Guided access of ipad 9th gen operating ios27

When you are stuck in Guided Access mode, you are really stuck as the typical triple tap on the home button to quit out of Guided Access may not work. Even a forced exit won't work because the power button and the home button are disabled. 

The only way to get out of Guided Access is to press the Home and Power button together for 15 seconds. This should turn off Guided Access by forcibly rebooting your device. Once your device is restarted, you can then go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Guided Access - and turn off Guided Access if needed.

Use Guided Access on iPad - Apple Support

Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

I submitted a bug report directly to Apple at

Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Suggesting everyone please do the same, to get their attention. Apple does not monitor these forums and may not get the bug logged if it is only documented here.

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My reliable workaround is simply forcing a restart of the device.

For my iphone SE 3rd gen, that means

Volume Up (1 press), then...

Volume Down (1 press), then...

Side (sustained hold until restart)

(Other devices have different button press patterns to force a restart. Check online for your specific instructions based on the hardware you have.)

2nd workaround option -- I can also confirm that activating Lost Mode on the phone (from another device) will break it out Guided Access - thanks MadMediaPro! This is easier than restarting but you must have access to your device from another device. Family Sharing was mentioned, but, for me, I have multiple devices in my single Apple account and Find My --> Device --> Lost works very well. Easier than rebooting if you have a laptop nearby.

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(Some of the other advice about draining the battery is weird, very time consuming, bad for hardware, don't do that people!)

My son has a Speech iPad 9th Gen, and I’m having the same issue. I know this doesn’t fix the problem, but it will help you out in the long run. You need the device to be connected to internet, family sharing enabled. If don’t have Wifi, use your hotspot.

On another device open the app Find My, click the three little dots, report the device as Lost. This will remove guided access without force restarting your device or draining the battery and you can still use guided access.

”Deep discharge” is only likely if you’re letting the battery go to 0% and then putting the iPad away for a long amount of time without plugging it in. In this specific Guided Access issue / case, it’s more likely that the user will be plugging the iPad back in almost immediately. The iPad’s internal software shuts the tablet off early (not a “true” 0% battery level) to preserve a small power reserve which prevents the battery from entering a dangerous "deep discharge" state that could render it entirely dead and unable to accept a charge. It’s obviously not recommended to let your battery drain completely on a regular basis; however, it is likely necessary to do it due to the existing bug in iOS 27.0 with Guided Access rendering the home button inoperable.

If the iPads in question are MDM managed, try placing the device into, then out of lost mode. We're using Jamf and this is what works for us. AFAIKT, 27.2 does not completely resolve this.

Thank you for sharing! It worked for us as well and saved me a lot of time in our Intune-managed MDM environment. Much appreciated!

iOS 27.2 has since resolved this issue for us.

I just got a chance to update my iPhone SE to iOS 27.2 today.

Very happy to report the bug is fixed, for me.

I can get in and out of Guided Access as expected.

Thanks, !

K12TechGuy wrote:

We have tested the steps you listed "The only way to get out of Guided Access is to press the Home and Power button together for 15 seconds. This should turn off Guided Access by forcibly rebooting your device", on several dozen 9th Gen ipads running IOS 27, we have roughly 600 in production and 100% of the time this advice does not work.

In such circumstances you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page.

Alternatively you can initiate and manage support cases from Apple devices using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

Thank you for sharing! Enable and Disable Lost Mode worked for us as well and saved me a lot of time in our Intune-managed MDM environment. Much appreciated!

iOS 27.2 has since resolved this issue for us.

This does not work in iOS 27.0.

The only way to get out of Guided Access is to let the iPad battery drain to 0% and THEN plug it in. Once the iPad starts up, it will be out of Guided Access.

Following up on the recommendation to deep discharge the battery. Well, it did not work for my son’s iPad 9. The battery was drained and I let it sit dead all night. Plugged it in this morning and it took almost 30min for the ipad to “wake up” from the dead battery icon. Once it was charged enough, I tested guided access again and was not able to get out triple clicking the home button. It’s almost like this issue disables the home button completely when guided access is enabled. Just like before, I had to hard reset to get it out of guided access.

Same issue. We use it with our special needs son to keep him in one app at a time. Had no problem on iPadOS 26.6.2. Updated to iPadOS 27 day of release and can’t exit guided access without restarting. Recently 27.0.1 was released, but that didn’t fix the issue either. Having to reset the iPad every time you want to get out an app is not a fix.

Millikk wrote:

The only way to get out of Guided Access is to let the iPad battery drain to 0% and THEN plug it in. Once the iPad starts up, it will be out of Guided Access.

This is not good advice.

Intentionally fully discharging an iPad is never a good idea - as the battery may enter a state known as Deep Discharge.

Deep Discharge is a failure state from which a Li-ion battery may never recover.

