Unlike an unlocked cell phone in your pocket, you don't have to worry about dialing your boss at 4 a.m. on an iPad — it's not a phone, after all (though apps such as Line2 or Skype can turn it into one). But you still have these sound reasons to lock your iPad:
You won't inadvertently turn it on.
You keep prying eyes at bay.
You spare the battery some juice.
Apple makes locking the iPad a cinch.
In fact, you don't need to do anything to lock the iPad mini; it happens automatically as long as you don't touch the screen for a minute or two. You can also set the amount of time your iPad must be idle before it automatically locks.
Can't wait? To lock the iPad immediately, press the Sleep/Wake button.
If you have an optional Smart Cover for the iPad mini (or a third-party equivalent), opening and closing the cover locks and unlocks your iPad, but the Smart Cover has the added advantage of awakening your iPad without your dragging the slider (though you may still have to enter a passcode).
Unlocking the iPad is easy, too. Here's how:
Press the Sleep/Wake button or the Home button on the front of the screen.
Either way, the onscreen slider appears.
Drag the slider to the right with your finger.
Enter a passcode if you need to.