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    3 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Use Guided Access to Lock iPhone to One App

    Guided Access locks your iPhone to a single app and can disable the Home button — good for handing your phone to a grandchild, or for focus.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Phone & Tablet
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    3 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    guided access
    iphone
    accessibility
    single app mode
    kids

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Enable Guided Access in Settings
    2. 2.Open the app you want to lock to
    3. 3.Start Guided Access
    4. 4.The phone is now locked to that app
    5. 5.Exit Guided Access when done
    1

    Enable Guided Access in Settings

    ~15s
    Go to SettingsAccessibilityGuided Access → toggle it on. Set a passcode (the code to exit Guided Access). You can also enable Face ID or Touch ID as an exit method.
    2

    Open the app you want to lock to

    ~15s
    Open the specific app you want to restrict the phone to — a video app, a game, a photo album, or whatever is appropriate for the situation.
    3

    Start Guided Access

    ~17s
    Triple-click the side button (or Home button on older iPhones). The Guided Access setup screen appears. Tap "Start" in the top right corner to activate it.

    Quick Tip

    Before tapping Start, you can draw circles on the screen to disable specific areas. This is optional — most people skip straight to tapping Start.

    4

    The phone is now locked to that app

    ~15s
    The person using the phone can only use the one open app. Pressing the Home button or side button has no effect. Swiping does not exit the app.
    5

    Exit Guided Access when done

    ~15s
    Triple-click the side button → enter your Guided Access passcode (or use Face ID/Touch ID if enabled) → tap "End" to exit Guided Access. The phone returns to normal operation.

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    Guided Access is a feature built into every iPhone that restricts the device to a single app and optionally disables certain screen areas, buttons, or gestures. While the feature was originally designed as an accessibility tool, it has become popular for a variety of everyday uses.

    Common uses

    : - Hand your phone to a grandchild to watch a video. They cannot navigate to other apps or make purchases - Set up a phone for someone with dementia or cognitive disabilities. They see only one app - Use your phone as a single-purpose device at an event or presentation - Prevent accidental calls or app switches when someone is using the phone for a specific task

    Once Guided Access is active, the side button (or Home button on older phones) is disabled. The only way to exit is to triple-click the side button and enter the Guided Access passcode (or use Face/Touch ID if configured).

    You can also draw circles on the screen to disable specific areas — for example, the back arrow in a video app, or advertising banners in a news app.

    Guided Access also has a time limit option. You can allow it for a set number of minutes before it automatically ends, useful for controlled screen time with a child.

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    guided access
    iphone
    accessibility
    single app mode
    kids

    Official Resources

    Apple Support — iPhoneGoogle Help — AndroidSamsung Support

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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