How to lock the screen for kids on an iPhone, iPad, and Android device

Why should you lock the screen for kids?

You may want to lock your screen for kids for plenty of reasons:

• To prevent accidental taps. Babies and toddlers don’t understand what they press. A few random taps can pause a video, call someone, delete something, send a message, buy a game, or change phone app permissions.
• To keep kids inside one app. If you hand over an iPad for a drawing app or an iPhone for a YouTube video, screen locking helps stop your child from switching to games, photos, messages, or browser tabs.
• To reduce online risks. Screen locking stops younger kids from wandering into online spaces they’re not ready for. This step can help prevent cyberbullying and child identity theft.
• To reduce access to inappropriate content. Screen locking helps keep a child in a safe app, but it should be paired with content restrictions.
• To protect your own privacy. Your phone may contain banking apps, work messages, photos, email, and private chats. Kids don’t need bad intentions to accidentally open something sensitive.
• To encourage more offline time. Games and videos can easily stretch from five minutes to an hour. Screen locks and time limits make device use more intentional, so screens don’t take over playtime, bedtime, or family time.

How to lock an iPhone or iPad screen for kids

iOS handles screen locking by implementing a feature called Guided Access, which limits access to certain apps. It allows you to secure your iPhone or iPad or lock parts of the screen, preventing others from clicking away.

Guided Access can also disable parts of a screen as well as the hardware buttons. So whether you want to lock a YouTube screen on an iPhone or iPad for kids or avoid scrolling Facebook while you’re on an important task, use Guided Access.

How to enable Guided Access

To use Guided Access, you will first need to set it up and create a password, or enable Face ID or Touch ID if your iPhone or iPad supports it. Here are the steps to turn on Guided Access and set up the security method:

1. 1.Open “Settings” > “Accessibility.”
2. 2.Scroll down and tap “Guided Access.”
3. 3.Toggle “Guided Access” on. 
4. 4.Tap “Passcode settings” > “Set Guided Access passcode” and create a passcode.
5. 5.If available, turn on Face ID or Touch ID for easier unlocking.
6. 6.Optional: Tap “Time limits” to set the device to play a sound or speak when time is nearly up.

How to lock an iPhone or iPad screen with Guided Access

Once Guided Access is enabled, you can use it inside any app:

1. 1.Open an app you want to use, such as YouTube.
2. 2.Triple-click the side button on newer iPhones and iPads or triple-click the Home button on older models.
3. 3.When the “Accessibility shortcut” menu appears, choose “Guided Access.”
4. 4.Tap “Options” in the bottom-left corner.
5. 5.Choose what to allow or block. You can disable the side button, volume buttons, motion, keyboard, touch, or time limits.
6. 6.To block only part of the screen, draw a circle around the area you want to disable.
7. 7.Tap “Start” and enter your passcode.

To end the session, triple-click the side button or Home button again, enter the passcode, and tap “End.”

How to lock an Android screen for kids

On Android, the screen-locking feature is called “App pinning,” “Screen pinning,” or “Pin windows,” depending on the device. It’s simple to use and can be extremely useful, because once you pin an app, you can’t make any changes before you enter your PIN again. 

To use the feature, you’ll need to set it up first. You can search for it in the Android settings or follow the steps outlined below.

How to enable screen pinning

To enable app pinning on most Android phones:

1. 1.Open “Settings.”
2. 2.Go to “Security & privacy,” “Security,” or “Biometrics and security.”
3. 3.Find “Advanced” or “More security settings.”
4. 4.Tap “App pinning,” “Screen pinning,” or “Pin windows.”
5. 5.Turn the feature on.
6. 6.Enable “Ask for PIN before unpinning,” “Use screen lock type to unpin,” or a similar setting. Without it, a child may be able to exit the pinned app with a gesture.

How to lock a screen using screen pinning

Now, you can pin any app on your phone.

1. 1.Open the app you want to pin.
2. 2.Swipe up to launch the app tray and click on the app’s icon.
3. 3.Select “Pin app.”
4. 4.Click “Got it” on the confirmation screen.

To unpin the app, swipe up and hold until you’re asked if you really want to unpin the app and prompted to enter your PIN.

What are the most common issues while locking a screen for kids? 

Screen locking is simple once it works, but setup can be annoying the first time. These are the most common problems:

• The child can still exit the app. Check if you set a passcode. On an iPhone and iPad, Guided Access needs its own passcode. On Android, enable the option that asks for your PIN, pattern, or password before unpinning.
• The screen is locked, but the child can still tap inside the app. That’s expected unless you turn off touch. On iPhone or iPad, open Guided Access settings and switch off “Touch.” This step is useful for babies and toddlers watching videos.
• The volume or side button still works. In Guided Access, tap “Options” before starting the session and turn off any buttons you don’t want your child to use, such as the side button, volume buttons, or keyboard. On Android, button behavior varies by device, so test it before handing the phone over.
• Guided Access doesn’t start when you triple-click. Go to “Settings” > “Accessibility” > “Guided Access” and make sure it’s on. If the triple-click opens a menu, choose Guided Access from the list.
• You forgot the Guided Access passcode. Try ending the session with Face ID or Touch ID if enabled. If that doesn’t work, you may need to force restart the device and change the Guided Access settings afterward.
• The app pinning option is missing on Android. Search your Settings app for “pin,” “app pinning,” “screen pinning,” or “pin windows.” Some manufacturers place the feature in advanced security menus.
• YouTube or YouTube Kids still shows unwanted videos. Locking the screen only keeps the child in the app. It doesn’t decide what content is appropriate. Use YouTube Kids settings, content levels, approved content, and account-based parental controls to manage what your child can watch.You can also manage YouTube Kids settings through Google Family Link for a child’s Google Account.
• The child knows the phone passcode. Change it. Screen locking only works if the child can’t unlock the device or end the locked session.

Safety tips to help keep kids safer online

Locking the screen is helpful, but not enough on its own to keep kids safe online. A child can still see unsuitable content inside the app you allowed, tap ads, follow recommendations, or spend too much time watching videos.

Use these safety steps alongside screen locking:

• Set age-appropriate content restrictions. The easiest way to set up parental controls on an iPhone or iPad is through Screen Time. Use it to manage content, privacy, purchases, app downloads, and age-related restrictions. Apple also lets parents manage a child’s Screen Time settings through Family Sharing.
• Use app limits and downtime. Screen locking is for one session. App limits are for everyday boundaries. On iPhone and iPad, Screen Time lets you set limits for specific apps and schedule downtime, when selected apps and notifications are blocked. On Android, Google Family Link helps you set app limits and device rules.
• Block adult content where possible. No content filter catches everything, but it reduces the chances of a child opening explicit sites by accident. NordVPN’s adult site blocking feature is available on iOS and Android devices. To use it, open the NordVPN app, go to Threat Protection settings, turn on Threat Protection, and enable “Adult site blocking.”
• Lock purchases and app installs. Require approval for app downloads, in-app purchases, and paid apps. This step helps prevent surprise charges and stops kids from installing apps you haven’t reviewed.
• Use child-friendly profiles where available. Streaming apps, tablets, and video platforms often have kids’ profiles. Just remember to check the settings and adjust them for your child’s age.
• Set household rules at the network level. Many routers let you control Wi-Fi access at home by pausing the internet on specific devices, setting schedules, or creating a separate guest network for kids’ devices.
• Talk about online privacy and security. Screen locking stops younger kids from opening apps by accident, but older kids also need clear rules around sharing personal information and clicking links. Talk about privacy concerns on social media before your child starts using apps with comments, messages, or public profiles.