Set up Assistive Access on iPad

Assistive Access is a distinctive iPadOS experience that makes it easier for people with cognitive disabilities to use iPad independently. Essential apps and experiences have been optimized for Assistive Access—items onscreen are bigger, features are more focused, and it’s easier to navigate and understand what actions are possible.

Before you begin

Assistive Access may be easiest to set up with the assistance of a trusted supporter—a family member or caregiver who knows the person who will be using iPad and can help them choose the apps and features best suited to their needs. The trusted supporter may also need access to the person’s account information, such as their Apple ID and password or the device passcode.

If the iPad you want to use with Assistive Access is new, it needs to be set up before you can start Assistive Access setup. See the Apple Support article Set up your iPhone or iPad.

If iPad is already set up, make sure it’s updated to iPadOS 17 or later. See Update iPadOS in the iPad User Guide.

An iPad showing the Assistive Access setup screen with the Continue button at the bottom.

Step 1: Start Assistive Access setup

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Assistive Access, tap Set Up Assistive Access, then tap Continue.

An iPad showing the Apple ID associated with the device and information about iCloud and Family Sharing features that can be used with Assistive Access.

Step 2: Verify the Apple ID

If iPad is signed in with an Apple ID, make sure that the Apple ID shown belongs to the person who will be using Assistive Access.

If the Apple ID shown is incorrect, tap Change Apple ID. Sign out of the Apple ID shown, then log in with the Apple ID of the person who will be using Assistive Access. If they don’t have an Apple ID, you can create one for them.

Learn how to create a new Apple ID

If you left Assistive Access setup to make changes to Apple ID settings, go back to Settings > Accessibility > Assistive Access to continue.

Two iPads in Assistive Access. One shows the Home Screen with apps listed in a row. The other shows larger apps arranged in a grid.

Step 3: Choose the layout for apps

Choose the layout for apps on the Home Screen and for items in apps that have been specially designed for Assistive Access.

Rows: Items onscreen are arranged in an easily readable list.
Grid: Items onscreen are bigger and arranged in a grid that emphasizes images and icons.

Step 4: Choose and customize apps

Add and customize the apps you want to be available in Assistive Access. You can add apps that have been optimized for Assistive Access, and most other iPadOS apps in their original design.

To add an app, tap , then choose options for the app.

Learn how to customize the apps that have been optimized for Assistive Access, and add other apps:

Calls	Camera	Messages
Music	Photos	Other apps

You can can always add, remove, and customize apps later.

Important: Some features, such as app access permissions and privacy information, work differently in Assistive Access. See Understand certain differences in Assistive Access.

An iPad with a screen asking the trusted supporter to confirm the person using the device knows the device passcode.

Step 5: Verify the device passcode

Make sure the person using Assistive Access knows the device passcode, if one has been set. The device passcode is the numerical code used to unlock iPad.

You can also set up Face ID or Touch ID (depending on the iPad model) so that the person using iPad can unlock it with their face or a finger or thumb.

To make changes to the device passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID, tap Change Security Settings.

Learn how to set up Face ID on iPad

Learn how to set up Touch ID on iPad

If you left Assistive Access setup to make changes to security settings, go back to Settings > Accessibility > Assistive Access to continue.

An iPad showing the screen for setting the Assistive Access passcode used when entering and exiting Assistive Access.

Step 6: Set the Assistive Access passcode

Set the Assistive Access passcode, which needs to be entered to enter or exit Assistive Access.

After you set the Assistive Access passcode, enter your Apple ID and password so you can exit Assistive Access and reset the passcode if you forget it. You can skip this step if you don’t have an Apple ID.

An iPad with a screen explaining how to exit Assistive Access.

Step 7: Learn how to exit Assistive Access

To exit Assistive Access at any time, triple-click the Home button (on an iPad with a Home button) or the top button (on other iPad models), then enter the Assistive Access passcode.

An iPad showing that Assistive Access is ready to use with a button at the bottom to enter Assistive Access.

Step 8: Start using Assistive Access

To enter Assistive Access now, tap Start Using Assistive Access, then enter the Assistive Access passcode.

To enter Assistive Access later, go to Settings > Accessibility > Assistive Access, tap Start Assistive Access, then enter the Assistive Access passcode.

What’s next

Learn how to use apps that have been designed for Assistive Access, such as Calls, Camera, Messages, and Music.

You can always go back and customize apps and change other system settings. See Change Assistive Access settings.

Helpful?

Assistive Access User Guide for iPad