How to CHILD LOCK iPhone or iPad in 2021 🔒

Wondering how to how to child lock iPhone or iPad? Do you want to prevent your child from closing an app on your iPhone or iPad? You don’t need to download an app that locks your screen. Your iPad or iPhone is already equipped with everything you need to stop your child (whether toddler or teenager) from exiting an app, whether it’s FaceTime, your chosen educational app, etc. For example:

  • No more hanging up on Grandma during FaceTime
  • No more exiting an educational app to play games or watch TikTok
  • Prevent your child from clicking on ad banners (go to advanced section)

All you need is the built-in Guided Access section of your Accessibility Settings.

If I had a dollar for every time I complained to my sister that iPhones should have more parental controls, I might be as rich as the Woz himself. I desperately wanted my toddler to be able to FaceTime with his out-of-state grandparents without him constantly hanging up on them. I wanted to let him play his alphabet app without him calling random people in my contact list (yep–it happened a lot). Guess what–there is a way!

Quick to set up, Even Easier Going Forward

Once you’ve set this up the first time, going forward, it only takes about two seconds to do.

How to Child Lock iPhone or iPad

  1. Go to Settings: Accessibility: Guided Access.
  2. Enable Guided Access and Accessibility Shortcut
  3. Open the app you want to be locked into
  4. Bring up guided access by pressing the home button quickly three times
  5. One in guided access, select “start”
  6. Set a passcode
  7. To exit: Click the home button three times & select “Exit Guided Access”

Step 1: Open Settings: Accessibility: Guided Access

Guided Access is toward the bottom of the Accessibility menu.

How to enable guided access on iPad iPhone

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Step 2: Enable “Guided Access” and the “Accessibility Shortcut” by sliding right to green

How to lock app in iphone or ipad, How to enable guided access on iPad iPhone stop teenager closing app

Step 3: Open the app you want your child to stay in

How to lock app in iphone ipad, Child Lock App
My little guy using my iPhone. That OtterBox case has paid for itself MANY times.

Step 4: Bring up Guided Access by pressing the button quickly three times

iPhone: Click the “Lock” or “Side” button quickly three times

iPad: Click the “Home” button quickly three times

How to lock app in iphone

This will bring up the Guided Access menu.

If Guided Access does not open up, go back to Step 1 to ensure you have enabled both Guided Access and the Accessibility Shortcut.

Step 5: Once in Guided Access, select “Start” in the top right corner of the screen

How to Easily Prevent Your Child from Closing an App on iPhone or iPad

Step 6: Set a passcode

This is the passcode you will use to end Guided Access to leave the app.

You will NEED to remember this passcode, which is why they ask twice to avoid a mistype.

You can use the same passcode as your device passcode, assuming your child does not know it.

How to Easily Prevent Your Child from Closing an App on iPhone or iPad

You’re done! Your child is locked into your chosen app! 

They cannot exit the app until you choose to exit Guided Access mode.


How to Exit Guided Access (to Exit/Close the app You’re locked in)

Step 1: Bring up Guided Access by pressing the button quickly three times

iPhone: Click the “Lock” or “Side” button quickly three times

iPad: Click the “Home” button quickly three times

Step 2: Enter the passcode you previously set

How to exit Guided Exit Access (to Exit/Close the app you’re locked in)

Step 3: Click “End” in the top left corner

How-to-exit-Guided-Exit-Access-to-ExitClose-the-app-locked-in

You’re done! You have now exited Guided Access and you can leave the app as normal.


Advanced: How to stop a child from clicking on ads in apps / How to Set a Time Limit for Guided Access (aka the Child Lock App)

Does your child keep clicking on ad banners and bringing up annoying ads? Do you want to stop your child from being able to click on ads?
Guided Access also allows you to disable certain parts of the screen. This method works if ad banners tend to be in the same part of the screen.

Step 1: Bring up Guided Access by pressing the button quickly three times

iPhone: Click the “Lock” or “Side” button quickly three times

iPad: Click the “Home” button quickly three times

Note: If you have already set up Guided Access, clicking three times will start Guided Access immediately.

Click the button three MORE times to bring up the Guided Access Menu.

How to stop child from clicking on ads in apps / How to Set a Time Limit for Guided Access

Step 2: Circle the areas of the screen you would like to disable

Circle the Ad Banner Area.

How to stop a child from clicking on ads in apps

Step 3 (Optional): Select “Options” from the Bottom Left corner

You’ll also see a number of Guided Access Options.

Sleep/Wake Button: Turn this off to disable the sleep/wake button.
Volume Buttons: Turn this off to disable the volume buttons.
Motion: Turn this off to limit how your device responds to motion. For example, your screen won’t respond when shaken, and the screen won’t rotate no matter how you hold your device.
Keyboards: Turn off to disable the keyboard so that it does not appear.
Touch: If you want your device to ignore screen touches, turn this off.
Time Limit: If you want to choose a time limit for your Guided Access session, turn this on.

Step 4 (Optional): Revel in your newfound iPhone Parental Controls.

How to Easily Prevent Your Child from Closing an App on iPhone or iPad

How to lock app in iphone or ipad - Child lock app

Any questions about how to child lock iPhone or ipad? Feel free to reach out on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.

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