Use Screen Time recovery only on your own device, your child's device when you are the responsible parent or guardian, or a device you are authorized to administer.

What Screen Time controls

Screen Time can restrict app usage, downtime, content filters, account changes and other settings. A forgotten Screen Time passcode can block legitimate changes even when the main device passcode still works.

Screen Time versus lock-screen passcode

The main iPhone passcode protects access to the device. Screen Time protects restrictions inside iOS. That distinction matters because Screen Time recovery may not require the same data-erasing workflow as screen passcode removal.

Before starting

  1. Check whether the device is part of Family Sharing.
  2. Confirm whether you know the Apple ID tied to Screen Time recovery.
  3. Back up important data before making changes.
  4. Record the device model and iOS version for support review.

When a desktop utility helps

A desktop Screen Time workflow can help when the passcode is forgotten and the device state supports recovery. The landing page should never promise no data loss for every device. Instead, it should ask users to run a compatibility check.

Family Sharing cases

If restrictions are controlled by a family organizer, the correct path may require the organizer's Apple ID or settings access. Unauthorized removal language should be avoided in ads, SEO pages and support replies.

Next step

Review the Screen Time feature section, then contact support if you are unsure whether your device can use a data-preserving path.

View Screen Time Feature Ask Support