You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How do you remove a screentime passcode if you've forgotten it?

My wife set a screen time passcode on our daughter's phone and set a low limit on how many hours per day she can use it. Now we want to extend that, but we cannot remember the passcode.


We've tried logging her out of the phone, completely resetting it & erasing all data, and signing her back in again. It still has screentime set! Is it somehow associated with her account? Is there any way to remove it? I'm afraid it'll still be set even if she buys a new phone if it's associated with her Apple ID account.

Posted on Jan 31, 2020 8:33 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 31, 2020 8:44 PM

You will have to do a Restore. Also, see Use Screen Time on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.


Restore:  Connect your iPhone to iTunes on your computer, backup, and then select Restore to Factory. Also, see Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings and If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled - Apple.


For help with the above on later models, including iPhone 7, 7s, 8 or later, iPad Pro 11" and iPad Pro 12.9" models, please refer to If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won't turn on or is frozen.


If all else fails then make an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar for service. If you need to find an Apple Store - Find a Store - Apple. If you did not purchase it from Apple then you will need to look to the vendor for service or How to find your nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) or Distributor (AAD).


Similar questions

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 31, 2020 8:44 PM in response to JonasBailer

You will have to do a Restore. Also, see Use Screen Time on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.


Restore:  Connect your iPhone to iTunes on your computer, backup, and then select Restore to Factory. Also, see Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings and If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled - Apple.


For help with the above on later models, including iPhone 7, 7s, 8 or later, iPad Pro 11" and iPad Pro 12.9" models, please refer to If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won't turn on or is frozen.


If all else fails then make an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar for service. If you need to find an Apple Store - Find a Store - Apple. If you did not purchase it from Apple then you will need to look to the vendor for service or How to find your nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) or Distributor (AAD).


Jan 31, 2020 8:46 PM in response to JonasBailer

When you erased the phone, did you restore it from a backup made when the Screen Time restrictions were in place? If you did, you restored the restrictions.


You need to restore the device to factory settings. Do not restore from a backup made when the Screen Time code was active.


Restore to Factory setting


Parental controls


Parental Controls and Family Sharing

Feb 1, 2020 9:15 AM in response to JonasBailer

You have to restore as New, otherwise, it will restore all your old settings including the passcode. This is like forgetting a Restrictions passcode.


Forgotten Restrictions Passcode Help


  •   iPad,iPod,iPod Touch Recovery Mode

  •   How to erase your iOS device & then set it up as a new device or restore it from backups

  •   About Restrictions (parental controls) on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

  •   Use parental controls on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support


You will need to restore your device as New to remove a Restrictions passcode. Go through the normal process to restore your device, but when you see the options to restore as New or from a backup, be sure to choose New. You can restore from a backup only if you have one from BEFORE you set the restrictions passcode.





Feb 1, 2020 6:54 PM in response to Kappy

I'm following the instructions here. There is no choice to restore as New that I see... only options to "Restore" or "Update". Are these the right instructions, and if yes, at what point should I see an option to set it up as a new device? To be clear, during device setup, we chose "Don't transfer apps and data". We did NOT restore from a backup. Yet somehow, Screentime is still enabled after the whole erase/setup process.

How do you remove a screentime passcode if you've forgotten it?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.