Preparing Your iPad For Public Use
Emily Devlin avatar
Written by Emily Devlin
Updated over a week ago

If you are using Simple Booth for the first time or setting up on a brand new device, there are a few steps you will need to take to get your iPad ready. 

These instructions are for the latest iPadOS available. If you are not on the most current iPadOS update, you may find these settings are named and organized slightly differently.


The following items are settings you will only need to change once for the initial setup of your device(s). To see a list of things to run through before each event, see our pre-event checklist.


1. Download Your App

If you are using Classic, download this version here instead.

2. Enable Guided Access

Guided Access is a feature built into your iPad that prevents participants from leaving the Simple Booth app during your event.

Enabling Guided Access from your iPad settings only needs to happen one time.

Once the feature is set up, you'll start a new Guided Access session after opening your HALO or Classic app.

3. Set an iPad password

Using a password will make your app and iPad as secure as possible.

While we make this difficult to accidentally find, there is a way that participants can exit the booth and return to your Simple Booth settings if a passcode or Face ID is not enabled.

4. Display Auto-Lock

Enabling the Display Auto-Lock setting will prevent your screen from dimming or turning off altogether.

Display Auto-Lock is a Guided Access setting designed to shut off the iPad’s screen after 20 minutes of inactivity in order to save power when Guided Access is in use.

Set Display Auto-Lock to never from your iPad settings.


When you're ready to lock your iPad:

  1. Enable AsistiveTouch (the method varies by iPad model)

  2. Use the on-screen menu that appears to visit the Device section, then select the option to Lock Screen.

You might also find that you simply prefer to take the iPad out of your device in order to break down - this is totally personal preference!

5. Disable Disruptive Brightness & Display Settings

Your iPad has a few settings (like auto brightness) enabled by default. Updating these settings ensures your app won't be disrupted.

Disable the following:

  • Smart Invert

  • Classic Invert

  • Set Color Filters to off

  • Reduce White Point

  • Auto-Brightness

6. Disable iCloud Photo Sharing

Leaving iCloud photo settings enabled while using Simple Booth can result in your iCloud storage filling up much more quickly than anticipated.

This may or may not be a problem for you!

7. Enable Find My iPad

It’s rare that iPads go missing at events, but who doesn’t want an extra layer of security? 


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