Screen Areas

Before you tap Start, you can draw on the screen to create disabled zones. Use your finger to draw a circle or rectangle around any button or area you want to block. A grayed-out circle appears where you drew, and taps in that zone won't register.

This is helpful if an app has a close button you want to hide, or if you're showing a video and want to prevent accidental taps on the progress bar. You can draw multiple circles on the same screen. If you make a mistake, tap the circle and tap Delete to remove it.

You can also toggle off specific features at the bottom of the Guided Access screen before starting — for example, you can disable Motion (which prevents tilting to control games) or Keyboard (which prevents typing). These settings apply to the whole session, not just specific areas.

Ending a Guided Access Session

Triple-click the side button (or home button) again while Guided Access is active. You'll see a prompt asking for your passcode. Enter the four-digit or six-digit code you set up in Settings. If you enabled Face ID or Touch ID, you can use those instead.

Once you enter the correct passcode, Guided Access ends and the home screen reappears. The person using the phone is no longer locked into the app.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If triple-clicking the button doesn't work, make sure Guided Access is actually on in Settings. Go back to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and confirm the toggle is green. Also check that you're triple-clicking fast enough — the clicks need to happen within about a second of each other.

If you forget your Guided Access passcode, you cannot reset it without erasing the phone. You'll need to go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then set up your iPhone again. This is why it's important to choose a passcode you'll remember. If you enabled Face ID or Touch ID, you can use those to exit without remembering the code.

If Guided Access won't start, make sure the app you're trying to lock is fully open and not in the background. Some system apps (like Settings or Phone) may have limited Guided Access support, though most apps work fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

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, you have to exit Guided Access with your passcode, open a different app, and start a new Guided Access session. You cannot have two apps running under Guided Access simultaneously.

What happens if someone knows my Guided Access passcode?

They can exit Guided Access and access the rest of your phone. Guided Access is designed to prevent accidental exits or restrict a child's access, not to secure your phone against someone who knows your codes. If security is your concern, use Screen Time parental controls instead, which require a separate passcode and offer more restrictions.

Does Guided Access work if the phone is locked?

No. You must unlock your iPhone first, open an app, and then start Guided Access. Guided Access does not replace your lock screen passcode — it only restricts what happens after the phone is unlocked.

Can I set a time limit for how long Guided Access runs?

Yes. In Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Time Limits, you can set a duration. When the time runs out, Guided Access automatically ends and returns to the home screen. You can also disable this feature and let sessions run indefinitely.

Does Guided Access prevent screenshots?

No. Someone in a Guided Access session can still take screenshots of what's on the screen. If you need to prevent screenshots, you'll need to use Screen Time or a third-party app with that specific feature.