Prevent Accidental Ad Clicks in iOS Games - Guided Access
Preventing Accidental Ad Taps in iPhone and iPad Games
A common frustration for mobile gamers on iPhone and iPad is the presence of banner advertisements. These ads occupy screen space and can lead to unintentional taps.
An accidental tap redirects you from your game to another application, such as the App Store or Safari. This interruption can be disruptive and annoying.
Utilizing iOS Guided Access
iOS’s “Guided Access” feature provides a solution to this problem. It doesn’t eliminate the ads themselves, but it prevents accidental interaction with them.
By enabling Guided Access, you effectively lock the screen to the current application, ensuring you remain within the game you’re playing.
Alternative Solutions and Considerations
Some games provide the option to remove advertisements through a paid version or an in-app purchase. This is often the preferred method for an ad-free experience.
However, not all games offer such options. In these cases, utilizing Guided Access serves as a valuable alternative strategy.
Consider Guided Access as a “plan B” when a direct ad-removal option isn’t available, enhancing your gaming experience by minimizing interruptions.
While it doesn't block the ads, it does prevent unwanted redirects, allowing for uninterrupted gameplay.
Utilizing Guided Access on Your iOS Device
Related: Methods for Securing Your iPhone or iPad for Child Use
The functionality of Guided Access, found within Apple’s iOS operating system, provides a means of controlling device usage. We have previously detailed how Guided Access can be employed to restrict access on iPhones and iPads for younger users. However, this feature offers a broader range of applications beyond simply childproofing.
It allows you to confine your iOS device to a single application and even selectively disable specific portions of the screen.
To activate Guided Access, navigate to the Settings application and select General, then Accessibility. Scroll down the menu and select "Guided Access" located within the Learning section.
Activate the "Guided Access" toggle switch. This will reveal several configuration options. Select "Passcode Settings" to proceed.
Within this menu, you can choose "Set Guided Access Passcode" to establish a unique passcode for Guided Access. Alternatively, you may utilize the same passcode used to unlock your iPhone or iPad.
For iPhone or iPad models equipped with a Touch ID sensor, enabling the "Touch ID" option offers a streamlined exit from Guided Access mode. Instead of entering a passcode, authentication can be achieved with fingerprint recognition.
Utilizing Guided Access on iOS Devices
Initiating Guided Access begins with launching the desired application. A rapid triple-press of the "Home" button, located at the bottom of your iPhone or iPad, will bring up the Guided Access interface. Simply select "Start" in the top-right corner to activate the feature.
Once activated, your device is confined to the chosen application. Advertisements designed to redirect you away from the app will become ineffective. For instance, within Disney's Where's My Water? Free, attempting to click a banner ad—typically leading to the App Store—will yield no result when Guided Access is enabled.
Certain advertisements operate differently, occupying a portion of the screen and triggering in-app pop-up windows upon interaction. These windows can interrupt gameplay with unwanted videos or displays.
Guided Access provides the capability to deactivate specific screen regions. Access the Guided Access interface by triple-clicking the "Home" button. Use a finger to draw a circle encompassing the area you wish to disable. Selecting "Resume" will then re-enable app usage, with the setting retained for future sessions.
When active, disabled areas of the screen become non-functional. These regions will be visually grayed out, indicating they are unresponsive to touch. Repeatedly tapping a disabled banner ad will have no effect. However, if the ad disappears and interaction with that area becomes necessary, the restriction must be removed.
To remove a disabled area, re-enter Guided Access and tap the "x" adjacent to the previously restricted region. This will restore functionality to that portion of the screen.
Exiting Guided Access Mode—necessary when switching to another application—requires a triple-press of the "Home" button, followed by PIN entry or fingerprint authentication. If the Guided Access screen appears, select "End" in the top-left corner to deactivate the feature.
Normal device operation, including app switching, is then restored. Re-enabling Guided Access can be achieved by triple-pressing the "Home" button while within an application.
The functionality of Guided Access extends beyond initial impressions. Often categorized as a parental control within the Accessibility menu, it unlocks powerful capabilities not typically available on Apple’s iOS platform.