Guided Access is stuck off, won't activate, or stops responding mid-session
Guided Access is an iPad and iPhone feature that locks the device into a single app and disables certain gestures and hardware buttons. When it stops working, the most common causes are a forgotten passcode, a software glitch, an incomplete setup, or a conflict with another accessibility feature. The fastest fix is usually to restart your device, but if that doesn't work, you may need to check your settings or reset the feature entirely.
This guide walks you through the most likely problems in the order you should check them, starting with the simplest fixes first.
Key Takeaways
- Guided Access requires a passcode to turn on and off, and a forgotten passcode is the most common reason it appears broken.
- A full device restart clears temporary glitches that prevent Guided Access from activating or responding to gestures.
- Guided Access must be turned on in Settings under Accessibility before you can use it on any app.
- If Guided Access is stuck active and won't deactivate, you may need to enter your passcode or force-restart your device.
- Conflicts with other accessibility features like Voice Control or Switch Control can prevent Guided Access from working as expected.
Restart your device first
A restart clears temporary software glitches that often prevent Guided Access from turning on or responding to your input. This is the fastest fix and resolves the problem in roughly half of cases.
On an iPhone with Face ID or an iPad with Face ID: Press and hold the volume up button and the side button together until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off the device, wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.
On an iPhone with a home button: Press and hold the top (or side) button and the home button together until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider, wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the top button again until the Apple logo appears.
Once your device restarts, try to activate Guided Access again. If it now works, you are done. If not, move to the next section.
Check that Guided Access is turned on in Settings
Guided Access must be enabled in your device settings before you can use it on any app. If it is turned off, the feature will not respond when you try to activate it.
Open Settings and tap Accessibility. On iPad, you may see this listed under a category like Vision or Motor & Mobility depending on your iOS version — scroll down to find it. Tap Guided Access. Make sure the toggle next to Guided Access is switched to the on position (it should be green).
While you are in this menu, check the Passcode Settings option. This is where you set or change the passcode that locks Guided Access on and off. If you do not remember your passcode, you will not be able to deactivate Guided Access once it is active. If you are locked out, see the section below on resetting a forgotten passcode.
Once Guided Access is turned on in Settings, close Settings and try to activate it again by triple-clicking the home button (or the side button on devices without a home button) while inside an app.
Reset your Guided Access passcode if you forgot it
If Guided Access is currently active and you cannot deactivate it because you forgot the passcode, you will need to reset it. The only way to do this without erasing your device is to use a computer with Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows).
Connect your device to a computer and open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). Select your device. Look for an option to restore or update your device — this will reset Guided Access without erasing your data in most cases. If that option does not appear, you may need to put your device into recovery mode, which does erase all data. Apple's support site has detailed steps for recovery mode if you reach that point.
If you have not yet activated Guided Access but want to set a new passcode before using it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Passcode Settings and choose a code you will remember. Write it down somewhere safe.
Turn off other accessibility features that may conflict
Some accessibility features can interfere with Guided Access. The most common culprits are Voice Control, Switch Control, and AssistiveTouch. If you have any of these turned on, try turning them off temporarily to see if Guided Access starts working.
Go to Settings > Accessibility and look for Voice Control, Switch Control, and AssistiveTouch. Tap each one and toggle it off. Then try to activate Guided Access again.
If Guided Access works once these features are off, you can turn them back on one at a time to figure out which one is causing the conflict. Once you know which feature is the problem, you may be able to adjust its settings to reduce the conflict, or you may need to choose between using that feature and using Guided Access.
Force-restart if Guided Access is stuck active
If Guided Access is currently active and your device is not responding to any input — including the triple-click gesture to deactivate it — a force restart will turn it off. This does not erase any data.
On an iPhone with Face ID or an iPad with Face ID: Press and release the volume up button, then press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears (this usually takes 10 to 15 seconds). Do not release when you see the power-off slider.
On an iPhone with a home button: Press and hold the top (or side) button and the home button together until the Apple logo appears. Do not release when you see the power-off slider.
Your device will restart, and Guided Access will be deactivated. You can then go back to Settings to check your Guided Access passcode and settings.
Update iOS or iPadOS if you are running an older version
Bugs in older versions of iOS or iPadOS can cause Guided Access to malfunction. If you have not updated your device recently, check for a software update.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap Download and Install. Your device will restart during the update process. Once the update is complete, try Guided Access again.
If an update is not available, your device is already running the latest version. In that case, the problem is likely one of the issues covered in the earlier sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn on Guided Access if I have never used it before?
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and toggle it on. Set a passcode when prompted — you will need this to turn Guided Access off later. Then open any app, triple-click the home button (or side button on newer devices), and Guided Access will activate. The app will be locked to that screen, and certain gestures will be disabled.
Can I use Guided Access without a passcode?
No. Guided Access requires a passcode to turn on and off. The passcode prevents accidental deactivation. If you lose or forget the passcode, you will be locked in Guided Access until you reset it using a computer.
Why does Guided Access turn off by itself?
Guided Access should not turn off on its own unless you triple-click the home button and enter the passcode. If it is turning off unexpectedly, check whether another accessibility feature is interfering with it, or whether your device is restarting due to a software issue. Try the steps in the "Turn off other accessibility features" section above.
Does Guided Access work on all apps?
Guided Access works on any app, but some apps may behave differently when Guided Access is active. For example, some apps may disable certain buttons or features if they detect that Guided Access is on. Test the app you need to use before relying on Guided Access for it.
What if none of these steps fix the problem?
If your device still will not activate Guided Access after restarting, checking settings, and turning off conflicting features, the problem may be a deeper software issue. Try updating to the latest iOS or iPadOS version if you have not already. If the problem persists, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for further troubleshooting.