Android handover guide
Guided Access for Android: what actually exists
Apple has Guided Access. Android has app pinning, YouTube screen lock and other device controls. They solve different parts of the handover.
By ToddlerLock, Unburden Technologies. Product notes reviewed September 12, 2026 against ToddlerLock version 1.7 source code. Device wording may vary by Android version and manufacturer.
Start here: Android app pinning keeps one app in view. It does not stop a child from navigating inside that app. ToddlerLock adds a touch lock and returns the phone to the chosen app when another app comes forward.
What Guided Access does on iPhone
Apple's Guided Access can restrict an iPhone to one app, disable touch or hardware buttons, block selected areas of the screen and set a time limit. A passcode, Face ID or Touch ID ends the session.
That combination is why parents search for an Android equivalent. Apple documents the feature in its Guided Access guide.
What Android app pinning does
Android's built-in app pinning keeps one app on screen until it is unpinned. Google's instructions say to enable App pinning in Settings, open Recents, tap the app icon and choose Pin. You can require the phone's PIN, pattern or password before unpinning.
| Need | iPhone Guided Access | Android app pinning |
|---|---|---|
| Keep one app open | Yes | Yes |
| Disable parts of the screen | Yes | Not as a standard pinning control |
| Disable hardware buttons | Yes | Not as a standard pinning control |
| Time limit | Built in | Not part of app pinning |
| End the session | Passcode or biometrics | Navigation action, then device credentials if enabled |
To unpin, Google documents swipe up and hold for gesture navigation, or hold Back and Overview together with three-button navigation. Menu names and availability vary by device and Android version. Read Google's current app pinning instructions before relying on it.
Try app pinning first
- Open Settings and search for app pinning or pin windows.
- Turn it on and enable the option that requires your device credential before unpinning.
- Open the app, open Recents, tap its icon and choose Pin.
- Practice the unpin action yourself before handing over the phone.
Some Android manufacturers change the setting name or restrict app pinning under particular navigation modes. If you cannot find it, use your phone manufacturer's support instructions.
Where ToddlerLock fits
ToddlerLock uses Android Accessibility access to notice which app is in the foreground, return to the chosen app and close notification shade and Recents while a lock is running. It uses Display over other apps so its touch-blocking layer can stay on top.
Release is a hold, then slide. The free tier includes the touch lock, automatic return, Max Lock, slide release and a 20-minute timer. Plus adds PIN or fingerprint release and additional time controls.
Limits to understand: system UI can appear above an app, picture-in-picture can sit above the overlay, and ToddlerLock does not read the contents of the app your child is using. It can keep the handover in one chosen app, but it cannot police every video or screen inside that app.
ToddlerLock's in-app accessibility disclosure explains the permission: identifying the foreground app and closing system surfaces while locked. It does not read screen content, record typing or send those details off the device.
Sources: Apple Guided Access, Google app pinning, ToddlerLock privacy policy.