Guided Access is a lock-down mode you turn off from Settings or Control Center
Guided Access restricts your iPhone or iPad to a single app and disables certain features — home button, gestures, keyboard input, or hardware buttons depending on what you configured. To turn it off, you exit the restricted app by triple-pressing the side button (or home button on older models) and entering your passcode, then toggle Guided Access off in Settings.
The method depends on whether you set a passcode when you turned Guided Access on. If you did, you must use that passcode to exit. If you did not set one, you can exit without entering anything. Either way, the process takes under a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Triple-press the side button (or home button on older iPad and iPhone models) to bring up the exit screen while Guided Access is active.
- Enter your Guided Access passcode if you set one when turning the feature on; if you did not set a passcode, you can exit without entering anything.
- After exiting, you can turn Guided Access completely off in Settings under Accessibility, or leave it on for future use.
- If you forgot your Guided Access passcode, you must reset your device or use a computer to erase and restore it through Finder or iTunes.
Exit Guided Access with the side button or home button
While Guided Access is active and you are in the restricted app, press the side button three times in quick succession. On iPhone X and newer, and iPad Pro models, this is the button on the right edge. On iPhone 8 and earlier, and older iPad models, use the home button at the bottom of the screen.
A screen will appear asking you to end the session. If you set a passcode when you turned Guided Access on, you will see a field asking for it. Type the passcode and tap End. If you did not set a passcode, the End button will be available when ready — tap it and Guided Access closes.
You are now back to normal phone or tablet use. All restricted features are available again, and you can open other apps, use the home button, and access any settings you had locked.
Turn off Guided Access permanently in Settings
If you want to disable Guided Access so it cannot be activated again without changing settings, open Settings and go to Accessibility. Scroll down and tap Guided Access. Toggle the switch next to Guided Access to off (it will turn gray).
This prevents anyone from starting a new Guided Access session. If Guided Access is currently active when you do this, you still need to exit the current session first by triple-pressing the button and entering your passcode. Turning off the toggle only stops new sessions from starting.
What to do if you forgot your Guided Access passcode
If Guided Access is active and you do not remember the passcode you set, you cannot exit through the normal method. Your only option is to erase the device and restore it, which removes all data unless you have a backup.
Connect your iPhone or iPad to a computer with Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). Select your device, choose Restore, and follow the prompts. After the device restarts, you can set it up again from your backup or as new. This erases the Guided Access session and passcode along with everything else on the device.
To avoid this situation, write down your Guided Access passcode in a safe place when you first set it, or use a passcode you already know well.
Guided Access stays on after you exit a session
Exiting a Guided Access session (by triple-pressing and entering your passcode) does not turn the feature off. It only closes the current restricted app session. The next time you open an app and triple-press the button, you can start a new Guided Access session if you want.
If you want to prevent Guided Access from being used at all, you must go to Settings and turn it off as described above. This is useful if you were using it temporarily — for example, to let a child use one app — and no longer need it.
Guided Access on different iPhone and iPad models
The button you press to exit Guided Access depends on your device model. iPhones and iPads with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier, iPad with home button) use the home button. All newer iPhones and iPad Pro models use the side button on the right edge. In both cases, press three times quickly.
The Settings path is the same across all models: Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access. The passcode you set works the same way regardless of device. If you use Guided Access on multiple devices, you can set different passcodes for each one, or use the same passcode on all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I exit Guided Access without a passcode?
Yes, if you did not set a passcode when you turned Guided Access on. Triple-press the side button or home button, and the End button will appear without asking for a code. If you did set a passcode, you must enter it to exit.
What happens if I restart my phone while Guided Access is on?
Guided Access remains active after a restart. You will still need to triple-press the button and enter your passcode to exit. Restarting does not disable the feature or end the session.
Can someone else turn off Guided Access if they know my passcode?
Yes. Anyone who knows your Guided Access passcode can exit a session and turn the feature off in Settings. Keep your passcode private if you are using Guided Access to restrict someone else's access to your device.
Does turning off Guided Access in Settings stop an active session?
No. You must exit the current session first by triple-pressing and entering your passcode. Turning off the toggle in Settings only prevents new sessions from starting.
Can I use Face ID or Touch ID instead of a passcode for Guided Access?
No. Guided Access requires a numeric passcode. You cannot use biometric authentication to exit a session. This is by design — it prevents someone from using your fingerprint or face to unlock the restricted app.