How to give an iPhone to someone and restrict it ONLY to be used as a Phone (Disable Texting, E-mail, Apps and Internet Access)
Many parents want to keep in touch with their children when out of the house and are supplying them with smart-phones (iPhone, Android, Samsung) in order to do so.
However, having a smart-phones also gives unrestricted access to texting, E-Mails, Apps and unfiltered Internet Access, not a good thing for an impressionable child.
There are two solutions to the problem.
Solution #1 – Non-Smart Phone Solution
It is possible to still purchase non-smart phones such as the following “flip-phone“:
However, many a “teen” or “tween” would probably be too embarrassed to let it be known to their peers that they were having to use 80’s tech. Plus you can still message (SMS) on one of these ancient flip-phones even though they don’t have the “Internet” and “Apps”
Which brings us to a more elegant solution
Solution #2 — Restrict an iPhone to Calls and Limited Apps
If you want a child to use an iPhone mainly for phone calls and messages, Apple’s Screen Time features are usually a better starting point than Guided Access.
Screen Time lets you restrict apps, schedule Downtime, limit communication and block access to websites and other features. The exact options available depend on the iOS version and how the phone is configured.
How Screen Time can help
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
- Turn on Screen Time and set a Screen Time passcode so the restrictions are harder to change.
- Open Downtime to schedule periods when most apps are unavailable. Enable Block at Downtime if that option is shown.
- Open Always Allowed and keep Phone and any essential apps available. Configure Messages according to whether you want texting to remain possible.
- Open Communication Limits to control who can communicate with the child during allowed screen time and Downtime.
- Open Content & Privacy Restrictions to restrict app installations, purchases, websites and other features as required.
The names and locations of these settings can vary by iOS version. Screen Time can substantially limit an iPhone, but it does not guarantee a perfect basic-phone mode. Test the settings yourself before handing the phone to a child.
When to use Guided Access instead
Guided Access is useful when you want to lock the iPhone temporarily into one app, such as Phone. It is not the best choice when the person needs to move freely between Phone and Messages. For longer-term restrictions, start with Screen Time.
For the latest instructions, see Apple’s official guide: Use Screen Time to manage a child’s iPhone or iPad.
How to Restrict an iPhone or iPad
There is a built-in feature on Apple iPhones and iPads (iOS) called Guided-Access and has been available for some time although most people would not know of its existence.
You can also use this setting to restrict access to a single Application (App) on an iPad or iPhone, such as a Game or in this case, the Phone App.
You could also use this feature to restrict an iPhone or iPad to a single game (app) or letting someone use your phone to make an emergency call or any situation where you want to “lock” access to only one game or application and not give the user free-reign over the devices apps and data.
How to restrict an iPhone to Phone use only
1. Setting up Guided Access for the first time
This part is quite a few steps, but you only need to do this once. From then on the feature is turn on and off my means of a “triple-click” on an iPhone X or later, triple-click the side button.
On an iPhone 8 or earlier, triple-click the Home button.
2. First Time Setup. Open Settings -> Accessibility
3. Select “Guided Access“
4. Turn “Guided Access” On
Once switched “On” “Guided Access” Options appear as follows, note that you switch it on by hitting the side or home button three times (triple-click) and you can set a pass code to enable and disable the feature.
Set a passcode of your choosing …preferably not the same one used to unlock the phone
You can even set a time limit for the access and restrict certain parts of the screen being accessed.
It is now all set to use…. next time you triple-click the home or side buttons.
Using Guided Access to restrict access to only one application
Locate your desired Application on your iPhone or iPad, such as the Phone App
Start the Application and hit the Home or side button three times (Triple-click), and see the Guided Access menu appear for the Game/Application …simply click on “Guided Access” and a tick appears next to the menu option. (You will see a brief message saying “Guided Access Started”)
Now the phone is restricted to this one App and will remain so until you triple-click the home button, enter the passcode and click “End” in the top-left of the Guided Access Screen to return the device to normal operations.
To avoid the person you are giving the phone to from seeing your address book, favourites and recent calls “Circle areas on the screen to disable” so that only the “keyboard” section is accessible. This will protect your privacy.
You can find more information on the feature on the Apple site.
iOS also has a feature called “Restrictions“which give Parental Control over a number of features and Apps but surprisingly still allows access to emails??? You can check the option out yourself by going to
Setting >> General >> Restrictions and “Enable Restrictions“
See the Apple page “How to use parental controls on your child’s iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch“
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