Lock your iPhone Screen while Walking or Watching Videos
Nothing is more annoying than finding out you’ve been videoing the inside of your pocket while taking a walk. Or finding an app you never use has been open for hours draining your phone battery.
Here’s how to lock your iPhone or iPad screen while exercising. It’s also helpful when you or the kids want to watch a movie or view a presentation. If you don’t want touch to affect your screen, here’s how to set it up.
To turn off your touch screen instantly:
iPhone with Touch ID and Side Button
Click the Side button on the side of your phone
iPhone with Touch ID and Top Button
Click the Top button on the top of your phone
To lock your phone or iPad screen while watching a video or walking
If you need to hand your phone or iPad to the kids while they’re watching a video but don’t want them clicking onto another app, here’s how to lock it.
1. Start with Setting Up Accessibility Controls
iOS 12 or earlier – On your phone or iPad go to Settings >General >Accessibility then scroll down to Learning > Guided Access
iOS 13 or later – Go to Settings > Accessibility then scroll down to General > Guided Access
- Tap on Guided Access then tap the icon to turn it on (green)
- Add a passcode or turn on Touch ID
- Tap on Accessibility Shortcut to turn it on (green)
2. Once your controls are set, Activate
Open the app you want to control. Let’s say its Netflix or another video app.
- With iPhone 8 or earlier click the Home button 3 times
- With iPhone X or later click the side button 3x
- Check which iPhone model you have in Settings > General > About
You’ll see a message that Guided Access has started. To get the Options panel to show up, triple click again. You’ll have to enter your passcode.
Options allow you to manage these functions
- sleep/wake button – to turn it off
- keyboards – to turn off
- volume – to turn off
- touch -turn off to ignore screen touches
- motion – turn off so screen won’t rotate or respond if shaken
- set a time limit by turning this on
Once you’ve finished setting your options, including how long (time limit) then your screen will be locked for that duration.
Enjoy the movie!
