How to Lock Your iPhone to a Single App Using Guided Access [Video]

These are instructions on how to lock your iPhone to a single app using Guided Access mode. You may want to do this for privacy reasons, to use it as a demo station, to set limits on the usage of your device by a child, or for other accessibility reasons.



Step One
Tap to launch Settings from your SpringBoard.



Step Two
Choose General from the Settings menu.


Step Three
Select Accessibility from the General menu.


Step Four
Tap Guided Access from the Accessibility menu.


Step Five
Toggle the Guided Access switch to the ON position.


Step Six
Tapping the Passcode Settings button lets you choose to set a passcode to use when Guided Access is enabled. If you don't set one now you'll be prompted to set one when enabling Guided Access for the first time. You can also toggle a switch to use Touch ID to end Guided Access.


Tap the button at the top left to return to the Guided Access menu.

Step Seven
Hit the Time Limits button. From here we can choose to set a sound and have the Guided Access time spoken before time ends.


Tap the button at the top left to return to the Guided Access menu.

Step Eight
Finally we have an Accessibility Shortcut toggle. If enabled it will display your Accessibility Shortcut settings when the Home button is Triple-Clicked while Guided Access is enabled. If you don't have any accessibility features enabled, you can leave the switch in the OFF position.


Step Nine
Press the Home button and launch an app you would like to lock your device to.


Step Ten
Triple-Click the Home button to activate Guided Access. You will see a preview of the app that your device will be locked to. You can draw circle areas on the screen and drag them out to mark areas and controls you would like to disable.


Step Eleven
Tap the Options button at the bottom left to bring up an assortment of features that can be enabled or disabled while in Guided Access mode. These include the Sleep/Wake button, Volume Buttons, Motion, Keyboards, and Touch.


You can also set a Time Limit for the Guided Access session. Once you've chosen your desired settings, tap the Done button.


Step Twelve
Tap the Start button at the top right to begin.


You will be asked to set a passcode, then confirm it.


Step Thirteen
While in Guided Access mode the user will not be able to exit out of the application or use any of the features you've disabled unless the passcode is entered.


Step Fourteen
The user will be alerted when the time limit is nearing its end and once the time limit has been reached.


Step Fifteen
To exit Guided Access mode you will need to triple-click the Home button and enter the passcode to use the device again.


If you have additional questions about using Guided Access, you may ask them here.