Turning off restrictions requires your Screen Time passcode

To disable restrictions on your iPhone, you need to open Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap Change Screen Time Passcode. You'll be asked to enter your current four-digit passcode, then choose the option to turn off Screen Time entirely. If you've forgotten the passcode, you'll need to reset your iPhone or use your Apple ID to recover it — there's no way around the passcode requirement.

The process takes about two minutes if you know your passcode. If you don't, the recovery process is longer and may require erasing your device. This is intentional: Apple built Screen Time to prevent someone from simply turning it off without authorization.

Key Takeaways

  • You must enter your Screen Time passcode to disable restrictions; there is no bypass method.
  • Go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode and select the option to turn off Screen Time.
  • If you forgot your passcode, you can use your Apple ID to reset it, but this requires access to the email address associated with your account.
  • Turning off Screen Time removes all app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions immediately.
  • If you only want to adjust specific restrictions rather than turn everything off, you can modify individual limits without disabling Screen Time entirely.

Step-by-step: Disabling Screen Time when you know your passcode

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and scroll down to find Screen Time. Tap it. You'll see a summary of your usage and a menu of options below it.

Tap "Change Screen Time Passcode" near the bottom of the screen. The phone will ask you to enter your current four-digit passcode. Type it in. After you enter it correctly, you'll see two options: "Change Passcode" and "Turn Off Screen Time." Tap "Turn Off Screen Time." The phone will ask you to confirm by entering your passcode one more time. Do that, and Screen Time will be disabled immediately.

All app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions will stop working right away. You can re-enable Screen Time at any time by going back to Settings > Screen Time and tapping "Turn On Screen Time."

What to do if you forgot your Screen Time passcode

If you don't remember your passcode, you have two options: use your Apple ID to reset it, or erase your iPhone and set it up again.

To reset using your Apple ID, go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode. Tap "Forgot Passcode?" at the bottom of the screen. You'll be asked to sign in with your Apple ID and password. After you do, you can create a new four-digit passcode. This works only if you remember your Apple ID password and have access to the email address associated with your account.

If you don't have access to your Apple ID, your only option is to erase the iPhone. This means backing up your data first (through iCloud or a computer), then going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. After the phone erases, you'll set it up as new, and Screen Time won't be active. You can then restore your backup. This process takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have.

Adjusting restrictions without turning off Screen Time entirely

You don't have to disable Screen Time to make changes. If you want to keep some features but remove specific restrictions, you can modify them individually without entering your passcode.

Go to Settings > Screen Time. Tap "App Limits" to adjust or remove time limits on specific apps. Tap "Downtime" to turn off the scheduled period when only calls and emergency contacts are allowed. Tap "Content & Privacy Restrictions" to change what types of content are blocked. Each of these can be adjusted without disabling Screen Time itself.

If you want to remove a specific app limit, tap "App Limits," find the app or category, and swipe left on it, then tap Delete. If you want to turn off downtime, tap "Downtime," toggle it off, and confirm. These changes take effect immediately.

Why Screen Time requires a passcode to disable

Screen Time was designed to prevent someone from simply turning off restrictions without permission. If a parent or guardian set up Screen Time on a child's phone, the child cannot disable it without the passcode. The same applies if you set it up on your own device — you're the only one who should know the passcode.

This is why Apple doesn't offer a way to bypass the passcode. If there were a workaround, Screen Time would be useless as a parental control tool. The passcode is the entire security model.

What happens when you turn off Screen Time

Disabling Screen Time removes all restrictions immediately. App limits stop working, so apps that were blocked become available. Downtime ends, so you can use any app at any time. Content restrictions are lifted, so restricted content becomes viewable. Communication limits are removed.

Your usage data is still recorded in Settings > Screen Time, but it won't affect what you can do on the phone. If you turn Screen Time back on later, you'll need to set up your restrictions again from scratch — the old limits won't automatically restore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I disable Screen Time without knowing the passcode?

No. You must enter the passcode, use your Apple ID to reset it, or erase your iPhone. There is no other way. This is intentional — if you could bypass the passcode, Screen Time would not work as a parental control.

Will disabling Screen Time erase my data?

No. Turning off Screen Time only removes the restrictions. All your apps, photos, messages, and settings stay on your phone. Your usage history remains visible in Settings > Screen Time even after you disable it.

What if I'm locked out of my Apple ID?

If you can't access your Apple ID, you cannot reset your Screen Time passcode using that method. Your only option is to erase your iPhone through Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, then set it up again. You'll lose nothing if you back up to iCloud first.

Can I change my Screen Time passcode without disabling Screen Time?

Yes. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode, enter your current passcode, then choose "Change Passcode" instead of "Turn Off Screen Time." You can create a new four-digit code without affecting your restrictions.

If I turn off Screen Time, can I turn it back on later?

Yes. Go to Settings > Screen Time and tap "Turn On Screen Time." You'll create a new passcode and set up your restrictions from scratch. Your old limits won't restore automatically — you'll need to recreate them.