How to Undo Guided Access on Your iPhone or iPad: A Comprehensive Guide

Guided Access is a helpful feature on iPhones and iPads that allows you to lock your device into a single app. This can be useful for various reasons, such as preventing a child from accidentally navigating away from an educational app or creating a focused environment for yourself. However, sometimes you might find yourself stuck in Guided Access mode and unsure how to exit. This guide will provide you with several methods on How To Undo Guided Access, covering different iPhone and iPad models and troubleshooting common issues.

Understanding Guided Access and Why You Might Get Stuck

Guided Access limits your device to a single app and allows you to control which features are available. It’s often enabled by triple-clicking the Side or Home button (depending on your device). Getting stuck usually stems from forgetting the passcode, the triple-click function not responding, or a software glitch.

Methods to Exit Guided Access

Here are several methods to try when you’re locked in Guided Access:

1. Triple-Click the Side or Home Button

This is the standard way to exit Guided Access.

For devices with a Home button: Quickly press the Home button three times.
For devices without a Home button (iPhone X and later, iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later): Quickly press the Side button (the power button) three times.

After triple-clicking, you should be prompted to enter your Guided Access passcode. Enter the passcode, and then tap “End” in the lower-left corner of the screen.

2. Force Restart Your iPhone or iPad

If the triple-click method doesn’t work, a force restart can often resolve the issue. The process varies depending on your device model:

iPhone 8 or later, iPad Pro with Face ID:
1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the Side (power) button until the Apple logo appears.

iPhone restart steps showing pressing volume up, volume down, and then holding the side button

iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPod touch (7th generation): Press and hold both the Side (power) button and the Volume Down button until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad with Home button, and iPod touch (6th generation) and earlier: Press and hold both the Home button and the Side (power) button until the Apple logo appears.

The device will restart, and Guided Access should be disabled. You’ll then need to enter your regular passcode to unlock your device.

3. Using iCloud to Mark as Lost

This method is useful if you’ve forgotten your Guided Access passcode and other methods have failed. It involves using Find My iPhone (or Find My iPad) through iCloud on another device or computer.

On another device (phone, tablet, or computer), go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
Click on “Find iPhone” (or “Find iPad”).
Select the device that is stuck in Guided Access.
Choose “Mark as Lost.” You may be prompted to enter a phone number where you can be reached.
While Marking As Lost you will be prompted to enter a new Passcode. This will not remove Guided Access but will allow you to unlock the phone after the process completes.

This action will remotely lock your device and, in some cases, disable Guided Access.

4. Let the Battery Drain

As a last resort, if none of the above methods work, you can let the battery of your iPhone or iPad drain completely. Once the device powers off due to low battery, charge it again. When it restarts, Guided Access should be disabled. This method can take a considerable amount of time.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Triple-Click Not Working: Ensure the triple-click shortcut for Accessibility is enabled. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut, and make sure Guided Access is checked. Also, try adjusting the click speed in Settings > Accessibility > Side Button (or Home Button) > Click Speed.
Forgotten Guided Access Passcode: If you’ve forgotten your Guided Access passcode and cannot use the iCloud method, restoring your device to factory settings through iTunes (or Finder on newer macOS versions) may be the only option. This will erase all data on your device, so it should be considered a last resort.

Preventing Future Issues with Guided Access

Remember Your Passcode: Store your Guided Access passcode in a secure place, such as a password manager.
Disable Guided Access When Not Needed: Turn off Guided Access when you’re not actively using it to prevent accidental lock-ins.
Update iOS Regularly: Keeping your iPhone or iPad updated with the latest iOS version can help prevent software glitches that might cause issues with Guided Access.

Conclusion

Guided Access is a valuable tool, but it can be frustrating when you get locked out. By following these methods, you should be able to undo Guided Access and regain control of your iPhone or iPad. Remember to keep your passcode safe and consider alternative unlocking methods if you frequently use this feature.