[ipad] Guided Access password set on iPad

[Koldov]

Just had a teacher bring an iPad that was in 'Guided Access' mode and asking for a passcode to exit...

 

OK, so I read the instructions to triple click the 'Home' button and entered '123456' as a first guess and it let me quit (good job most KS2 children aren't that devious)...

 

So obviously my question is how to remove this option (if possible). We use Meraki so I'm hoping somebody knows of an option is in there (because I'm not finding anything)...?

Edited June 27, 2023 by Koldov

[EdgarStammers]

I've been getting this a lot recently and I've spent some time looking in Meraki to see if there is a way to turn it off, and I can't find it. If it's there it is well hidden.

 

If you can't guess the PIN you just need to stick it into Lost Mode, and then take it out again and it will be cleared. Bit of a pain really. If there is a way I'd love to know it too.

[bknaggs]

If you're ever stuck and don't know/can't guess you can also use your MDM to set an App Lock and then remove the App Lock and this will remove the Guided Access password.

[Koldov]

Thanks, 'Single App Mode' worked!

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by Koldov

[howartp]

Or reboot the iPad.... much quicker!

[Koldov]

Yeah I saw that advice on another thread after I posted...

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/netbooks-pda-phones/195030-guided-access-woes.html#post1669517

 

Doesn't work here (and it didn't seem to for anybody else on the thread), it just goes straight back into Guided Access before you can do anything...

[Koldov]

I did some more research on this and found that in actual fact.... everybody is right!

 

Seems to be a bit hit and miss, which is why sometimes it works and for others it doesn't as I actually did notice that on some attempts it did turn off Guided Access on a reboot.... But for some reason I couldn't reproduce it every time, so thought I had just missed a step, or hadn't set it correctly.

 

However, it appears from my testing at least, for most of the time it can work depending on how 'Guided Access' has been enabled:

 

1.

 

Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access

 

Toggle on

 

Then 'Set a Passcode'

 

Open an app

 

Then tap home 3 times

 

Guided access starts with no further interaction

 

Hold power and home button until iPad restarts. On restart the message is displayed 'Guided Access Started'

 

Result = Guided Access still active

 

---------------------------------------------------------------

 

2.

 

Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access

 

Toggle on

 

DO NOT 'Set a Passcode'

 

Open app

 

Then tap home 3 times

 

Choose to start Guided Access and enter the required a passcode.

 

Hold power and home button until the iPad restarts

 

Result = Once the iPad starts it asks you to 'Set Passcode' once cancelled Guided Access is no longer active (but is still toggled on in settings).

 

So much for all that... I've just tested the 2nd option again and on the first reboot 'Guided Access' was still active, then only on the next reboot it came up with 'set a passcode' and the option to cancel out...

 

Anyway, I haven't got time to investigate any further and it seems pointless as I now know to reboot first and if that works great, if not it is turn 'single app mode' on and then off.

 

But, if a reboot works then 'Guided Access' will still be toggled on in the settings and only requires a child to 'accidentally' hit the 'Home' button 3 times and enter a passcode...

 

If a reboot doesn't work then the 'single app mode' route also toggles this setting off.

Edited June 28, 2023 by Koldov