Single application use on the iPad

Single application use on the iPad

With Guided Access, you can temporarily restrict iPad to a single app. This can be useful when you want to stay focused on a task. You can set a time limit, and customize which features, hardware buttons, and areas of the screen are available.

Set up Guided Access

  1. Go to Settings  > Accessibility > Guided Access, then turn on Guided Access.
  2. Adjust any of the following:
    • Passcode Settings: Tap Set Guided Access Passcode, then enter a passcode.
      You can also turn on Face ID (on an iPad with Face ID) or Touch ID (on other iPad models) as a way to end a Guided Access session.
    • Time Limits: Play a sound or speak the time remaining before a Guided Access session ends.
    • Accessibility Shortcut: Allow the use of Accessibility Shortcut during Guided Access sessions.
    • Display Auto-Lock: Set how long it takes iPad to automatically lock during a Guided Access session.

Start a Guided Access session

  1. Open the app you want to use.
  2. To turn on Guided Access, do one of the following:
    Siri: Say something like: “Turn on Guided Access.” Learn how to use Siri.
  1. Circle any areas of the screen you want to disable. Drag the mask into position or use the handles to adjust its size.
  2. Tap Options, then turn on or off any of the following:
    • Top Button
    • Volume Buttons
    • Motion (to prevent iPad from switching from portrait to landscape or from responding to other motions)
    • Software Keyboards
    • Touch
    • Time Limit
  1. Tap Start.

End a Guided Access session

Depending on the passcode options you chose when you set up Guided Access, do any of the following:

  • Use the passcode: Triple-click the top button (on an iPad with Face ID) or Home button (on other iPad models), then enter the Guided Access passcode. If you didn’t set a Guided Access passcode, enter your iPad passcode.
  • Use Face ID or Touch ID: If you turned on the Face ID or Touch ID option in Guided Access Passcode Settings, double-click the top button or Home button, then unlock your iPad with Face ID or Touch ID (depending on your iPad model).
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