Guided Access on iPhone is a powerful feature that allows you to temporarily restrict your device to a single app. This can be incredibly useful in various situations, such as when you want to let a child use your iPhone without accessing other apps, or when you need to focus on a specific task without distractions. This guide will provide a detailed explanation of How Guided Access Works On Iphone, covering setup, usage, and customization options.
Setting Up Guided Access on Your iPhone
Before you can use Guided Access, you need to enable it in your iPhone’s settings. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
- Scroll down to the General section and tap on Guided Access.
- Toggle the Guided Access switch to the on position.
Once Guided Access is enabled, you can customize its settings to suit your needs. The following options are available:
Passcode Settings
This allows you to set a passcode that will be required to end a Guided Access session.
- Tap on Passcode Settings.
- Tap on Set Guided Access Passcode.
- Enter a passcode and confirm it.
You can also enable Face ID or Touch ID as an alternative way to end a Guided Access session, depending on your iPhone model. This is a convenient option for quickly exiting Guided Access without having to enter a passcode.
Time Limits
This setting allows you to configure a time limit for Guided Access sessions. When the time limit is reached, the session will automatically end.
- Toggle the Time Limits switch to the on position.
- Choose whether you want to play a sound or speak the time remaining before the session ends.
Accessibility Shortcut
Enabling this option allows you to use the Accessibility Shortcut to start Guided Access sessions quickly. The Accessibility Shortcut is typically activated by triple-clicking the side button (on iPhones with Face ID) or the Home button (on iPhones with Touch ID).
Display Auto-Lock
This setting determines how long it takes for your iPhone to automatically lock during a Guided Access session. You can choose from various time intervals, such as 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, or Never.
Starting a Guided Access Session
Once you have set up Guided Access, you can start a session in any app. Here’s how:
- Open the app you want to use in Guided Access mode.
- Activate Guided Access by triple-clicking the side button (on iPhones with Face ID) or the Home button (on iPhones with Touch ID).
- If you have enabled the Accessibility Shortcut, you may need to select Guided Access from the options that appear.
After activating Guided Access, you will see the Guided Access interface on the screen. Here, you can customize the session by:
Disabling Screen Areas
You can circle any areas of the screen that you want to disable. This prevents the user from interacting with those areas. For example, you might want to disable the bottom portion of the screen to prevent access to the home bar.
- Use your finger to draw a circle around the area you want to disable.
- You can drag the mask into position or use the handles to adjust its size.
Configuring Options
Tap the Options button to configure additional settings for the Guided Access session. The following options are available:
- Side Button: Disables the side button.
- Volume Buttons: Disables the volume buttons.
- Motion: Prevents the iPhone from switching between portrait and landscape modes, and disables other motion-based interactions.
- Software Keyboards: Disables the software keyboard.
- Touch: Disables touch input on the screen.
- Time Limit: Allows you to set a time limit for the session.
Once you have configured the desired options, tap Start to begin the Guided Access session.
Ending a Guided Access Session
To end a Guided Access session, do the following:
- Triple-click the side button (on iPhones with Face ID) or the Home button (on iPhones with Touch ID).
- Enter your Guided Access passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID, depending on the options you have enabled.
- Tap End in the top-left corner of the screen.
Important Considerations
It’s important to note that Crash Detection and Emergency Services are not available while using Guided Access. Therefore, you should exit Guided Access if you need to use these features or make emergency calls.
Alternative Solutions
For users who need a more simplified user interface and a customizable set of core features, Apple offers Assistive Access.
Additional Resources
- Set up a Focus on iPhone
- Hide distractions when reading articles in Safari on iPhone
- Stop or reduce onscreen motion on iPhone
- Cognitive accessibility features on iPhone
By following this guide, you can effectively use Guided Access on your iPhone to restrict access to a single app, customize available features, and create a more focused and controlled user experience.
