If you forgot the Screen Time passcode for an iPhone or iPad

With a Screen Time passcode, you can ensure the settings you choose for your child’s device remain in place. Learn what to do if you forget your Screen Time passcode, or just want to reset it.

• How a Screen Time passcode works

• How to reset the Screen Time passcode for your child's iPhone or iPad

• How to reset the Screen Time passcode for your iPhone or iPad

• If you can't reset your Screen Time passcode

How a Screen Time passcode works

A Screen Time passcode isn’t the same as the passcode you use to unlock your device. It’s important to keep track of your Screen Time passcode because you need it to to change the settings, limits, or restrictions for your device or a child’s device.

To make sure that your Screen Time settings sync across all the devices in your Family Sharing group, update all the devices to the latest software version before turning on or changing your Screen Time settings. If you have Share Across Devices turned on, your Screen Time passcode automatically updates on those devices if you reset it.

If you use Family Sharing to manage a child’s Apple Account, the Family organizer needs to reset the Screen Time passcode on their own device, not the child's device.

Reset the Screen Time passcode for a child's iPhone or iPad

1. On the Family organizer's device, open the Settings app, then tap Screen Time.

2. Scroll down and choose a child’s name under Family.

3. Under Restrictions, tap Manage Screen Time.

4. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode, then tap Change Screen Time Passcode again.

5. Enter a new Screen Time passcode, then enter it again to confirm.

Reset the Screen Time passcode for your iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app, then tap Screen Time.

2. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode, then tap Change Screen Time Passcode again.

3. If asked, enter the Apple Account email address and password that you used to set up the Screen Time passcode. Forgot your Apple Account password?

4. Enter a new Screen Time passcode, then enter it again to confirm.

It’s recommended that you don’t skip adding a Screen Time Passcode Recovery. That way, if you forget your Screen Time passcode, you can use your Apple Account to reset it. If you have more than one Apple Account, you must use the same account you entered when you set up the Screen Time Passcode Recovery.

If you can't reset your Screen Time passcode

If you can't reset your Screen Time passcode, make sure that you're using the same Apple Account email address and password that you used when setting up the Screen Time passcode. This might be a different Apple Account than the one that you're signed in to on your device. If you're part of a Family Sharing group, it might be a family member's Apple Account or your child's Apple Account.