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How to lock your iPhone screen when your kids watch videos
Published onDecember 22, 2024
A smartphone or tablet can keep kids occupied, but at the same time, the potential for havoc is huge. They might delete things, fill up your storage with photos or videos, or run up a huge credit card bill at the App Store. So, if your kid wants to watch YouTube videos on your iPhone or iPad, here’s how to lock your iPhone screen to a specific app and prevent your kids from exiting.
QUICK ANSWER
To lock an iPhone or iPad while your kids are watching videos:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access.
- Toggle Guided Access on if it isn't already.
- You can also choose a passcode to stop your child exiting Guided Access, and use Display Auto-Lock to set how long it will take for auto-lock to kick in. Use Time Limits to help control session length.
- Open the video app in question.
- Launch Guided Access by asking Siri, the Control Center shortcut, or the Accessibility Shortcut.
- After it's configured and running, you can triple-press the side button to exit it. You'll need to use the PIN or Face ID.
How to lock your iPhone screen when your kids watch videos
The process is relatively simple, and restricts your child’s access to a single open app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Go into Accessibility.
- Tap on Guided Access.
- Toggle on Guided Access. More options will appear.
- Set a passcode under Passcode Settings to stop your kid from exiting the app without your permission. You can also enable Face ID or Touch ID if that’s more convenient.
- Display Auto-Lock specifies a delay before your iPhone or iPad’s display auto-locks. Time Limits can define when a session is supposed to wrap up.
- Go to the app you want your child to view. We’re using YouTube as an example.
- Launch Guided Access by asking Siri, the Control Center shortcut, or the Accessibility Shortcut. Here’s Apple’s guide on these.
- The app is now locked, and your child can use it. If they try to exit, they’ll be asked for a passcode or Face/Touch ID.
- To end Guided Access, triple-press the side or home button. If Face ID or Touch ID is active, a double-press will do.
FAQs
Yes, just follow the tutorial shown here and activate Guided Access at the homescreen. Use your finger to draw circles around the home screen buttons, deactivating them.
To force restart your iPhone, you need to press the volume up button, press the volume down button, then press and hold the side button. Release the side button when the Apple logo appears.
If your iPhone’s battery dies, or you fully shut the phone down, Guided Access will turn off. You will need to re-enable it if you want to continue using it.