Your Guide to Guided Access

Here is a step by step guide to setting up Guided Access on your iPad for you class.


1. In the 'Settings' option select 'General'.

Scroll down to the 'Accessibility' option and select it.

2. In the 'Accessibility' menu scroll down to the 'Guided Access' option and select it.

3. Make sure that 'Guided Access' is turned 'on' and then touch the 'Set Passcode' option.

4. Enter a 4 digit passcode that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for your students to figure out.

5. Return back to the main 'Accessibility' menu page and select the 'Triple-click Home' option.

6. Make sure that this menu is set to 'Guided Access' and you are ready to go!!

7. Open the app you want to use with your student. Click on the home button 3 times. The 'Guided Access' app menu will appear. From there you can set it up however you want. It will automatically lock the hardware buttons (Home, Sleep, and Volume). You can turn of the off the touch screen function for the entire screen or circle with your finger to turn it off in specific place. Finally you have the option to turn off the motion sensor (the screen image will not rotate when the device is turned).

After you have set the Guided Access options the way you want them press the blue 'Start' button in the top right corner of the screen. The app will then fill the screen as normal, with the Guided Access features enabled.

If your student does press the hardware buttons, first a message will appear at the top of the screen that says "Guided Access is enabled. Triple-click the home button to exit.". If the home button is clicked 3 times the 'Enter Passcode' window will appear. If you are ready to exit the app then simply enter the passcode that you saved in step 4.

You should now be back in the Guided Access options window. You have two options at this point, either to selected the grey 'End' button at the top left, or the blue 'Resume' button at the top right. You can also edit the Guided Access features from this screen; change the areas that are touch disabled, turn on the motion sensor.

If you select 'Resume' you will be taken back the app with Guided Access still on. If you select 'End' you will be taken back to the app with Guided Access off. You can then press the home button to exit the app and have full function of the hardware buttons again.

iOS6 In My Classroom

I just updated my iPad with iOS6 and so far I am happy with the changes. The clock is nice, the map looks good. But what I am really excited about is Guided Access.

Apple says on it's website, "iOS 6 comes with even more features to make it easier for people with vision, hearing, learning, and mobility disabilities to get the most from their iOS devices. Guided Access helps students with disabilities such as autism remain on task and focused on content. It allows a parent, teacher, or administrator to limit an iOS device to one app by disabling the Home button, as well as restrict touch input on certain areas of the screen. "

In Settings,  General, Accessibility, Guided Access you can set the device while in an app so that when you triple click the home button it shows you a screen that allows you to control the access points that a student has when using an app.

For example, I can disable all of the hardware buttons. That means that when using an app a student is no longer able to press out of the app using the home button, they can no longer turn off the device using the sleep button, and they can no longer change the volume.

This will eliminate one of the most frustrating parts of working with an iPad in my classroom.

As well, you can circle a part of the screen image and disable the touch function for that area. That is important when, for example, using an app that was designed for the iPhone on an iPad. I can circle the small 1x button and the student will no longer be able to toggle the size of the app during use. I can also disable areas of the screen where there is a return button or an edit feature.

What do you think? How is it working in your classroom or home?