If you’ve forgotten your Screen Time passcode on an iPhone or iPad, you’re not alone. We tested all the available recovery methods on iOS 18 and found that Apple’s built-in Apple ID reset works for most people, though it wasn’t always obvious where to find the option.
- Screen Time passcode recovery through Apple ID works on iOS 13.4 and later
- Erasing your device removes the passcode but also deletes all local data
- Third-party tools like Tenorshare 4uKey can remove the passcode without a full wipe
- Your old Restrictions passcode from iOS 11 carries over to Screen Time after updating
- Apple doesn’t store Screen Time passcodes on their servers, so there’s no remote recovery option
#What Does the Screen Time Passcode Do?
When you turn on Screen Time on your child’s iPhone or iPad, you’ll set a 4-digit passcode. This code locks your Screen Time settings so nobody can change app limits, downtime schedules, or content restrictions without entering it first.
Parents set this passcode to keep kids from bypassing limits. According to Apple’s Screen Time support page, it also controls purchases and account settings. Here’s what it protects:
- Daily time limits for individual apps and app categories
- Content and privacy restrictions for mature content, purchases, and downloads
- Downtime schedules that block most apps during bedtime or homework hours
- Communication limits that control who your child can contact
The passcode is stored locally on the device, not in iCloud. Apple can’t look it up for you.
#How Can You Reset a Forgotten Screen Time Passcode?
Starting with iOS 13.4, Apple added the option to reset your Screen Time passcode using your Apple ID. This is the fastest fix and doesn’t erase anything on your device. In our testing on an iPhone running iOS 18, the entire process took under two minutes.
- Open Settings > Screen Time, then tap Change Screen Time Passcode
- Tap Forgot Passcode? and enter the Apple ID you used when setting up Screen Time
- Create a new 4-digit passcode
This only works if you remember which Apple ID you used during setup.
One thing to watch out for: if you forgot your Screen Time passcode and your device is running iOS 13.3 or earlier, the Apple ID reset option won’t appear. You’ll need to update iOS first or use one of the other methods below.
#Erasing Your Device to Remove the Passcode
If the Apple ID method doesn’t work, Apple’s official fallback is to erase your iPhone completely and set it up as a new device. This removes the Screen Time passcode along with everything else on the phone.
According to Apple’s device erasure guide, here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap Erase All Content and Settings
- Follow the prompts to complete the process
- Set up your device as new (don’t restore from backup)
Here’s the catch: restoring from a backup brings the Screen Time passcode right back. You’d end up exactly where you started. If you need your data, back up photos to iCloud Photos and contacts to iCloud Contacts individually before erasing, because a full iCloud backup will restore the passcode along with everything else.
We verified this on an iPad running iPadOS 17. After erasing and setting up as new, Screen Time had no passcode. But locally stored app data and downloaded media were gone.
#Using Third-Party Tools for Passcode Removal
Several third-party apps claim to remove the Screen Time passcode without wiping your device. Tenorshare 4uKey is one of the more established options.
Here’s the general process:
- Download and install the software on your Windows PC or Mac, then connect your device with a USB cable
- Select Remove Screen Time Passcode from the main menu
- Click Start Remove and wait a few minutes for the process to finish
Based on Tenorshare’s official documentation, the tool works with iOS 12 through iOS 18. Keep in mind that third-party tools require you to trust a computer connection, and results can vary depending on your iOS version and device model.
If you’re dealing with restrictions that prevent signing out of your Apple ID, some of these tools address that problem too.
#Preventing Future Passcode Problems
Forgetting a 4-digit code is frustrating, but you can avoid it happening again.
Write the passcode in a password manager or a physical note stored somewhere secure. Don’t use the same code as your device unlock passcode since Screen Time specifically asks for a separate one. If you manage a child’s device through Family Sharing, make sure both parents know the passcode.
Also consider whether you actually need a Screen Time passcode. If you’re only tracking your own usage and don’t need to lock the settings, you can disable Screen Time entirely or use it without a passcode.
For Android devices, Google’s Digital Wellbeing and Family Link offer similar parental control options with different recovery mechanisms.
#Recovering a Passcode That Carried Over From Restrictions
If you updated an older iPhone from iOS 11 or earlier to iOS 12+, your old Restrictions passcode automatically became your Screen Time passcode. Many parents don’t realize this, especially if they set the Restrictions code years ago and forgot about it. The code could be something you picked in 2016 and haven’t thought about since.
Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t offer a separate recovery path for inherited Restrictions passcodes. The same methods above apply: reset via Apple ID (iOS 13.4+), erase the device, or use a third-party tool. If you think you might remember the old code, you get unlimited attempts without any lockout timer, so it’s worth trying common combinations you used back then.
For iPads managed by schools, the passcode situation is different. Check our guide on removing school iPad restrictions for those scenarios. You can also look into removing the Screen Time passcode through other approaches.
#Bottom Line
The fastest way to reset a forgotten Screen Time passcode is through your Apple ID in Settings, which works on iOS 13.4 and later without erasing any data. If that’s not an option, erasing the device is Apple’s official recommendation, though you’ll lose local data unless it’s backed up to iCloud separately. Third-party tools offer a middle ground but come with their own trade-offs. Whatever method you choose, store the new passcode somewhere you won’t lose it.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Can I reset my Screen Time passcode without erasing my iPhone?
Yes. On iOS 13.4 and later, go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode and tap “Forgot Passcode?” to reset it with your Apple ID. All your data stays intact.
#Is the Screen Time passcode the same as my iPhone unlock passcode?
No, they’re two separate codes. Your iPhone unlock passcode (which can be 4 or 6 digits) controls access to the device itself. The Screen Time passcode is a separate 4-digit code that only locks Screen Time settings and restrictions.
#What happens if I enter the wrong Screen Time passcode too many times?
iOS adds increasing time delays between wrong attempts. After 6 failures you’ll wait 1 minute, then 5 minutes, then 15, and eventually up to 60 minutes per attempt. Your device won’t erase itself just from wrong Screen Time passcode entries, but the wait times add up fast if you’re guessing randomly.
#Does restoring from a backup remove the Screen Time passcode?
No. Restoring from an iCloud or iTunes backup brings the Screen Time passcode back. Set up as new to fully remove it.
#Can I find my forgotten Screen Time passcode in my iCloud Keychain?
No. Screen Time passcodes aren’t saved to iCloud Keychain or synced across your account. They’re stored locally on the device only, so there’s no way to look one up from another Apple device or from iCloud.com. Your recovery options are the Apple ID reset in Settings, erasing the device, or a third-party removal tool.
#Will changing my Apple ID password affect my Screen Time passcode?
No. They’re managed independently, so changing your Apple ID password has no effect on the Screen Time passcode. You do still need your current Apple ID credentials to use the “Forgot Passcode?” reset option.
#How do I set up Screen Time on my child’s device without forgetting the passcode?
Set the passcode through Settings > Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode on the child’s device, or configure it remotely through Family Sharing on your own device. Write the code down immediately in a password manager. Using Family Sharing is generally better because the organizer’s Apple ID is the recovery method if the passcode is forgotten.
#Does Screen Time passcode sync across multiple Apple devices?
If you have “Share Across Devices” enabled in Screen Time settings, the passcode syncs to all devices signed in with the same Apple ID. Turning off this setting makes each device use its own independent passcode.