Apple Might Introduce a Guest Mode for iPhones

Have you ever wanted to hand your iPhone to someone briefly—perhaps to snap a quick picture—without giving them free reign over your entire device? Currently, with iOS 18, this isn’t possible without risking exposure to your personal content.

However, a newly revealed Apple patent hints at a potential solution: a “guest mode” for iPhones. If this feature becomes a reality, it could address a long-standing concern many iPhone users have faced, offering a much-needed layer of security when sharing their devices.

According to the patent, iPhone owners may soon have the ability to enable a guest mode, limiting access to certain apps and files. The beauty of this concept is that the device owner can decide what is visible and accessible to a guest, ensuring that their private data remains off-limits.

One interesting feature in the patent suggests that before a guest can access the device, some form of authentication will be required. This could add an extra safeguard, making sure that only those authorized by the device owner can use guest mode. Additionally, the patent hints at the possibility of remotely controlling guest access from another Apple device, such as an iPad or iPhone, allowing you to modify settings or permissions even when you’re not nearby.

Although Apple has yet to roll out anything similar on iPhones, a few related options already exist. iOS 18 introduced the ability to hide or lock apps, concealing them from view or placing them behind a passcode. There’s also the Guided Access feature, but it restricts your device to a single app—far more limiting than the customizable guest mode Apple is now exploring.

If implemented, this feature could bring iPhones closer to the Mac experience in terms of user management. Mac users have long been able to create guest accounts, keeping personal files and applications safe from others. Extending this to iPhones would be a significant step in providing users with more granular control over their devices.

Guest mode would also be a game-changer for iPad users, where the tablet serves multiple roles—from being a gaming device for kids to acting as a smart home controller. A guest mode could ensure that these tablets remain dedicated to specific tasks without the rigidity of Guided Access.

However, as exciting as this sounds, it’s important to note that this is just a patent at this stage. Apple frequently files patents for concepts that never make it to market. That said, if it does eventually find its way into iOS, it could provide iPhone users with greater control and peace of mind when lending their devices to others.