Many parents worry about kids’ screen time and look for solutions for parental control of screen time limit. The good news is the function is available on iPhone and iPad with the Guided Access feature. The Guided Access allows you to lock the iPad or iPhone screen within the app you choose. When it is on, kids can only use that one app. To get out of the app, they need your password to stop Guided Access. We have a detailed guide on how to lock the screen within one app using Guided Access. Today we share the feature to also set a time limit using the Guided Access. By the end of the time limit, kids will just see a black screen telling them the time is up. The screen becomes in-responsive, meaning kids can’t get out of it for another app. The only way to unfreeze the screen is for you to disable the Guided Access, which requires password.
Set Screen Time Limit on iPad and iPhone with Parent Control
1. First you need start Guided Access. You can find detailed step by step guide with screen shots here: How to lock the iPad or iPhone screen within the app. 
2. Set up Screen Time Limit feature. When you set up the Guided Access, there will be a new option Time Limits. Tap on it will bring a new screen, letting you to choose the warning signs when the time is up. You can choose Sound or Speak. I would choose both. For Sound, you are given the option to pick a sound from your device sound profiles. 
3. Activate the Screen Time Limit Feature. After you have screen time limit feature set up, you can use it anytime. To use the feature, after you open an app, triple click the home button, you will see Guided Access is activated. There will be a label at the top of the screen saying Guided Access. 
At the bottom of the screen, you can see Option. Tap on Option. You will see a new screen, and the last item on this new screen is Time Limit. Tap on Time Limit, and make sure the button to the right is green. Now you can use the scroll to set the time you want your child stay on the app. You will see the time showing up right under Time Limit, then tap Done. 
4. Screen Time Limit in Action. After activating the feature, you can give the device to your child, knowing they can only stay within that app, and they can only stay on it for the set time. 5. When it is close to the time, kids will see and hear the warnings. 
6. When the time is up, they will see a black screen telling them screen time expired. They cannot get out of the screen or get on another app without your disabling Guided Access first. 
7. To stop Guided Access, tap on End at the top left corner of the screen. Hope this is helpful.
If you are looking for options of limiting screen time for older kids or adults, check out 12 screen time control apps.
For older kids, you may consider using some different strategies to get kids off screen without complaining.
If you have younger kids, make sure to visit How to Lock iPad iPhone Screen so Kids Stay Within One App for the set up of Guided Access. You will also find how to make certain area of the screen not response to the touch in that article, a very useful feature for kids using apps with ads.
(image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net) Guided Access limits your device to a single app and lets you control which features are available. You can turn on Guided Access when you let a child use your device, or when accidental gestures might distract you. 
Set up Guided Access
- Go to Settings > Accessibility, then turn on Guided Access.
- Tap Passcode Settings, then tap Set Guided Access Passcode.
- Enter a passcode, then re-enter it. From here, you can also turn on Face ID or Touch ID as a way to end a Guided Access session.
Start a Guided Access session
- Open the app that you want.
- On an iPhone X or later, triple-click the side button. On an iPhone 8 or earler, triple-click the Home button.
- If you want parts of your screen to stop responding to touch, use one finger to circle those areas. You can move or resize the circle, or tap the X to remove it.
- Tap Guided Access, then tap Start.
Or to start a Guided Access session with Siri*, open the app that you want, then tell Siri «Turn on Guided Access.» *Siri features might vary by country or region.
Control which features are available
- To turn off features or set a time limit, triple-click the Side or Home button, then tap Options. If you don’t see Options, triple-click the Side or Home button again and enter your passcode.
- Turn on the options that you want, then tap Done.
Sleep/Wake Button
To turn off the Sleep/Wake button on your device, turn this off. 
Volume Buttons
To turn off the volume buttons on your device, turn this off.
Motion
To limit how your device responds to motion, turn this off. For example, your screen won’t respond when shaken, and the screen won’t rotate no matter how you hold your device. 
Keyboards
To turn off the keyboard so that it does not appear, turn this off.
Touch
If you want your device to ignore screen touches, turn this off.
