In an era where digital distractions abound, Apple’s Guided Access emerges as the gateway to heightened productivity and bolstered security. Whether you’re a student navigating the academic landscape, an educator shaping focused learning environments, or an individual striving for distraction-free personal productivity, similar to screen time limitations, Guided Access offers a seamless solution.
We’ve compiled a quick guide to walk you through the steps to set up Guided Access on your Apple devices, while also highlighting the myriad of benefits it brings by fostering concentration in classrooms and creating tailored, secure experiences in your personal space.
Setting Up Guided Access:
- Access Settings:
- Open “Settings” on your iPhone or iPad. As of right now, MacOS does not support Guided Access Macs or iMacs.
- Navigate to “Accessibility.”
- Be sure to check out your other accessibility features, parental controls, passcode settings, Siri capabilities, and notifications while you’re in your settings app!
- Enable Guided Access:
- Scroll down and select “Guided Access.”
- Toggle the switch to enable it. This will expand to provide customizations for your Guided Access sessions.
- Customize Your Session:
- Choose a passcode to control the use of Guided Access and prevent unauthorized changes. You can also switch on the use of Touch ID or Face ID to end Guided Access.
- Set a time limit for your Guided Access sessions. This allows you to select your alarm sound and/or have your device verbally alert you when your time has ended.
- Decide if you want to allow the Accessibility Shortcut. If selected, the shortcut settings will be displayed onscreen during your session.
- Configure your iPad or iPhone automatic lock during a Guided Access session by opening the Display Auto-Lock. If not used for the set amount of time, your device will automatically go to sleep. You can wake your device using the power or home button, and your device will open still locked on the single app (including Safari or a streaming app) that you enabled Guided Access on.
- Press the back arrow button to save your settings
- Start a Guided Access Session:
- Open the specific app that you’d like to utilize during your session
- Triple-click the side button or home button (depending on your iOS device) to turn on Guided Access mode.
- Adjust the settings if needed (time limits, use of volume buttons, disable certain areas of the screen, etc…) by selecting the Options in the bottom right corner.
- Select “Start” in the top left corner (placement may be different based on your iOS)
- End a Session:
- Triple-click your power or home button again to end the session.
- Enter your guided access passcode to return to normal device usage.
Guided Access provides a controlled and focused user experience by allowing users to restrict the device to a single app, which is particularly useful for parents managing their children’s screen time. It enhances accessibility by enabling users to disable certain touch areas on the screen or specific hardware buttons, catering to individuals with motor skill challenges.
Additional Resources
Guided Access promotes privacy and security as it prevents unauthorized access to sensitive information by restricting the use of other apps or functionalities during a session. Whether you’re a professional striving for productivity or an educator maintaining a focused learning environment, mastering this feature can make a significant difference. Check out Apple Support’s video for a visual overview how to make the most of your Guided Access features.
Remember to check out iResQ’s Expert Advice to find out more information on boosting productivity, elongating your device’s life, best practices, and so much more! Is there a topic that you’d like to hear more about? Let us know here!