Using the “Guided Access” Features on iOS

It is hard to keep children away from mobile devices these days, particularly now since all of them are using smartphones or tablets for online classes. Hence, it is best to keep your child’s focus on a single app and prevent them from shifting to any other downloaded application.

This setting can be applied to any application, be it games or productivity. Once enabled, the iOS device will be locked on to one single app and a user will be able to exit only after authentication through Face ID/Touch ID or a Passcode.

To start using Guided Access follow these steps:

1. Launch Settings.
2. Scroll down to Accessibility.
3. Under the General tab at the bottom of the menu tap Guided Access.
4. Toggle switch to the On position, usually highlighted in Green.
5. Once turned on, more setting options will appear.
6. Under the Passcode Settings, you can use your Touch ID/Face ID to end Guided Access. You can also set your own passcode as per your preference.
7. You can set Time Limits notification sounds to alert when guided access ends.

Once the above mentioned steps have been set. You can begin using Guided Access. Go to the app of your choice and triple-click the Home Button on iPhones that have it or triple-click the Power Button on iPhones with a notch to start Guided Access. Following are points that’ll help you set custom settings.

1. After triple-clicking either the Home button or the power button depending on your iPhone model, the Guided Access menu should pop-up.
2. The application of your choice will be displayed in the back-drop and you can circle areas that you want to disable. Doing so will highlight the circled area in a light grey colour that’ll disable touch gestures for those areas preventing someone using the app to deny accessing other in-app content.
3. Under the Options tab, at the bottom right-side of your screen you can use to toggle switch on/off to prevent children from using the Sleep/Wake Button, Volume Buttons, Motion gestures, Keyboards, and Touch. You can also set a Time Limit for a particular app and Guided Access will automatically end the application once the timer ends. This is particularly useful to keep your kid’s screen time in check.

With guided access mode, you can prevent children from using the App Store or gain internet access without supervision. You’re always in control as your child will be locked on to a single app that you start and give them.