Dictionary Lookup
To use the Look Up feature when you select text, turn this on. 
Time Limit
To choose a time limit for your Guided Access session, turn this on.
End a Guided Access session
Triple-click the Side or Home button, enter your Guided Access passcode, then tap End. Or if you turned on Touch ID or Face ID for Guided Access, double-click the Side or Home button. Published Date: When it comes to devices, iPhones and iPads have become a staple in many homes. They offer a wide range of features and apps that can benefit kids and adults alike. However, with children having access to a world of apps and games at their fingertips, parents need to have some control over what their kids can and can’t do on their devices. To help give users greater control over their devices, Apple created a Guided Access feature. Guided Access allows users to restrict certain areas of the screen or even certain apps. Initially designed for individuals with disabilities, this feature can be very helpful for parents who want to make sure their children are only using apps that are appropriate for their age or for parents who want to limit the amount of time their children spend on the device. So, how can you use Guided Access on your iPhone or iPad to enhance the safety and security of your device? Keep reading our guide below to find out!
What is Guided Access?
Guided Access was initially introduced as a method to help individuals with disabilities better use iOS devices. By limiting the areas of the screen that can be accessed or by restricting certain apps, Guided Access allows users to customize their iOS experience to better suit their needs. However, it can also be helpful for parents who want to make sure their children are only using apps that are appropriate for their age or for parents who want to limit the amount of time their children spend on the device. With Guided Access, parents have greater control over the content their children can access on their iPhones and iPads. There are several reasons you might want to use Guided Access on your device. Here are a few of the most common reasons: To prevent children from leaving an app. When you’re using an app – such as an educational game or video – you can use Guided Access to keep them from accidentally leaving the app. To prevent children from accessing certain features. You can use Guided Access to restrict access to certain features on your device, such as the camera or Siri. This can be helpful if you only want your child to use an app for a specific purpose and don’t want them distracted by other features. It can also help prevent accidental in-app purchases. To limit the amount of time spent on an app. You can use Guided Access to set a timer for how long someone can use an app. This can be helpful if you want to ensure your child doesn’t spend too much time on their device or if you only want them to use an app for a certain amount of time.
How to Set Up Guided Access
Guided Access is an accessibility feature, so it’s already built into your iPhone or iPad and doesn’t require any special software to be installed. This is good news for parents and guardians who may be concerned about the privacy of their children and the apps they’re using. Before you can use Guided Access, you will need to set up your Guided Access settings. To do so, simply follow these steps in your iPad or iPhone Settings: 1. Tap Accessibility.
2. Tap Guided Access.
3. Toggle Guided Access on.
4. Set a passcode that will be used to turn off Guided Access. If you forget your passcode, you will need to restart your device to regain access to it. You can also use Face ID or Touch ID to turn off Guided Access if your device is equipped with these features.
How to Use Guided Access – Running a Guided Access Session
Now that you have set up your device for Guided Access, it’s time to learn how to use it. Here are the steps you need to take to run a Guided Access session: 1. Open the app you want to use or the feature you want to restrict.
2. Triple-click the Home button or the Side button (on iPhone X and later).
3. Use your finger to circle the areas you want to disable. To disable the entire screen, tap outside of the app.
4. Tap “Guided Access” and press “Start.” Once activated, Guided Access will prevent the user from leaving the app or accessing restricted screen areas. When you want to end the Guided Access session, simply triple-click your Home button or Side button and enter your passcode. When you are ready to end the Guided Access session, triple-click the Home button or the Side button (on iPhone X and later) and end the session with your passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID. This will return your phone or tablet to normal operation.
Options You Can Set within Guided Access
Within Guided Access, you can also set some options that will further restrict the iPhone or iPad’s operation. Within the “Options” of a Guided Access session, you can disable the following:
- Sleep/Wake Button: This will prevent the user from putting the device to sleep or waking it up.
- Volume Buttons: This will disable the volume buttons so the user can’t change the volume.
- Motion: This will restrict any motion-based features such as tilt or shake.
