Guided Access on iPad is a powerful feature that restricts your device to a single app and allows you to control which features are available. This is incredibly useful when you want to hand your iPad to a child, ensuring they stay within a specific app, or when you need to focus on a task without accidental gestures causing distractions. This guide will walk you through how to turn on Guided Access on your iPad, customize its settings, and end a session.
Setting Up Guided Access on Your iPad
Before you can use Guided Access, you need to enable it in your iPad’s settings. Here’s how:
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Open Settings: Locate and tap the “Settings” app icon on your iPad’s home screen.
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Navigate to Accessibility: Scroll down in the Settings menu and tap on “Accessibility.”
Accessibility settings on iPad -
Turn on Guided Access: In the Accessibility menu, scroll down to the “General” section and tap on “Guided Access.” Then, toggle the switch to turn Guided Access on.
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Set Passcode: Tap on “Passcode Settings” and then “Set Guided Access Passcode.” Enter a passcode and re-enter it to confirm. This passcode will be required to end a Guided Access session. For added convenience, you can also enable Face ID or Touch ID to end Guided Access sessions.
Starting a Guided Access Session
Once Guided Access is set up, you can easily start a session within any app. Here’s the process:
- Open the Desired App: Launch the app that you want to use with Guided Access.
- Triple-Click the Side or Home Button: On an iPad with Face ID (no Home button), quickly press the side button three times. On an iPad with a Home button, triple-click the Home button.
- Customize Screen Areas (Optional): If you want to disable certain areas of the screen from responding to touch, use your finger to circle those areas. You can move or resize the circles, or tap the “X” to remove them. This is useful for preventing accidental taps on ads or specific buttons.
- Start Guided Access: Tap “Guided Access” in the menu that appears, then tap “Start” in the top-right corner.
Controlling Available Features During a Guided Access Session
Guided Access allows you to control which hardware buttons and screen interactions are active during a session. To access these options:
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Triple-Click the Side or Home Button: As before, triple-click the side button (on iPads with Face ID) or the Home button (on iPads with a Home button).
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Enter Passcode (if prompted): If prompted, enter your Guided Access passcode.
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Tap Options: Tap the “Options” button in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
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Customize Features: You will see a list of features that you can enable or disable. Here are some common options:
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Sleep/Wake Button: Disables the Sleep/Wake button, preventing the user from turning off the iPad.
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Volume Buttons: Disables the volume buttons.
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Motion: Limits the iPad’s response to motion, preventing screen rotation and disabling shake gestures.
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Keyboards: Disables the keyboard from appearing.
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Touch: Disables all touch input on the screen.
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Dictionary Lookup: Enables the Look Up feature when text is selected.
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Time Limit: Sets a time limit for the Guided Access session, automatically ending it after the specified duration.
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Tap Done: Once you have configured the desired options, tap “Done” in the top-right corner.
Ending a Guided Access Session
To end a Guided Access session:
- Triple-Click the Side or Home Button: Triple-click the side button (on iPads with Face ID) or the Home button (on iPads with a Home button).
- Enter Passcode or Use Face ID/Touch ID: Enter your Guided Access passcode or use Face ID or Touch ID if you have enabled it.
- Tap End: Tap “End” in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Guided Access is now disabled, and the iPad returns to its normal state.
By following these steps, you can effectively use Guided Access on your iPad to create a focused and controlled environment for yourself or others. It’s a valuable tool for parents, educators, and anyone who wants to limit distractions and ensure a safe and productive iPad experience.
