Tip of the Month - July 2021 - Guided access and Screen Time
Managing app access on an iPad – Guided Access and Screen Time
Guided Access and Screen Time are two different features of the iPad operating systems that allow you to manage (and monitor) how and when users interact with their devices. Whilst there is some overlap in their functionality, each also has its own useful functions. Thoughtful combination of the various functions of both features, gives you effective options for managing device and app access for users.
Guided Access
Guided Access was introduced in iOS 6. Its key function is to ‘lock’ the device into a specific app, with a password required to be able to exit from that app, but it has other useful features as well.
The video below demonstrates the key options (time given in min:sec for beginning of each section):
· Setting up Guided Access in Settings. (00:00)
· Turning Guided Access on and off for a specific app.(00:56)
· Using Guided Access to ‘lock’ areas of the screen.(01:58)
· Using Guided Access to limit the time in an app.(04:49)
· iPad functionality options within Guided Access (06:11)
The information in the video is also available here: https://support.apple.com/en-nz/HT202612
Be aware of the following:
- If you turn Guided Access off to access other things on the device, remember to turn it back on before returning to the user if it is an important part of their setup.
- If the device goes completely flat, Guided Access will be OFF when you recharge it! Don’t forget to turn it back on if required.
- As noted in the video above, if your touch screen appears to not be working check the following two things:
o Do you see a greyed out area (it may be tiny!) on the screen when in Guided Access? If so, triple click the Home button, find the grey area, and tap the ‘x’ to remove it.
o If you are in Guided Access and there is no greyed out area, but the screen is unresponsive, check that “Touch” is turned on in the Guided Access options (triple click home button, enter pass code, tap “Options” in the bottom left corner, make sure the switch next to “Touch” is green.
Screen Time
Screen time was introduced in iOS 12. It provides more global control of access to apps and other device features. Unlike Guided Access, Screen Time settings are not impacted if the device battery goes flat – they will still be in place when you recharge and restart the device.
The video below demonstrates the key actions and options (time given in min:sec for beginning of each section):
- Enabling Screen Time (00:00)
- Setting Down Time - when apps on the device cannot be accessed (01:39)
- Setting Always Allowed apps - these will be available during Down Time (05:06)
- Limiting time in specific apps or categories of apps (08:09)
Screen Time also allows you to manage a variety of other settings, which are not covered here. These include:
- limiting the ability to add or delete apps
- blocking inappropriate content
- privacy settings
- setting communication limits
You will also find information on various topics related to the use of Screen Time here:
- general information about setting up Screen Time: https://support.apple.com/en-nz/HT208982
- setting Down Time, app limits, communication limits, always allowed apps, and content and privacy restrictions: https://support.apple.com/en-nz/guide/ipad/ipadaf2aa9f2/ipados
Created by Helen Brunner (Teacher/Trainer) on 28 August 2020.
To download this Tip of the Month as a PDF, please click here
Managing app access on an iPad – Guided Access and Screen Time
Guided Access and Screen Time are two different features of the iPad operating systems that allow you to manage (and monitor) how and when users interact with their devices. Whilst there is some overlap in their functionality, each also has its own useful functions. Thoughtful combination of the various functions of both features, gives you effective options for managing device and app access for users.
Guided Access
Guided Access was introduced in iOS 6. Its key function is to ‘lock’ the device into a specific app, with a password required to be able to exit from that app, but it has other useful features as well.
The video below demonstrates the key options (time given in min:sec for beginning of each section):
· Setting up Guided Access in Settings. (00:00)
· Turning Guided Access on and off for a specific app.(00:56)
· Using Guided Access to ‘lock’ areas of the screen.(01:58)
· Using Guided Access to limit the time in an app.(04:49)
· iPad functionality options within Guided Access (06:11)
The information in the video is also available here: https://support.apple.com/en-nz/HT202612
Be aware of the following:
- If you turn Guided Access off to access other things on the device, remember to turn it back on before returning to the user if it is an important part of their setup.
- If the device goes completely flat, Guided Access will be OFF when you recharge it! Don’t forget to turn it back on if required.
- As noted in the video above, if your touch screen appears to not be working check the following two things:
o Do you see a greyed out area (it may be tiny!) on the screen when in Guided Access? If so, triple click the Home button, find the grey area, and tap the ‘x’ to remove it.
o If you are in Guided Access and there is no greyed out area, but the screen is unresponsive, check that “Touch” is turned on in the Guided Access options (triple click home button, enter pass code, tap “Options” in the bottom left corner, make sure the switch next to “Touch” is green.
Screen Time
Screen time was introduced in iOS 12. It provides more global control of access to apps and other device features. Unlike Guided Access, Screen Time settings are not impacted if the device battery goes flat – they will still be in place when you recharge and restart the device.
The video below demonstrates the key actions and options (time given in min:sec for beginning of each section):
- Enabling Screen Time (00:00)
- Setting Down Time - when apps on the device cannot be accessed (01:39)
- Setting Always Allowed apps - these will be available during Down Time (05:06)
- Limiting time in specific apps or categories of apps (08:09)
Screen Time also allows you to manage a variety of other settings, which are not covered here. These include:
- limiting the ability to add or delete apps
- blocking inappropriate content
- privacy settings
- setting communication limits
You will also find information on various topics related to the use of Screen Time here:
- general information about setting up Screen Time: https://support.apple.com/en-nz/HT208982
- setting Down Time, app limits, communication limits, always allowed apps, and content and privacy restrictions: https://support.apple.com/en-nz/guide/ipad/ipadaf2aa9f2/ipados
Created by Helen Brunner (Teacher/Trainer) on 28 August 2020.
To download this Tip of the Month as a PDF, please click here