Support

Need a hand? Most answers are below. If not, email hello@babymode.app and we'll get back to you.

Set up the lock (8 steps, about 7 minutes)

No app can lock your phone on its own. Apple only allows it through Guided Access, which is built into every iPhone and iPad. Do these once, in order:

1. Turn on Guided Access. Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access → On.
2. Set your passcode and keep the screen awake. Guided Access → Passcode Settings → Set Guided Access Passcode, and turn on Face ID. Then set Display Auto-Lock to Never.
3. Make triple-click go straight to the lock. Settings → Accessibility → Accessibility Shortcut → only Guided Access checked.
4. Add the Baby Lock shortcut. On your iPhone, tap here to add Baby Lock and choose Add Shortcut. Or build it yourself: in the Shortcuts app, tap + and add Open App → Baby Mode, Wait → 1 second, Start Guided Access. Name it exactly "Baby Lock". Tap ▶ once to test it and allow anything it asks.
5. Turn on Voice Control. Settings → Accessibility → Voice Control → On, and keep Attention Aware off. Stay on Wi‑Fi the first time while it downloads.
6. Add your command. Voice Control → Commands → Create New Command. Phrase: "Lock into Baby Mode". Action: Run Shortcut → Baby Lock. Application: Any. Make sure the action says Baby Lock, not "(null)", then Save.
7. Check the lock's options once. Open Baby Mode, triple-click the side button and tap Options. Turn Touch on, Side Button off, Volume Buttons on if you want them, and Time Limit off. Tap Done, then Start. Triple-click and use your passcode to end it. These are remembered for next time.
8. Babyproof your lock screen too. Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Allow Access When Locked: turn off Today View, Notification Center, Control Center, Lock Screen Widgets, Live Activities, StandBy Photos, Reply with Message, Home Control, Wallet and Return Missed Calls. Keep Siri if you use it. Just below, make sure Erase Data is off, so 10 wrong passcode guesses can't wipe your phone.

Now when your baby grabs your phone, say "Lock into Baby Mode." Baby Mode opens and locks, the o in "mode" clicks shut into a padlock, and a green Locked pill shows at the top. Your phone needs to be unlocked for it to work. Face ID only unlocks for your face, from about arm's length, so it can't unlock from across the room or for your baby. To keep it unlocked more often, set Auto-Lock to 5 minutes (Settings → Display & Brightness). If you're close but busy, turning off Require Attention for Face ID (Settings → Face ID & Passcode) helps, and is a little less secure.

Want a button too? Settings → Action Button → Shortcut → Baby Lock. No Action Button? Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap → Double Tap → Baby Lock. You can also tap the padlock on the Baby Mode home screen.

Get out of Baby Mode

Triple-click the side button (or the Home button on older iPhones) and enter your Guided Access passcode or use Face ID. To get back to the Baby Mode home screen from a lock screen, hold the circle in the top-left corner for 2 seconds.

Switch lock screens

While playing, hold one of the half circles on the right edge for 2 seconds. Or go back to the home screen and tap Light, Mod, Dark or Faces.

Add family faces

1. On the Baby Mode home screen, hold Family faces for a moment.
2. Tap Take a selfie or Choose a photo. The face is found and cut out for you.
3. Type a name, then tap Record hello and say something sweet. You have up to 4 seconds.

On the Faces lock screen, your baby taps a smiley circle to find a face. They can drag it around, and it pops into confetti right after it says hello.

Sound and vibration

On the home screen, hold Sound or Vibration for a moment to turn it off or on. Chimes still play when your phone's ring switch is on silent.

Troubleshooting

• No sound? Turn up the volume with the side buttons before starting Guided Access, and check that Sound is on in the app.
• Can't record a hello? Settings → Baby Mode → turn on Microphone.
• Camera or photos won't open? Settings → Baby Mode → allow Camera and Photos.
• Locked, but the screen ignores taps? Triple-click, unlock, then triple-click again inside Baby Mode, tap Options and turn Touch on.
• Baby Mode opens but doesn't lock? Look for the red "Not locked" pill. Check that Guided Access is on, then run Baby Lock from the Shortcuts app with ▶ to make sure it locks on its own.
• Saying the command does nothing? In Voice Control → Commands → Custom, open your command. If the action says "(null)", the link to the shortcut broke. Pick Baby Lock again, or delete the command and make it again.
• Triple-click shows a menu instead of unlocking? Settings → Accessibility → Accessibility Shortcut, and uncheck everything except Guided Access.
• It sometimes misses the lock? In the Baby Lock shortcut, change Wait to 2 seconds.