How to Lock iPhone Screen During Video: The Secret Button Saving Your Sanity (and Bank Apps)
How to Lock iPhone Screen for Kids: The Hidden Setting You Need
A step-by-step guide to setting up Guided Access if you have kids, cats, or are just tired of accidental screen taps
It’s a picture-perfect scenario: you turn on a cartoon on your iPhone for your kid to buy yourself 30 minutes of peace, a hot cup of coffee, or a quick work call. But before you can even step away, your toddler grabs the phone, accidentally taps the screen — and the video cuts off. Cue the instant meltdown. Worst of all, they don’t just exit the app; they could accidentally browse through your work chats, delete irreplaceable family photos, or, heaven forbid, open your mobile banking app and accidentally wire money to someone. That’s definitely not a joke you want to play.
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| Protect your phone from kids and hyperactive cats! Learn how to use a hidden iPhone feature to completely disable touch screen taps during video playback |
Or maybe you have a hyperactive cat who loves walking across the glowing display, completely ruining your favorite TV show? Or perhaps you constantly mess up the playback yourself with accidental taps while cooking in the kitchen and following a video recipe?
The solution to this problem is already built right into your smartphone, but for some reason, Apple hides it deep within the settings. In this article, you will find a detailed, simple, and quick guide on how to lock your iPhone screen from accidental touches while keeping the video playing.
Step 1. Initial Setup (Breathe Easy, You Only Need to Do This Once)
First, we need to activate this hidden feature. It takes exactly one minute, but once it’s done, you’ll be able to turn it on in a split second.
- Open “Settings” on your iPhone.
- In the search bar at the very top, type “Guided Access” and tap on the section that appears.
- Turn on the main toggle next to “Guided Access”.
- Important: Right below that, make sure to activate the “Accessibility Shortcut” toggle. This is the magic switch that will allow you to instantly control the screen lock mode.
That’s it! You are all set, and you will never have to go back to this step again!
Step 2. Activating Before Launching Videos or Cartoons
Now, let’s see this feature in action. Anyone can do it — even your grandma.
- Open any app where a video is playing (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Safari, or your built-in Photo gallery) and start the video.
- Triple-click (press 3 times quickly) the side button (on older iPhone models, press the Home button 3 times).
- The screen will shrink slightly, and the setup menu for the mode will pop up.
Step 3. Completely Locking the Screen from Taps
- In the bottom-left corner, tap the “Options” button and make sure the “Touch” toggle is turned off. Alternatively, you can simply use your finger to draw a circle around any area on the screen you want to make “invisible” to touch. To completely disable any response to touch, draw a boundary around the entire screen.
- In the top-right corner, tap the “Start” button.
- The system will ask you to set a 4-digit or 6-digit passcode. Create one and make sure to remember it (you will need it to disable the lock later).
You’re all set! Now you can safely hand the phone over to your child or leave it within reach of your cat’s paws. They can poke at the display, try to swipe the app away, or hit the “back” button — your iPhone has just turned into a “bulletproof” TV. The cartoon will keep playing, and the screen won’t react to any external distractions whatsoever.
Step 4. How to Return Your iPhone to Normal Mode
When the viewing session is over and you need to get your smartphone back to its fully functional state:
- Quickly press the side button 3 times again.
- Enter the digital passcode you set up earlier for “Guided Access”.
- In the top-left corner, tap the “End” button.
Your phone will instantly return to its standard mode.
Bonus: Who Else Can Benefit from This Feature?
This hidden gem isn’t just for young parents. Think about it: how often do you hand your phone to someone just to show them one specific photo, only for them to shamelessly start swiping through the rest of your gallery?
To stop people from snooping around, just turn on “Guided Access” before handing your phone over. Draw boundaries along the sides of the screen — and no one will be able to swipe left or right to see your private photos.
Insider Tip: to truly master this screen-locking workflow and keep your device safe, you must understand that software tricks are only half the battle — your iPhone needs physical protection too. If you want to dive deeper into heavy-duty device security and prevent structural damage when kids or cats inevitably drop the phone, I highly recommend investing in
By the way, while the rest of the world is busy looking for ways to protect their smartphones from kids and cats, I am focused on creating things that make everyday life a little brighter and cozier. Especially for those who appreciate comfort and love great design, I have two cool projects. If you want to treat yourself or your loved ones, feel free to check out my shops:
- on Redbubble you will find cute, beautiful, and truly cool merch featuring funny raccoons and more, designed to lift your mood in any situation;
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Perhaps that is exactly where you will find what you have been looking for, whether for yourself or as a perfect gift. 🦝
Did you know about this hidden iPhone feature? Let me know in the comments below: would this have saved you from accidental purchases made by your kids?
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