- Keyboards: This will disable all on-screen keyboards so the user can’t type.
- Touch: This will disable all touch input so the user can’t tap or swipe the screen.
- Time Limits: This will set a limit on how long the Guided Access session can run. When the time limit is reached, the device will automatically lock.
Tips for Using Guided Access with Your Family
If you’re a parent or guardian, you can use Guided Access to control the content your children can access on their devices. Here are some tips for using Guided Access with your family: 1. Explain to your children why you are using Guided Access and what it does. This will help them understand why certain features are restricted. 2. Make a list of apps you use Guided Access with and approve them ahead of time. This will save you time when you’re setting up a Guided Access session. 3. Use Guided Access to limit the amount of time your children spend on their devices. This can be helpful in preventing screen time from becoming excessive. 4. Try using Guided Access with apps that are designed for educational purposes. This can help your children focus on learning and limit distractions. Guided Access can be a helpful tool for parents and guardians who want to control the content their children can access on their devices. By following these tips, you can make the most of this feature and ensure your family’s safety online.
Enhance Your Device Safety with Kidslox
When it comes to staying safe online, knowing that you have control over what your children can see and do is essential. With Guided Access, you can reduce the number of controls that are available to your children and limit their access to apps and features that you approve. However, for the ultimate in online safety for your family, we recommend using an app like Kidslox. Kidslox is a parental control app that gives you the ability to block apps, set time limits, and filter content on all of your family’s devices. With Kidslox, you can ensure that your children are only using age-appropriate apps and websites and limit the amount of time they spend online. Plus, Kidslox is easy to set up and use, so you can get started protecting your family right away – and a single account covers all of your devices. If you’re looking for a way to take control of your family’s devices and keep your children safe online, we recommend trying Kidslox. With its ability to block apps, set time limits, and filter content, Kidslox is the ultimate parental control solution. Get started today and see how easy it is to keep your family safe online. 
Enable the “Guided Access” slider and tap “Passcode Settings” to set a passcode. You can use the same passcode you use to unlock your iPhone or iPad, or a different one–it’s up to you. If you have a device with a Touch ID sensor, the “Touch ID” option allows you to use your fingerprint to unlock Guided Access mode without having to type your passcode. Tap the “Time Limits” option on the Guided Access screen to configure time limit sounds. By default, no sounds will play and Guided Access’s time limit will end silently. If you’d like an audible alert when the Guided Access time limit is up, use the Sound and Speak options here. The Sound option allows you to select a sound that will play when the time limit is up–by default it’s “None,” but you can tap the “Sound” option and scroll through the list of alert sounds on your iPhone and choose one. The “Speak” option will speak the remaining time aloud when you enable it–for example, it’ll say something when there are approximately 30 seconds left. A notification will appear on the screen when this happens, but Speak makes the notification audible.
Pick an App and Set a Time Limit
Once you’ve enabled and configured Guided Access, you’re good to go. Whenever you like, you can now open any app you choose (like a game). Then, quickly press the “Home” button three times in a row to enable Guided Access for that app. Tap the “Options” button in the bottom-left corner of the Guided Access screen that appears and enable the “Time Limit” option. You can set any time limit you want in increments of one minute, from one minute to 23 hours and 59 minutes. Tap “Done” and tap the “Start” option at the top-right corner of the screen to put the device into Guided Access mode and apply your time limit. Your iPhone or iPad will be locked to the specific application you chose. When the time limit expires, the iPhone or iPad will lock itself until you enter the PIN you provided earlier. To leave Guided Access at any time–including before the time limit ends–just press the “Home” button three times in a row and enter your PIN. If you’ve enabled Touch ID, you can also just press the “Home” button once and leave your finger on the sensor. Tap “End” at the top-left corner of the screen if the Guided Access screen appears. Guided Access will be disabled. While this is clearly useful for limiting gameplay time or restricting a child to an educational application, it’s not ideal for controlling device screen time. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t provide a way to allow a child to use multiple apps on the device while setting a time limit. READ NEXT
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