Prevent accidental app switching with Apple Guided Access

If your child has accidentally navigated out of the Maka Kids app — for example by tapping the iOS navigation bar at the bottom of the screen — Apple Guided Access is the solution. Guided Access is a built-in iOS feature that locks your device to a single app until you choose to exit, keeping your child's viewing session exactly where it should be.

Good to know: Guided Access is built into every iPhone and iPad — there's nothing to download or install. It takes about two minutes to set up and only needs to be configured once.

Setting up Guided Access

You only need to do this once. After setup, Guided Access will be ready to use whenever you need it.

1. Open Settings on your device
2. Tap Accessibility
3. Tap Guided Access and toggle it on
4. Tap Passcode Settings to set a PIN, or enable Face ID or Touch ID to end sessions securely

Starting a Guided Access session

Do this each time you hand the device to your child to watch Maka Kids.

1. Open the Maka Kids app
2. Triple-click the Side button (or the Home button on older devices)
3. Tap Start in the top-right corner

The device is now locked to Maka Kids. Your child can watch without being able to navigate to other apps or your home screen.

Note: You can optionally circle areas of the screen to make them unresponsive to touch, or tap Options to disable the volume buttons or side button entirely. For most Maka Kids sessions the default settings work well.

Ending a Guided Access session

1. Triple-click the Side button (or Home button)
2. Enter your PIN or use Face ID or Touch ID
3. Tap End in the top-left corner