Little-known iPhone privacy setting branded as 'life-changing' by Apple users
Apple is regularly updating the operating system for its long line of iconic iPhones.
As of writing, iOS 18 just received its first update, 18.0.1, on October 3rd. The brand-new software update has introduced multiple bug fixes for the touch screen which has been unresponsive for multiple iPhone 16 users.
Yet, while new fixes and features are always welcome, there’s a plethora of existing features that can revolutionize Apple fan's experience with their beloved smartphones. If only more knew about them.
One major feature only involves some tinkering around with your iPhone’s settings. However, it could save you years of embarrassment, and avoid that spicy selfie from getting into the wrong hands.
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For example, handing off your iPhone to a friend or family member to share a funny meme or TikTok video can be a nice moment. But, especially if your family isn’t very tech-savvy, it can also result in your phone gallery being exposed.
That’s where ‘Guided Access’ comes in. Enabling this handy feature can prevent friends and family from snooping around on your iPhone, and save those cute selfies for their intended audience.
How to enable Guided Access on your iPhone
All you need to do to set it up, is follow the steps below:
- Go to Settings
- Navigate to ‘Accessibility’
- Select ‘Guided Access’
Once enabled, you can tap your iPhone’s power button three times to start a ‘guided access session.’ With this in tow, as explained by a Reddit user on r/LifeProTips, anyone you’ve handed your precious phone to will be locked into viewing the app you’re trying to show them.
Now, if you hand your mum a funny TikTok, they won’t be able to accidentally open up just about every other app on your phone. Instead, TikTok and only TikTok will be viewable.
To disable the guided access session, and return your iPhone to normal, all you need to do is log in with your Face ID or passcode.
After discovering this incredible iPhone feature, one fellow Redditor stated, “As mother of a tech addicted toddler who wants to look at the CBeebies app but always seems to find himself calling my work colleagues, this is an absolute life saver.”
Not only is this great for protecting your privacy from non-tech-Navy family members, but it can also be helpful in more serious situations.
Another Reddit user took to r/LifeProTips, to share that the Guided Access app can also come in handy when having to showing your virtual insurance ID card if you ever get pulled over while driving.
With the feature enabled, your phone won’t enter sleep mode. Better yet, you’ll have more piece of mind when handing your phone over, as someone will only be able to access your virtual ID and nothing else.
The comments in the Reddit thread will alight, with many recommending never to hand your phone over, even to a police officer. Meanwhile, many Android users were frantically asking if there was an alternative to the life-changing feature.
Luckily there is, and its called ‘Pinning’. However, for iPhone users, Guided Access is to the go to feature to setup. If not to protect your privacy, but also project your phone next time someone wants to see ‘what games you have’ on it.
Featured image credit: izusek/Matt Cardy via Getty images.