How to lock an iPhone or iPad to one app for a toddler (with a time limit)

To lock an iPhone or iPad to one app for a toddler, turn on Guided Access in Settings > Accessibility, open the app, triple-click the side button (or Home button), set a time limit and tap Start. Your child stays inside that app until you enter your passcode, and the session ends on its own when the time runs out. It is built into iOS and iPadOS, so you do not need another app for it.

The steps below follow Apple's guide, Use Guided Access on iPhone or iPad.

1. Turn on Guided Access once

Open Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access.
Turn Guided Access on.
Tap Passcode Settings and set a Guided Access passcode. Choose one your child has not seen you type. You can also allow Face ID or Touch ID to end a session.
Optional: under Time Limits, choose an alarm sound or have the device speak the remaining time.

You only do this once.

2. Start a session in the app your child will use

Open the app, for example a toddler learning game.
Triple-click the side button (top button on iPad, or the Home button on older models).
In the Guided Access screen, circle any area you want to disable. Toddlers often tap settings icons or menu buttons by accident; circling them makes them inactive.
Open the session settings (the Options button). Here you can turn off the volume buttons, motion, the keyboard or touch, and turn on Time Limit.
Set the time, for example 15 minutes, and tap Start.

3. End the session

When the time limit runs out, the screen shows that time has expired. Triple-click the button and enter your passcode (or use Face ID or Touch ID) to end the session or extend it. You can end it early the same way.

4. Pair it with purchase and content controls

Guided Access keeps your child in one app, but it does not stop purchases inside that app. Two more settings help:

Block in-app purchases on a shared device with Screen Time: Apple explains how in Use Screen Time to turn off in-app purchases.
If your child has their own Apple Account in Family Sharing, use Ask to Buy so purchase requests come to you. See Apple's Ask to Buy guide.

We cover purchases in more detail in How to stop a child from making purchases in kids' games on iPhone.

5. Choose an app that is safe to leave running

Locking a toddler into an app only works if that app is right for them. Before you start a session, check:

Ads: an ad can lead out of the game or show content you did not choose. Guided Access stops the device leaving the app, but your child still sees the ad.
Purchase screens: look for a parental gate before any purchase or outside link.
Pace and sound: loud, fast games can make the end of a session harder.
No reading needed: your child should be able to play without calling you every minute.

Where Toddly fits

Toddly is a set of calm learning games for ages 2 to 5 that works well inside a short Guided Access session:

It shows no ads.
After setup, purchases and child-accessible outside links are behind a parental gate.
Color Match uses spoken prompts such as "Where is the red one?", so a child who cannot read can play.
Each child can have their own profile, with progress stored on the device.
Game Center is off by default; a parent can turn it on for one child profile.

Toddly is free to download, and premium content needs a Toddly Premium subscription ($6.99 weekly, $9.99 monthly or $24.90 yearly, US App Store, Nov 2026). It is also available on Android, where Guided Access does not exist; Android has its own screen pinning and parental controls.

For other options, see Best toddler learning games.

Quick setup checklist

Guided Access on, with a passcode your child does not know
Settings buttons circled out of the session
Time limit set before you hand the device over
In-app purchases blocked or Ask to Buy on
An app with no ads and a parental gate