Forgot the passcode to unlock your Screen Time settings? Don't worry! This comprehensive guide will show you what to do and regain full access to all your apps!
If you can't remember the Screen Time passcode of your iPhone, you can follow the methods below to reset it.
Screen Time on iPhone helps you better manage device usage. With it, you can track time spent on individual apps and websites, schedule screen-free time, and set app limits for yourself or your child in a Family Sharing Group. However, if you want to change Screen Time settings or turn off it, you'll be prompted to enter the Screen Time passcode. But what happens if you forgot your Screen Time passcode? Is there a way to reset Screen Time without a passcode?
Whether you want to remove the Screen Time passcode, bypass app restrictions, or turn off parental controls, this guide will show you how to reset a forgotten Screen Time passcode on an iPhone and regain full access to all apps.
If you remember the Apple ID and password used when creating the Screen Time passcode, you can reset it directly in iPhone Settings. If you're using a child's device or can't recall the associated Apple account, try a tool like iPhone Unlocker to bypass and reset Screen Time passcode without data loss in just a few clicks. Alternatively, iTunes on your computer may also help.
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Since iOS 12, Screen Time can track device usage for you or your child, offering detailed reports on time spent on each app or website. A Screen Time passcode is a 4-digit combination that allows you to customize restrictions, set app time limits, and prevent others from changing your settings.
Just as an iPhone passcode protects access to your device, the Screen Time passcode ensures that your restriction settings remain secure. If you forgot your Screen Time passcode, you may need to reset it and create a new one.
When you forget the Screen Time passcode on your iPhone, you might still recall the correct one after a few tries. Typically, you have 5 extra attempts to enter the correct passcode. After 5 failed attempts, you'll be locked out for one minute before you can try again. With each subsequent failure, the waiting period increases—from 1 minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes to an hour.
After 10 failed Screen Time passcode attempts, you'll face a 60-minute lockout. In this case, you'll want to reset the Screen Time passcode to regain control.
It's annoying that the Screen Time locks the apps when you're using your iPhone. You may want to remove the Screen Time lock but only to find that you've forgotten the passcode. The simplest way to reset a forgotten Screen Time passcode on your iPhone is by using the Apple ID and password that were originally used to set it up. Follow these steps to regain control of your Screen Time settings, even if you've forgotten the passcode.
What you need:
The steps for Screen Time passcode reset when forgotten:
1. Go to the Settings app and tap on Screen Time.
2. Select Change Screen Time Passcode and tap it again.
3. Tap Forgot Passcode? option on the screen.
4. In the Screen Time Passcode Recovery pop-up, enter the associated Apple ID and password.
TIP: It doesn't have to be the same Apple ID your iPhone is using. It may be your parent's or the family organizer's Apple ID if they set the Screen Time passcode for your device.
5. Enter a new Screen Time passcode. Make sure to use a 4-digit combination that's easy for you to remember.
Once the forgotten passcode is removed, you can regain access to all app lock settings, make changes, or turn off Screen Time using the new passcode.
If you forget the Screen Time passcode you've set for parental control on your child's iPhone, you may follow the above method to reset it on your child's device using your Apple ID. Alternatively, if you have Family Sharing enabled and you're using the family organizer's device, here's how to reset the Screen Time passcode for your child from your personal iPhone.
What you need:
The steps for Screen Time passcode reset on your child's iPhone:
If you've forgotten your Screen Time passcode and the associated Apple ID, a Screen Time unlocker tool can be incredibly helpful. iPhone Unlocker offers a straightforward solution to bypass and reset the Screen Time passcode on your iPhone or iPad with just a few clicks.
Its user-friendly interface guides you through the process, allowing you to quickly remove the forgotten passcode and regain control over your Screen Time settings without data loss. You'll be able to adjust the Screen Time settings and access all apps without restrictions.
Not only limited to unlocking Screen Time passcode, this software is also able to remove Apple ID, Face ID, Touch ID and effectively unlock an unavailable iPhone/iPad without passcode. Compatible with the latest iOS 17 and all earlier versions, here's how to reset Screen Time on iPhone without passcode:
What you need:
The steps for forgotten passcode reset on iPhone Screen Time:
Step 1. Run iPhone Unlocker and connect the iPhone.
Install and open the Screen Time unlocking tool on a Windows PC or Mac. Connect the iPhone via a suitable USB cable. If asked, enter your device passcode and trust your computer.
Step 2. Remove the forgotten Screen Time passcode from your iPhone or your child's device.
Move to Screen Time option on the main interface, and click the Start button to start the passcode removing process.
Step 3. Follow on-screen prompts to set up your or your child's iPhone.
After Screen Time passcode removal, the on-screen instructions will guide you to set up the iOS device again. To prevent data loss, make sure to select Don't Transfer Apps & Data in Apps & Data and choose Set Up Later in Settings when setting up Screen Time.
If you accidentally set a Screen Time passcode and cannot remember it, the above methods help you to bypass the passcode and reset Screen Time settings on your iPhone without data loss.
Alternatively, resetting the iPhone to factory settings can also be a quick fix to remove Screen Time from iPhone without a passcode. However, keep in mind that when you reset your iPhone to get rid of Screen Time restrictions, the process will also erase all current device data and settings, resulting in data loss if you don't have any backups.
To remove Screen Time when you forget your passcode, try resetting your iPhone and erasing all your data and settings so you can set up Screen Time and everything else from scratch.
What you need:
The steps for Screen Time passcode removal from iPhone:
If you forgot the Screen Time passcode used for your child's iPhone, iCloud allows you to remove it wirelessly and remotely. Remember that it will erase all data and settings currently on your child's device, causing unwanted data loss.
What you need:
The steps for Screen Time passcode erasing on iPhone:
The erasing process will remove the Screen Time passcode as well as all data files from your child's device. After that, the iPhone will be reset to factory settings, allowing for new setup and data restoration.
iTunes is another way to wipe all forgotten passcodes from an iPhone, including the Screen Time passcode and parent control locks. Keep in mind that the process will restore the iPhone completely. You may lose all current data and settings if there's no backup available. Explore how to reset your iPhone to erase Screen Time passcode by iTunes:
What you need:
The steps for passcode reset on iPhone:
Get help if you forgot your iPhone passcode when connecting to iTunes.
Once the forgotten passcode is successfully removed from your iPhone's Screen Time, you have the option to set a new 4-digit code for screen lock and app restrictions. Or, you can turn off the Screen Time passcode if you no longer need it to limit the screen time for your child's or your own device. Here's how:
Once disabled, no passcode is needed when you want to change or turn off the Screen Time settings on your iPhone.
While the passcode protects your Screen Time settings from unknown access, sometimes you might forget it yourself. With the 6 solutions outlined in this guide, you can remove the forgotten passcode and regain ability to manage Screen Time settings on your or your child's device. If you need further assistance, the following frequently asked questions may help you out:
FAQs about Forgotten Passcode on iPhone Screen Time
