Why isn’t my guided access working on my iPhone?

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17 views3 days agoPhone

Cotton

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I’ve been trying to use Guided Access on my iPhone, but it’s just not working the way it’s supposed to. I rely on this feature to keep my focus while using certain apps or to prevent unintended actions when my phone is in someone else’s hands. However, recently, every time I try to enable it, the screen either freezes up, or the app doesn’t respond to touch. Sometimes, I’m unable to triple-click the home or side button to activate or deactivate the Guided Access mode. I’ve double-checked that the feature is turned on in my settings, and I’ve even restarted my phone multiple times, but nothing seems to help. This issue is starting to become really frustrating, and I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. Why isn’t my guided access working on my iPhone?

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7 Answers

Janey · Answer 1 · 2025-04-18T05:41:13+00:00

Sometimes, Guided Access can be affected by background processes. Ensure that the accessibility shortcut settings are correct:
1. Open ‘Settings.’
2. Go to ‘Accessibility.’
3. Tap ‘Accessibility Shortcut.’
4. Confirm that ‘Guided Access’ is selected here. Making sure the shortcut is properly configured could solve the issue.

Fay · Answer 2 · 2025-04-17T18:15:03+00:00

Conflicts with other accessibility features can sometimes be the problem. You can check by:
1. Opening ‘Settings.’
2. Selecting ‘Accessibility.’
3. Ensuring that multiple features aren’t clashing.
4. Turning off the features you seldom use and retrying Guided Access. This might alleviate the issue.

Jessey · Answer 3 · 2025-04-17T11:32:38+00:00

In some cases, the problem might be due to hardware issues with your iPhone, particularly the buttons used to activate Guided Access. Follow these steps to troubleshoot:

Quickly press and release the volume up button.
Quickly press and release the volume down button.
Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

If these steps don’t work, the physical buttons on your iPhone might need servicing.

Hooper · Answer 4 · 2025-04-17T06:31:04+00:00

Check for any app permission conflicts. Sometimes restrictions set within ‘Screen Time’ can interfere. Here’s what you can do:
1. Open ‘Settings.’
2. Select ‘Screen Time.’
3. Make sure ‘App Limits’ are not impacting the app.
4. Temporarily disable app restrictions to see if Guided Access starts working.

Deandre · Answer 5 · 2025-04-16T20:02:10+00:00

It’s plausible that an accessory like a case or screen protector is causing interference. Try using Guided Access without these accessories to see if the problem is resolved.

Immanuel · Answer 6 · 2025-04-16T14:14:51+00:00

Your Guided Access might be affected by a recent software update. Sometimes, these updates come with bugs that interfere with phone features. To fix this, check for any available updates and install them. If the issue started after an update, you might need to wait for another update to fix the bug.

Vidal · Answer 7 · 2025-04-16T14:13:11+00:00

There might be an issue with how Guided Access is set up on your phone. To ensure it’s configured correctly, follow these steps:

Open ‘Settings.’
Go to ‘Accessibility.’
Scroll down and select ‘Guided Access.’
Make sure the feature is turned on.
Go to ‘Passcode Settings’ and set or reset the passcode.
Restart your iPhone.

If Guided Access still isn’t working, try resetting all settings by navigating to ‘Settings’ > ‘General’ > ‘Reset’ > ‘Reset All Settings.’