Locking apps on iPad

I'm wondering if there is a way to lock apps on an iPad? I'm trying to help my sister with this. She's got a 3 year old who likes to "play" with her iPad while she's putting down her young daughter. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I'm stressed to the max and didn't want to search through the forum.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.1)

Posted on Feb 11, 2011 2:12 PM

Reply
179 replies

Sep 5, 2012 3:04 AM in response to Demo

Looking back now and at the time of night, I'm putting way too much effort here, on this first Apple Forum comment of mine. Especially, my brevity-focused wit in the "Other Details" on this likely, rarely read or likely written with iPseudonym; so few characters, so many details; like a mini-Twitter. And all to be snarky now, 18-mos. post post (yes, pun-focused wit, too). Anyway, my "point" was only that if someone is a fan of both passing parenting judgment and the Pittsburgh Steelers' hopefully you're writing your QB's parents at every free moment to pass judgment there too. Don't recall all the details now, but wasn't he accused of a few too many sexual assaults in the past few years?


My, presently, almost 3-yr-old, is def. an iToddler. If you consider buying too much crap in accessories for toys, my toys tending to start w/I - iPhones, the iPad, Apple TV - leading to even more iTunes, next accessory will hopefully be a Mac of some sort to replace our aging laptop as one of the problems today with kids and their parenting. that comes with toys, then he's got a lower iRisk than me I'd say. He wasn't two when I got this iPad, but regardless of a few other posts I read in this thread, he long ago mastered the Home Button and the hold & swipe to open too. He's figured out how to bang on enough Apple remote buttons to restart his cartoon before we can stop him. And I've read for hours (hours should be read in ALL-CAPS, larger font, with about ten S's that are followed by a few ZZZ's for the full picture). But yes, HOURS, reading up on the iCloud/H'Sharing/P'Streaming and Apple ID w/"associated" emails, etc. lately, yet I still can't articulate their full concepts as well as he told G'Pa yesterday of his bunny tracking/chasing adventure with me around the block.


Hope I wasn't too snarky. Just bored, insomnial, and venting out what a pharmacist can't vent out to frustrated and frustrating customers after a very long, very busy post-holiday prescription-filled Tuesday.


Guess I saved my Forum-Related "Point" for last...I looked at a couple of the app-locking apps this evening, and I'll def. get one ASAP. Can't remember specific app names now but if you've read, or even skimmed this far in my rant, any applicable iToddlers of yours are now in their teens, likely locking you out of their iPad 8 or 9's by now.

Sep 5, 2012 3:16 AM in response to De Kalb Pharm Boy

Not sure whether you want to lock access to certain other apps (due to the sandboxed nature of iOS no third-party apps will be able to lock access to other apps) or just be able to prevent exiting the currently open app, but with iOS 6 later in the Autumn there will be a new 'accessibility' function (from here) :

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.

Dec 25, 2012 10:32 PM in response to Mac on Andy

Hi, my kids got ipad2 and ipad mini, they are 6 and 4 yrs old, i am working overseas, reasons i bought them ipads for them to call and see me everytime they want. Problem is adults is using their ipads and log out their account in YM, skype, and viber these apps is already set up to their ipads once its log out my kids can't sign it back again coz they're too young to type the user ID and password. Is there any apps that locks these apps so that adults can't use the mentioned apps? Thanks.

Jan 15, 2013 12:16 PM in response to tdubbs26

Aside from all the needless comments, the bottom line is the answer is NO!. I too allow my 4 year old grandson use my iPad4, unsupervised. However there are specific games that are mine that I wish I could lock, so he can't play "my" turn for me! I to had hoped to lock only specific apps and I am unable to, SIRI told me so! My solution is the folder solution with all my Apps and explaing to my grandson the consquences of accessing my folder. Lets see whay happens.

Jan 19, 2013 5:22 AM in response to tdubbs26

If they can't read than go into Settings>General>Accessibility>Gudided Access and turn it on. If they can read (or if they can't read) you can set a passcode. Then go to the app you want them to stay in, press the home button 3 times and choose Gudided Access and then make sure it says all hardware button OFF and press start. If your kids know how to use multi-tasking guesters turn that off in Settings. Leave this on when your child is in the app. To end it (Guided Access) press the home button 3 times enter your passcode (the one you set up in the GUIDED ACCESS menu) if you had one and then tap end. You will be able to use the hardware buttons after this but if you want to do it again repet the steps. If you child "magically" get out of the app make sure you turn multi-tasking guesters OFF. Good luck!

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Locking apps on iPad

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.