How To Add Guest Mode On Android for the Ultimate Excuse

Do you often try to take care of private things on your phone before giving it to someone else? Do your friends constantly ask for your phone and you’re not comfortable with giving them the phone with all your personal information in it?

If you answered yes, then continue reading to find out how you can add guest mode on your Android smartphone. Since getting my first Android phone,  I’ve had to take care of several things before giving it to others, especially clearing up some text messages before letting my parents use my phone.

Guest mode is one of my favorite features on the latest LG phones and because I use an LG G Flex, I don’t need any other privacy app. If you’re looking for something similar to the guest mode feature on LG, then there are two perfect alternatives available. In this post, I’ll show you two different methods to add guest mode on Android.

What Is Guest Mode And What Are The Benefits?

Guest mode is basically a special profile that you can enable on your Android device for guests. You can choose the apps that you want to enable in guest mode and the guest will only be able to access those apps. So for example, if you want the guest to use only the Phone app, you can enable it and all other apps won’t be accessible.

Here are the reasons why you should use guest mode on your Android device.

• Hide apps and other features on your phone without setting individual passwords.
• Use guest mode as a special profile for kids, enabling only games.
• Easily switch between regular mode and guest mode using a password lock.

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Method 1: Guest Mode

Guest Mode is a popular privacy app available on the Google Play Store and it is quite similar to LG’s built-in guest mode feature. The app is extremely easy to use and when enabled, the guest will only be able to see the apps on the screen that are unlocked.

Step 1 – Download The Guest Mode App

Download and install the Guest Mode app on your Android device. You can get the app from the Google Play button below.

Step 2 – Disable Default Lock Screen

Make sure that your current default lock screen is disabled.

Step 3 – Set Up A PIN

Open the app, set up your new PIN and tap on Ok.

Step 4 – Add Profile

Tap on the Add new profile button.

Step 5 – Select Apps For Guest Mode

Enter the name of your profile and enable the apps according to your preferences by ticking the check box next to each app. These enabled apps will be accessible by the guest. So for example, if you only want the guest to access the Music app, enable only the Music app. Tap on the Save button after selecting the apps.

Step 6 – Enable Guest Mode

Tap on the Play button in order to enable guest mode. That’s it! You have successfully enabled guest mode and you’ll now only see the apps that you enabled.

Step 7 – Return To Normal Mode

In order to go back to normal mode, tap on the Arrow in the top right corner and enter the PIN that you set up earlier. Tap on the Stop button in order to disable guest mode.

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Method 2: App Locker with Guest Mode

Another great app for enabling guest mode on Android devices is App Locker with Guest Mode. This app is also quite similar to LG’s guest mode feature and you can unlock your phone by entering your regular password for regular mode or use the guest password to unlock your phone into guest mode.

My favorite thing about this app is that it doesn’t change the interface on the phone and you’ll see all the apps as usual while in guest mode. However, when the guest tries to open an app that is locked, the phone will display a fake “Application has crashed” error message. This way, the guest will think that the app has crashed and is not locked.

Step 1 – Download The App

Download and install the App Locker with Guest Mode app on your Android device. You can download it through the Google Play Store button below.

Step 2 – Configure Settings In The App

Open the app and you’ll see options to configure four things including master password, guest password, password recovery email ID and removing your phone’s default lock screen.

The master password will be used for unlocking your phone into regular mode and the guest password will be used for unlocking your phone into guest mode. Once you’re done setting up these options, tap on the FINISH button.

Step 3 – Select Apps For Guest Mode

In order to lock all apps, tap on the Lock icon in the top right corner. A lock sign should now appear next to each app. Tap on individual apps that you want to unlock. These unlocked apps will be accessible by the guest.

Step 4 – Enable Guest Mode

Tap on the Menu button in the top left corner and make sure that the Lock toggle is On.

Step 5 – Access Guest Mode

When you switch the screen on, you’ll see a lock screen. Enter the guest password that you set up earlier in order to unlock your phone into guest mode.

The apps that you unlocked will be accessible by the guest. If he/she tries to open a locked app, the phone will display an error message.

Step 6 – Return To Regular Mode

In order to switch back to regular mode, simply switch on the screen and enter the master password that you set up earlier.

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Conclusion

While there are many security and privacy apps available on the Google Play Store, they are quite similar and you can only set up a password and block certain apps. I think default Android lock screens are better than using such apps.

However, you can set up a special guest mode for others in order to allow only specific apps, such as games or the phone app. This is not only a great way to maintain privacy on your phone, but this is also a great way to give your kids the phone without worrying about them accidentally making calls.

I’m a big fan of LG’s guest mode, but if you don’t own an LG smartphone, then you can easily add guest mode using any of the apps mentioned above. Make sure that you follow all the instructions properly on how to add guest mode on Android and feel free to shoot us any questions in the comments area below.