Alex Ruben
How To Reset Your Screen Time Passcode When Forgotten
If you’ve locked yourself out of your Screen Time passcode, yeah, it’s pretty frustrating. You might wanna regain control without losing all your app restrictions or, worse, wiping everything and starting over. This process isn’t perfect, but getting past the “forgot passcode” hurdle can save you a lot of headaches. Here’s a semi-dirty rundown of how to do it—everything from navigating Settings to verifying your Apple ID. Honestly, it’s a bit clunky, but if you get stuck, there’s usually some way around it.
How to Reset Your Screen Time Passcode on iPhone
Access the Settings app and find Screen Time
- Unlock the iPhone, then open the Settings app. No surprises here, but don’t forget, sometimes this app is hidden in a bunch of other options if you customized your layout.
- Scroll down to find Screen Time and tap on it.
If you’re prompted for your passcode and can’t remember it—don’t panic. Just tap on Forgot Passcode?. Yes, this is the moment where things might go south if you’re missing your Apple ID info or don’t have internet. But generally, this is your escape hatch.
Start the reset process via Apple ID verification
- A new screen will pop up asking you to verify your Apple ID. You’ll need to have your Apple ID credentials handy—this is often the only way to do it without wiping the device.
- Follow the prompts, which usually involve entering your Apple ID password or authenticating via email or two-factor authentication.
- Once verified, the device should allow you to reset your Screen Time passcode.
Heads up: On some setups, this step can be finicky. Because, of course, Apple makes things a little too secure and complicated sometimes. If verification fails, double-check your Apple ID credentials or try a different network connection. It sounds dumb, but switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data or vice versa might do the trick.
Set a new passcode and confirm
- Once the reset is successful, head back into Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap on Change Passcode and create a new one. Keep it somewhere safe—writing it down somewhere secure or just using a password manager helps in the long run.
- Confirm by entering the new code again. After that, give it a minute or so for everything to sync and apply.
Pro tip: If the new passcode isn’t working immediately, restart the iPhone and try again. Sometimes the system needs a little nudge.
Extra tips & tricks for smooth sailing
- If you’re worried about forgetting the new one, use a password manager or, at least, write it down somewhere unrelated to your phone. I’ve seen folks get locked out because they didn’t remember their code even after resetting.
- Ensure your device is connected to the internet—no Wi-Fi, no Apple ID verification. It’s basic, but worth mentioning.
- If verification emails aren’t arriving, check your spam folder or email settings. Sometimes, Apple’s email system gets delayed or blocked.
One weird thing: On some machines, the verification process refuses to work the first time around, then miraculously works after a reboot or waiting a few minutes. No idea why, but it happens often enough.
Wrap-up
Resetting your Screen Time passcode involves a little bit of patience and possibly some trial and error—especially if your Apple ID or internet connection isn’t cooperating. But once it’s done, you’ll be back in control of your device restrictions without wiping everything. It’s kind of a pain, but worth it if you wanna keep your settings intact.
Summary
- Find Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap Forgot Passcode? and verify your Apple ID.
- Set your new passcode, and restart if needed.
- Keep your Apple ID info ready and ensure internet connection is stable.
Conclusion
Getting past a forgotten Screen Time passcode isn’t as straightforward as it seems, especially with all the Apple security hoops. But, with a little patience and some troubleshooting (like verifying your Apple ID or rebooting), it’s possible to reset without losing data. Just one of those things where if it works on one setup, not so much on another, but at least it’s doable.
Fingers crossed this helps someone avoid the panic of losing access altogether. Good luck, and don’t forget your new code!