Have you ever handed your phone to your kids to watch a video or play a game only to find out later that they have texted your friends? Hopefully they haven’t texted your client or boss…yet.
Fortunately, both iOS and Android devices have a feature that would lock your phone or tablet to one app – the one and only one that your child is supposed to use. Before you give a child your phone or tablet, simply activate the feature.
Apple calls it Guided Access while Google calls it Screen Pinning or App Pinning. I’m not sure why they can’t just name things plainly, like One App Lock.
How to Setup Guided Access on Your iPhone or iPad
Step 1: Go to Setting, click on Accessibility, and then find Guided Access
Step 2: Turn on Guided Access (slide the button to the right). IMPORTANT: Underneath the button is the instruction on how to activate this feature. Be sure to read as the instruction varies depending on your device and iOS version.
Step 3. Under Passcode Settings, select if you want to create a passcode or use Touch ID or Face ID (varies by device). Go back, and check out the other options that you have. For instance, Time Limits is where you pick an alarm sound that will go off when the time limit is almost up.
Now, you are set to activate Guided Access anytime you allow your child to use your device. See below on how to activate.
How to Activate Guided Access on Your iPhone or iPad
Step 1: To activate Guided Access, open the app that you are allowing your child to use. Follow the instruction of how to activate the feature from what you’ve read in Step 2. For my iPhone 7, it’s pressing the Home button 3x. For my iPad Pro, it’s pressing the Top Button 3x.
Step 2. When activated, you will see “Guided Access” on the top of your screen. Use your fingers to box or circle the areas on the screen you want to be disabled. Note: If the app screen can be scrolled up and down, the content that was in the click-disabled areas may be shifted to the click-enabled areas. Just be mindful that it isn’t foolproof.
Step 3. There are a few functions that you can enable or disable. Click on Options on the bottom left to customize the use of:
Sleep/wake button
Volume control buttons
Motion – If off, screen will not respond to motions like shaking or rotating.
Keyboards – If off, keyboard will not appear.
Touch – If off, touch on the screen will be ignored.
Time Limit – If you want to set a time limit for the session, this is where you would do it.
Step 4: Click on Start or Resume on the top right. Your child is all set to use the designated app. If you have set a time limit, a warning will pop up 30 seconds prior.
How to Disable Guided Access on Your iPhone or iPad
When you need your phone or tablet back and managed to pry it out of your child’s hands, simply press the same button that you used to activate Guided Access above in Step 4. Enter your passcode or use Touch or Face ID to deactivate Guided Access.