Shohel468 wrote:

Yes full discharging of ipad is not a good idea. My ipad guided access was working good before install the ios27. Please give me ideas how can return previous ios 26.2

Rolling-back to an earlier version of iOS/iPadOS is generally not possible.

All System Updates are digitally signed by Apple - and can only be installed whilst the digital signatures remain valid. After release of a new iOS/iPadOS version, the immediately preceding version continues to be digitally signed by Apple - however, usually within a few days, Apple will revoke the digital certificate with which the earlier version is signed.

Consider that iOS/iPadOS updates include both functional and essential security updates. Restoring an earlier version of the OS would undermine the security of your device and your personal data. 

Also be aware that you cannot restore a device backup to an earlier version than created or last updated an existing backup. As such, restoring an earlier version of iPadOS will result in loss of all data stored on your iPad.

Millikk wrote:

”Deep discharge” is only likely if you’re letting the battery go to 0% and then putting the iPad away for a long amount of time without plugging it in. In this specific Guided Access issue / case, it’s more likely that the user will be plugging the iPad back in almost immediately. The iPad’s internal software shuts the tablet off early (not a “true” 0% battery level) to preserve a small power reserve which prevents the battery from entering a dangerous "deep discharge" state that could render it entirely dead and unable to accept a charge. It’s obviously not recommended to let your battery drain completely on a regular basis; however, it is likely necessary to do it due to the existing bug in iOS 27.0 with Guided Access rendering the home button inoperable.

Having now added additional qualification to your initial statement, purely as a consequence of being challenged, doesn't materially change the poor advice that you advocate.

You also assume a healthy battery - this, of itself, being an unsafe assumption.

I’m providing advice for a situation we personally found ourselves in after our child’s iPad was upgraded by his school without our permission. He is a heavy iPad user and Guided Access is a feature on which we rely heavily. This advice was provided by Apple as a one-time fix, and it actually worked.

Your initial advice to restart the iPad is not only incorrect (clearly not tested by you prior to posting), it’s obviously posted to increase your points and perceived value in this Community. Next time, don’t post a “fix” that you haven’t even attempted and can confirm will work.

At the end of the day, it is up to the User to decide whether to take someone’s advice, based on whether they need to actually use their iPad now or have the time to wait until Apple may release a fix in a future dot release.

Nothing I post here is untested.

You clearly don't like being challenged for giving poor/unqualified advice. Instead of accepting that your unqualified advice was lacking, you now feel the need to attack a senior contributor. Reputation Points (if any) are not the issue here; the issue here is you encouraging an OP to pursue a path that can damage both iPad and wallet.

Yes, it is the choice of the OP to accept or ignore any advice offered - but that choice should be an informed decision. You have now clarified your initial post - poor advice or otherwise.

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dlb323 wrote:

Following up on the recommendation to deep discharge the battery. Well, it did not work for my son’s iPad 9. The battery was drained and I let it sit dead all night. Plugged it in this morning and it took almost 30min for the ipad to “wake up” from the dead battery icon. Once it was charged enough, I tested guided access again and was not able to get out triple clicking the home button. It’s almost like this issue disables the home button completely when guided access is enabled. Just like before, I had to hard reset to get it out of guided access.

Intentionally fully discharging an iPad is never a good idea - as the battery may never recover from this state.

Deep Discharge, should it occur, is an irreversible failure state from which a Li-ion battery may never recover.

The suggestion to fully discharge the iPad battery - seen earlier within this discussion thread - is very poor advice that can destroy an otherwise working battery.

We have tested the steps you listed "The only way to get out of Guided Access is to press the Home and Power button together for 15 seconds. This should turn off Guided Access by forcibly rebooting your device", on several dozen 9th Gen ipads running IOS 27, we have roughly 600 in production and 100% of the time this advice does not work.

dlb323 wrote:

I updated the iPad to iPadOS 27.2 and it finally resolved the issue!

Thank you for confirming that the iPadOS 27.2 fully resolves the charging bug that has been affecting owners of iPad9.

After downloading IOS27.1 iPad has been in a locked position for 5 days. Followed advice on line, but wouldn't move. Left with blank screen and uncharged! Then today checked and iPad has come on . Why is this? My husband also had same problem!

Yes full discharging of ipad is not a good idea. My ipad guided access was working good before install the ios27. Please give me ideas how can return previous ios 26.2

I have provided advice that works. I came here looking for advice on how to fix this exact issue and once I found that advice elsewhere, I am sharing it here.

Hi! I'm using ios 27.1 but still my guided access didn't stop after its running. It's only stop by force stop my ipad 9th gen.

Thank you, we are well aware of how to contact apple support. It would be helpful if we could stop posting "tested solutions" that do not actually work on the support forums as well.

Works OK now on iPadOS 27.2

I updated the iPad to iPadOS 27.2 and it finally resolved the issue!