Here’s a quick, clear guide on how to lock the screen on an iPad, plus a couple of extra tricks that people often look for when they search “how to lock screen on iPad.”

Super quick answer

To lock your iPad, press the top button (power/sleep–wake button) once. The screen turns off and the iPad is locked.

Basic screen lock (everyday use)

Use this when you just want to put your iPad to sleep so no one can use it without unlocking:

  1. Find the top button
    • On most iPads it’s on the top edge (in portrait mode), sometimes top‑right.
  2. Press it once
    • The display turns off and the iPad is locked.
  3. To wake/unlock
    • Press the top button again or tap the screen (on newer models), then use Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

You can also let the iPad lock itself automatically after some idle time (see next section).

Make the iPad lock automatically

If you want the screen to lock after a few seconds or minutes of not using it:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Display & Brightness.
  3. Tap Auto‑Lock.
  4. Choose how long the screen should stay on (for example, 2 minutes or 5 minutes).
  5. Avoid choosing Never unless you have a special reason, because it won’t lock on its own.

This is the option most people tweak if their iPad is staying awake longer than they like.

Locking during use (e.g., for kids or presentations)

Sometimes “how to lock screen on iPad” really means “how do I keep the screen on one app and stop accidental touches or exiting the app?” For that, you can use Guided Access :

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Scroll down to Guided Access and turn it On.
  4. Set a passcode (and optionally Face ID / Touch ID) for turning Guided Access off.

To use it in an app:

  1. Open the app you want to lock.
  2. Triple‑click the top button (or Home button on older models).
  3. Adjust any options (e.g., whether touch or buttons work), then tap Start.

Now the iPad is “locked” into that app. To end it, triple‑click again, enter the passcode, and tap End. This is handy when:

  • You hand the iPad to a child and don’t want them leaving a game or video.
  • You’re using it for a presentation or kiosk and don’t want random taps to mess things up.

Bonus: Lock with a cover

If you’re using an Apple‑style smart cover:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Look for Lock / Unlock (or similar wording).
  4. Turn it On.

Now, closing the cover will lock the screen; opening it will wake the iPad.

Quick recap (TL;DR)

  • Instant lock: Press the top button once.
  • Auto‑lock timer: Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto‑Lock.
  • Lock inside one app (kids / presentations): Turn on Guided Access in Settings → Accessibility, then triple‑click the top or Home button in the app.
  • Lock with a cover: Enable Lock/Unlock in Settings → General if you have a smart cover.

If you tell me which iPad model you have (or whether it has a Home button), I can tailor the steps exactly to your device.