Guest Mode lets you give other people limited access to your LG G3
We've all been there — you want to show someone something on your phone, but without handing over the keys to all your personal data. There are third-party apps that can help out, but the LG G3 comes with a built-in feature that makes it easy to give other people limited access to your device.
Depending on how you've got your LG G3's Settings app configured, you'll find the Guest Mode area in one of two places. If you're in tabbed mode, it's Settings > General > Privacy > Guest Mode. If you're using the list view it's Settings > Personal > Guest Mode.
Press the toggle at the top of the screen to enable Guest Mode and set up lock screen security (and a backup PIN) if you haven't already done so. The G3's Guest Mode works by securing your phone with a pattern, PIN or Knock Code and having a second pattern or code that gives limited access to your device.
Guests get access to a selection of apps of your choice — that's it.
By default, Guest Mode is locked down pretty tightly. Guests get access to the Calculator, Camera, Gallery and Music apps — you can add more through the "Allowed App" menu in the Guest Mode settings area. Guest Mode doesn't get access to any of the device's higher functions like task-switching or the notification shade. (Guests can see any notification icons in the tray, but they can't pull the shade down to read them.)
It's also worth remembering that giving Guest Mode access to an app also lets it see all its data. For instance, sharing Gmail lets guests read all your mail, and send messages as you. Same deal with messaging apps. The main exceptions are the Gallery and Phone apps The former only shows photos from the "Guest" album, which is created when you first take a photo in Guest Mode. If you want Guest Mode to be able to see photos, you'll need to copy them over to this album. And the Phone app just displays a basic dialer in Guest Mode — no contacts or call history.
Guests can't customize the device in any way, but you can change the wallpaper for Guest Mode from the settings menu.
That's it. To leave Guest Mode, simply press use power button (or the KnockOn double-tap gesture) to lock your phone, then unlock it again and use your normal unlock code or pattern to get full access to your G3.
Reader comments
How to use Guest Mode on the LG G3
Nice feature
Posted via Android Central App
+1
This is great for letting kids handle the phone without a risk of accidental purchases or other mishaps.
Posted via Android Central App
Is there something like this in the play store that I can install on my S3?
This was on the G2 as well but yes, it is handy.
Posted via Android Central App
You're very right. My G2 uses this feature daily when my wife trys to goo into my phone while I'm sleep.
I copied A Quick Memo Note for the wallpaper that reads, "No Trust", just so she know that she sneaked a peek at the wrong unlock code.
Posted from my "KNOX-FREE" 4.3 Sprint GS3 Maxx...!!!
Does using a 3rd party launcher (Nova in my case) still allow you to use the guest mode feature?
This would be so nice for handing my phone off to my 3 year old. Allow him to take and look at pics without access to the full gallery where he tends to delete photos, and give him access to zoodles and the like.
I'm surprised to see a manufacturer like LG adding some really nice additions to Android. Stuff like guest mode, knock code, and multiple items copied to the clipboard all seem like very good ideas that stock android should add...
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For me it's nothing more than a nice try... It's great for lending the device to the kids for them to play games, but it really is not that useful in my opinion. It would be great to allow AOSP or tablet multi user support where you can have separate storage, separate email accounts and game profiles for a truly multi user experience. I have tried to manually enable multi user but nothing seems to work.
Hmm. Something tells me cheating husbands will appreciate this feature:)
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Or us husbands that have wives that believe that they're never wrong.
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Which is all of them, amirite?
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Which is why I'm gay, lawl!
It is also on the G2, and it's what sold me on it over the Sony Xperia Z1. Its a great phone, and shares most of the key features of the G3.
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I want that for my HTC One M8. I'll check XDA
Do we really need these expensive phones to have the increased level of privacy using Guest Mode. This was the question that we asked ourselves (not everyone can afford the G3 in India). We can up with an app that does exactly the same thing, that is, provide you with a guest mode of access. You can download the app from Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pluggdd.SmartAppLocker). Use it and let us know if you like it or hate it :)
One of the challenges with the Guest Mode is that a user will come to know that they do not have access to the entire phone. This feature may work well when you give your phone to kids, but may not work on adults. You can download an app from Google Play that does just this (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pluggdd.SmartAppLocker). Also, try it our while you wait for the Android L update on your phone.
Hi,
What can you do if you forget the pattern lock? Thanks in advance.