# Lock your iPhone to one photo with Guided Access

> Keeps your iPhone inside one app until someone enters the Guided Access passcode. For handing your phone over. It locks the screen for a moment; it doesn't.

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

![Guided Access on an iPhone screen](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/locks--guided-access.png)

- Separate from passcode
- Videos too
- iOS 14+

Keeps your iPhone inside one app until someone enters the Guided Access passcode. For handing your phone over.

- **Setup:** 1 min once
- **Level:** 1/4
- **Steps:** 3
- **Cost:** Built in

**Quick answer:** Keeps your iPhone inside one app until someone enters the Guided Access passcode. For handing your phone over. **Best for:** showing one photo without letting someone swipe to the rest. **The gap:** It locks the screen for a moment; it doesn't protect photos stored on the phone.

3 steps

## How to set it up

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.

At a glance

## Guided Access: the facts

|  | Guided Access |
| --- | --- |
| Opens with | A separate Guided Access passcode, to leave the app |
| Separate from your passcode | Yes |
| Holds video | Yes |
| Several private spaces | No |
| Decoy for pressure | No |
| Protects stored photos | No |
| What others can see | Nothing is stored; it only limits the screen |
| If you forget it | Force restart your iPhone, then reset it in Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access |
| Needs | iOS 14+ |
| Setup time | 1 min once |
| Cost | Built in, free |

Level 1Guided Access

1. Short-term

2. Your passcode

3. Own password

4. Own lock + decoy

What this does not do

- It locks the screen for a moment; it doesn't protect photos stored on the phone.

> A lock that isn't your iPhone passcodeVaultForYou keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose in a private vault that opens only with a pattern you draw. [Get VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/)Free to download · iPhone, iOS 16 or later

Compare

## Guided Access vs the others

- [Hidden album vs Guided Access](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/hidden-album-vs-guided-access/)
- [Photos app vs Guided Access](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/photos-app-vs-guided-access/)
- [Locked note vs Guided Access](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/locked-note-vs-guided-access/)
- [Guided Access vs Vault](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/guided-access-vs-vault/)

Is your photo locked now?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [Stronger: Hidden album lockUtilities › Hidden](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/hidden-album/)
- [Stronger: Photos app lockRequire Face ID](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/photos-app/)
- [Stronger: Locked noteNotes › ••• › Lock](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/locked-note/)

Find your fix:

- [Option missingCheck your iPhone model](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/iphone/)
- [Forgot a passwordWhat you can do](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/forgot-notes-password/)
- [Not sure which lockCompare them](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/)

Questions

## Guided Access: questions

### What opens the guided access?

A separate Guided Access passcode, to leave the app. It is separate from your iPhone passcode, so knowing your passcode isn't enough.

### What does the guided access not protect?

It locks the screen for a moment; it doesn't protect photos stored on the phone. It doesn't lock anything stored on your iPhone.

### Can the guided access hold videos?

Yes. Videos work the same as photos with this lock.

### What if I forget the guided access?

Force restart your iPhone, then reset it in Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access.

## Other locks

- [Hidden album lockUtilities › Hidden](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/hidden-album/)
- [Photos app lockRequire Face ID](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/photos-app/)
- [Locked noteNotes › ••• › Lock](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/locked-note/)
- [Vault (VaultForYou)Drawn pattern](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/vault/)