Set up your iPad in kiosk mode for the RosterElf Time Clock
Kiosk mode locks your iPad to a single app so staff can only use it for one purpose — in this case, clocking in and out with the RosterElf Time Clock. It stops people switching apps, changing settings, or leaving the app, keeping your shared tablet focused and secure.
Apple’s built-in Guided Access feature is the quickest way to do this on a single iPad, and it’s free. This guide walks you through enabling Guided Access, starting a session, and exiting when you need to.
1. Enable Guided Access
Before you can lock the iPad, turn Guided Access on and set a passcode.
1.1 Open the Settings app.
1.2 Go to Accessibility, then scroll down and tap Guided Access.
1.3 Toggle Guided Access on.
1.4 Tap Passcode Settings, then Set Guided Access Passcode, and enter a six-digit code. You’ll need this code to exit kiosk mode later, so keep it somewhere safe.
1.5 In Passcode Settings, you can also enable Face ID or Touch ID as a backup way to end a session if you forget the passcode.
Tip
Set the iPad’s Auto-Lock to Never (Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock) so the screen doesn’t sleep during a shift and staff always see the Time Clock ready to use.
2. Start kiosk mode
With Guided Access enabled, you can now lock the iPad to the Time Clock app.
2.1 Open the RosterElf Time Clock app you want the iPad locked to.
2.2 Triple-click the side button (or the top button / Home button, depending on your iPad model).
2.3 In the options that appear, turn off anything the app doesn’t need — such as Volume Buttons, Sleep/Wake Button, Motion, Keyboard, Touch, and Time Limit. You can also circle any on-screen areas you want to block from touch.
2.4 Tap Start in the top-right corner and enter your passcode. The iPad is now locked to the Time Clock app.
3. Exit kiosk mode
When you need to unlock the iPad — for example to update the app or change settings:
3.1 Triple-click the side, top, or Home button.
3.2 Enter your Guided Access passcode (or use Face ID / Touch ID if you set it up).
3.3 Tap End in the top-left corner. The iPad is now unlocked and back to normal.
Guided Access does not survive a reboot
If the iPad restarts — after a battery drain, an overnight update, or a force-restart — it boots back to the Home Screen and the Guided Access session ends. You’ll need to start kiosk mode again. Keep the iPad plugged in during trading hours to avoid this.
Managing multiple iPads?
For several devices in a business setting, consider Single App Mode. It’s a persistent kiosk mode that locks each iPad to an app remotely, survives reboots, and is harder for users to bypass. You set it up with a Mac running Apple Configurator or a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.
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Frequently asked questions
1. How do I put my iPad in kiosk mode?
Use Apple’s built-in Guided Access feature. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and switch it on, set a passcode, open the RosterElf Time Clock app, then triple-click the side or Home button and tap Start. The iPad is now locked to that single app.
2. Does Guided Access survive a reboot?
No. Guided Access does not persist through a restart. If the iPad reboots — for example after a battery drain or an overnight update — it returns to the Home Screen and you must start the Guided Access session again. For a persistent, hands-off lock across many devices, use Single App Mode via an MDM instead.
3. How do I exit kiosk mode on my iPad?
Triple-click the side or Home button, enter your Guided Access passcode, then tap End in the top-left corner. If you set up Face ID or Touch ID, you can double-click to exit with biometrics instead.
4. How do I lock multiple iPads at once?
For a business setting with several devices, use Single App Mode. It locks each iPad to one app remotely and is harder for users to bypass, and it survives a reboot. You set it up with a Mac running Apple Configurator or through a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.
5. Which iPads work with the RosterElf Time Clock?
The RosterElf Time Clock app runs on iPads on iOS 18 or higher (6th generation or newer). See which tablets are compatible for Time Clock for full requirements.