# Guided Access won't end

> Can't end Guided Access? Triple-click the side button (Face ID iPhones) or Home button, then enter the Guided Access passcode. Face ID only works if you set it.

Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/guided-access-wont-end/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Guided Access settings with Passcode Settings highlighted](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/fix--guided-access-wont-end.png)

- 4 causes

Ending a session takes the right button, the right number of clicks and the Guided Access code.

- **Causes:** 4
- **Steps:** 3

**Short answer:** **Triple-click** the **side button** on an iPhone with Face ID, or the **Home button** on other models, then enter your **Guided Access passcode** (not always your iPhone passcode). Face ID or Touch ID only works if you turned it on in **Passcode Settings**. If a shortcuts panel appears, tap **Guided Access**, then **End**.

Causes

## Causes, most likely first

| Cause | How to tell | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wrong button | Nothing happens on triple-click | Side button on Face ID iPhones, Home button on others |
| Face ID not set for Guided Access | Only a passcode prompt appears | Enter the Guided Access passcode |
| Accessibility Shortcuts panel | A list of shortcuts appears | Tap Guided Access, then End |
| Time limit expired | "Time Expired" message fills the screen | Triple-click and enter the Guided Access passcode |

3 steps

## Set up Guided Access so ending is easy

1. **Turn on Guided Access.** Go to **Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access**, switch it on and set a Guided Access passcode.
2. **Triple-click the side button.** Open the photo you want to show, then triple-click the **side button** and tap **Start**.
3. **End it with your code.** Triple-click the side button again and enter your Guided Access passcode to leave.

If you forgot the Guided Access passcode, Apple's Guided Access pages don't describe a reset. Try Face ID or Touch ID if you turned it on, then contact Apple Support.

Did that fix it?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [Lock the iPhone to one photo](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-iphone-to-one-photo/)
- [Guided Access vs vault](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/guided-access-vs-vault/)

Find your fix:

- [Guided Access basics](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/guided-access/)
- [Guided AccessGlossary](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/glossary/guided-access/)

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Questions

## Guided Access won't end: questions

### How do I get out of Guided Access on iPhone?

Triple-click the side button on an iPhone with Face ID, or the Home button on other models, and enter your Guided Access passcode. If you turned on Face ID or Touch ID in Guided Access Passcode Settings, you can use that instead. Then tap End to finish the session.

### Is the Guided Access passcode my iPhone passcode?

Not necessarily. Apple has you set a separate Guided Access passcode in Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access › Passcode Settings, and it asks you to set one when you first start a session. Face ID or Touch ID can end sessions only if you turn that option on there.

Checked against Apple's documentation

- [Use Guided Access on iPhone or iPad](https://support.apple.com/en-us/111795)
- [Lock iPhone to one app with Guided Access](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph7fad0d10/ios)

## Go deeper

- [Guided Access](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/guided-access/)
- [Lock to one photo](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-iphone-to-one-photo/)

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- [Require Face ID missing](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/require-face-id-missing/)
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- [Hidden album not locked](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/hidden-album-not-locked/)
- [Locked notes won't open on iCloud.com](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/fix/locked-notes-missing-on-icloud-com/)