How to Lock Down Your iPad With Guided Access

What Guided Access does and when to use it

Guided Access is a built-in iPad feature that locks the device to a single app and disables certain hardware buttons and gestures. When you turn it on, the person using the iPad cannot leave that app, cannot access settings, and cannot use features like the home button or side swipe gestures — unless they know the passcode you set.

This is useful if you want to let someone use your iPad for a specific task without them accidentally (or intentionally) opening other apps, deleting things, or changing settings. Parents use it to keep children on educational apps. Caregivers use it to keep a person with cognitive disabilities focused on one task. Businesses use it to lock iPads to a single app in a kiosk or waiting room.

Guided Access is not a parental control tool — it does not monitor what happens inside the app, and it does not track usage. It straightforward prevents exit from that app and disables certain buttons and gestures you choose.

Key Takeaways

Guided Access locks your iPad to one app and requires a passcode to exit, preventing accidental or unauthorized app switching.
You must turn on Guided Access in Settings under Accessibility, then set up it from within the app you want to lock.
You can disable specific hardware buttons (like volume or home) and disable touch on certain areas of the screen before locking.
The person using the iPad exits Guided Access by triple-pressing the top button (or home button on older models) and entering your passcode.
Guided Access works on any iPad running iOS 6 or later, and the passcode is separate from your device passcode.

Turn on Guided Access in Settings

Guided Access is off by default. You must turn it on once in Settings before you can use it.

Open Settings on your iPad. Tap Accessibility (on newer iPads, you may need to scroll down to find it). Tap Guided Access. Toggle the switch next to Guided Access to the on position — it will turn green.

You will see a prompt asking you to set a Guided Access passcode. This is separate from your device passcode. Enter a four-digit code, then enter it again to confirm. You can also set a Face ID or Touch ID option if your iPad supports it — this lets you exit Guided Access using your face or fingerprint instead of typing a code. After you set the passcode, Guided Access is ready to use.

Start a Guided Access session from within an app

Once Guided Access is turned on in Settings, you set up it from inside the app you want to lock. Open the app you want to restrict — for example, an educational app or a drawing app.

Press the top button three times in quick succession (or the home button three times on older iPad models). The Guided Access menu will appear on screen. You will see options to customize what is disabled during the session.

Before you start the session, you can disable specific features. By default, Guided Access disables the home button, gestures, and hardware buttons. You can toggle these on or off depending on what you want to allow. For example, if you want to allow volume control, toggle the volume button back on.

Disable touch on specific screen areas

One of the most useful features of Guided Access is the ability to disable touch on certain parts of the screen. This prevents someone from tapping buttons you do not want them to use — for example, an "exit" button or a settings gear icon.

In the Guided Access menu, look for the circle icon with a line through it (the disable touch icon). Tap it. You will see a crosshair cursor. Draw a circle or rectangle around the area of the screen you want to disable. You can draw multiple disabled areas if needed. Any tap inside a disabled area will be ignored.

This is especially useful in kiosk setups or when you want to keep a child on a specific part of an app without them accidentally triggering other features.

Start the session and lock the app

Once you have set your passcode and customized which buttons and screen areas are disabled, tap Start in the top right corner of the Guided Access menu. The app will now be locked.

The person using the iPad can now use only that app. They cannot press the home button, cannot swipe to other apps, and cannot access Control Center or Notification Center. If you disabled touch on certain screen areas, taps in those zones will not register. The iPad will remain in this app until someone enters the Guided Access passcode.

While Guided Access is active, you will see a small indicator at the top of the screen showing that Guided Access is on.

Exit Guided Access and return to normal use

To end a Guided Access session, press the top button (or home button) three times again. The Guided Access menu will reappear. Tap End in the top left corner. You will be prompted to enter your Guided Access passcode. Type it in, and the iPad will return to normal operation.

If you set up Face ID or Touch ID for Guided Access, you can use those instead of typing the passcode. This is faster if you need to end sessions frequently.

Adjust Guided Access settings for different situations

You do not have to use the same settings every time. Each time you start a Guided Access session, you can customize which buttons are disabled and which screen areas are locked.

For a young child, you might disable all hardware buttons and disable touch on the entire top toolbar. For an adult with a specific task, you might allow volume control and disable only one button. For a kiosk, you might disable everything except the screen area needed for the task.

You can also change your Guided Access passcode at any time in Settings under Accessibility > Guided Access. If you forget the passcode, you will need to restart your iPad and set a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone exit Guided Access without the passcode?

No. The only way to exit Guided Access is to triple-press the home or top button and enter the passcode (or use Face ID or Touch ID if you set that up). Without the code, the person is locked in the app.

What happens if the iPad runs out of battery during Guided Access?

When the iPad powers back on, Guided Access will still be active. You will need to enter the passcode to exit. This is why it is important to keep your device charged if you are using Guided Access for an extended period.

Can I use Guided Access on multiple apps in a row?

Yes. When you end a Guided Access session, you return to normal iPad operation. You can then open a different app and start a new Guided Access session with different settings if needed.

Is Guided Access the same as parental controls?

No. Guided Access locks a person to one app and disables certain buttons. Parental controls (Screen Time) let you set time limits, restrict app categories, and monitor usage. You can use both together — Guided Access for when ready app lockdown, Screen Time for longer-term restrictions.

Can I disable Guided Access without the passcode?

No. Once you set a Guided Access passcode, you cannot turn off Guided Access in Settings without entering that passcode first. This prevents someone from disabling it without permission.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.