How to Lock Apps on an iPad GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Apple

How to Lock Apps on an iPad

Prevent access to certain apps on your iPad

By Jeremy Laukkonen Jeremy Laukkonen Writer Shoreline Community College Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles . lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 24, 2022 Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Jerrick Leger is a CompTIA-certified IT Specialist with more than 10 years' experience in technical support and IT fields. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section How to Lock Apps on an iPad Why Lock an App? Using Apps When They're Locked Which Apps Shouldn’t You Lock? Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

Open Settings > Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode, and set up a passcode if you haven’t already. Screen Time settings: Add Limits > Add Limit > app you want to lock > Next, set timer to 1 minute > tap Add.Open for one minute, tap ask for more time > one minute. Wait 1 minute and app will remain locked for 1 day. This article explains how to lock apps on an iPad, with instructions detailing how to use the Screen Time feature to block unauthorized access from specific apps.

How to Lock Apps on an iPad

Apple doesn’t provide a way to simply lock out an app or password protect an app on your iPad, but you can use the Screen Time feature to lock access to apps. This feature is designed to keep your kids from spending all day playing games and watching YouTube, but you can also use it to completely lock out apps using a simple workaround. After you have set the minimum time limit of one minute on an app, open the app to run out the time. Next use up the extra minute provided by Screen Time. After that, the app will be totally locked unless you enter your passcode. Here’s how to lock access to an iPad app:
Open Settings. Tap Screen Time. Tap Use Screen Time Passcode. If you don't see this option, you need to enable ScreenTime by choosing Turn on ScreenTime Enter a passcode. If you’ve already set up a Screen Time passcode, skip to step 7. Re-enter the passcode. Enter your Apple ID and password, and tap OK. Tap Add Limit. Select an app or several apps, and tap Next. You can also lock access to app categories, like Entertainment. Set the time to 0 hours 1 minutes, make sure the Block at End of Limit toggle is on, and tap Add. Open the app, and leave it open for one minute. Tap ask for more time. Tap One More Minute. Wait another minute. The app is now inaccessible without your passcode.

What s the Point of Locking iPad Apps

The Screen Time feature is primarily designed to limit the amount of time kids are able to access specific apps, so completely locking an app with this feature is a workaround. The reason you might want to consider using this workaround is it allows you to prevent unauthorized access to specific apps. If there’s an app you don’t want your kid to use at all, you can use this method to prevent them from using it. This method of locking apps can also prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. For example, if you need to give someone else physical access to your iPad, but you don’t want them to be able to scroll through your photos, you can lock access to the Photos app, along with any other apps you'd rather keep private..

How to Use Locked Apps

Locking an app only locks it for other people. As long as you remember your passcode, you can access the app at any time, even after you’ve run it out of time. To use a locked app, open the app, tap Ask For More Time and tap Enter Screen Time Passcode. You can then unlock the app for 15 minutes or one hour if you just want to use it a little before locking it again, or unlock all day if you aren’t worried about unauthorized access for the rest of the day.

Are There Any Apps You Shouldn t Lock

You can lock any app on your iPad. The only app that can’t be locked with Screen Time is the Phone app on your iPhone. There are some apps which won’t work right if you fully lock them, though. For example, if you lock Messages or FaceTime using the method described above, they won't be able to send or receive messages, so you won’t receive any notifications from those apps.
FAQ How do I lock an iPad to one app? You can use Screen Time to completely block off every app on the tablet except for the one you want people to use (for business, for example). You can also use Guided Access to prevent someone from exiting an iPad app. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and turn the feature on, and then triple-click the Home or top button to activate it. How do I lock in-app purchases on an iPad? Screen Time will also let you turn off in-app purchases. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases > In-app Purchases and select Don't Allow. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Unlock an iPhone Without a Passcode Prevent Someone From Exiting an iPad App How to Lock Apps on Any iPhone How to Disable the Control Center on the iPad Lock Screen How to Block YouTube on iPad How to Open the iPad's Settings How to Turn Off Siri on the iPad Lock Screen How to Reset Restrictions Passcode on an iPhone How to Block Websites on the iPhone How to Turn off In-App Purchases in iOS (iPad/iPhone) How to Lock the Screen on an Amazon Fire Tablet How to Use the iPad Calendar How to Lock Apps on Android How to Protect Your iPad With Parental Controls Are iPads Really That Safe from Viruses and Malware? Forgot Your iPhone Passcode? Here's How to Fix It Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies