What to Do If Forgot Restrictions Passcode on iPhone/iPad?

Restrictions passcode or Screen Time passcode—commonly used on iOS devices—is usually set up to limit access to certain apps and software. Although this can be useful for parents or individuals who want to have better control of the time spent on their devices, it can be annoying when they forget the restrictions passcode.

It’s quite common to forget the restrictions passcode. You will have several failed attempts to work on Screen Time, but you cannot access your apps or change the settings on your Screen Time passcode. If you fail to remember your Screen Time passcode, you’re recommended to reset or restore it. In this post, we’ll explore various methods to restore, reset, and remove the restrictions passcode and regain access to your apps.

What Happens If You Forgot Your Restrictions Passcode?

If you forget your restrictions passcode, you may find yourself unable to access certain features or settings on your iOS device. For example, you may fail to change out the specific settings or use specific functions. This can be particularly frustrating when the restrictions are set for parental controls or app management. Without the Screen Time passcode, you can’t modify or get rid of the restrictions in the “Settings” menu. Nevertheless, there are several free ways of resetting restrictions passcode on iPhone but pay attention that some of them might lead to data loss. Always back up your iOS device to avoid unexpected data loss.

Reset Restrictions Passcode without Restore

You may think about restoring your device to regain access to your applications. However, this may lead to a lengthy setup process and data loss. The good news is that there are alternative methods to reset the Restrictions Passcode without initiating a full device restoration. Let’s dive into this part to explore these solutions.

Recover Restrictions Passcode with Apple ID

If your iPhone or iPad is running iOS 12 or later version, you can recover it by entering your Apple ID and password. This method will not result in data loss but note that it only works if you have set up an Apple ID for your Screen Time.

1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and select the “Screen Time” option.
2. Find the “Forgot Passcode?” icon and tap on it.
3. Enter the Apple ID and password associated with your iOS device.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your Screen Time passcode. You may receive a verification email or need to answer security questions.
5. Once your Apple ID account is verified, you can set up a new Screen Time passcode.

Reset Restrictions Passcode without Apple ID

What If there is no forgot password option on Screen Time? If you are unable to recover your Screen Time passcode using your Apple ID, or if you didn’t set one up at the very beginning, you can turn to Screen Time removers to reset the restrictions passcode on your iPhone. Normally, these tools can reset restrictions passcode without restoration or data loss. One of the most popular choices is BuhoUnlocker. All you need to do is connect your iPhone to the computer and choose to remove the Screen Time passcode in one click. Then BuhoUnlocker will help you get rid of the forgotten Screen Time passcode in seconds.

Free try BuhoUnlocker now and take the following steps to reset content and privacy restrictions passcode:

Step 1. Free download BuhoUnlocker on your Windows or Mac computer.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer via a USB cable.

Step 3. Launch and open BuhoUnlocker on your computer. Locate and select the “Remove Screen Time Passcode” option.

Step 4. Follow the prompts to start to remove the Screen Time passcode. Once the process is complete, you can regain access to your application without Screen Time passcode.

Reset Restrictions Passcode via Restoring iPhone

Another effective method to regain access to the restricted application is to restore the device. Typically, this process will erase all content and settings on your device. It can be a time-consuming task but it’s a necessary solution to reset your Restrictions passcode. To prevent data loss, you can connect your iPhone or iPad to a computer and back up the data via iTunes or Finder.

Restore iPhone via iTunes/Finder

After backing up data, you can then restore your iPhone in iTunes or Finder.

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer and make sure your device is connected to iTunes.
2. Allow your iPhone to access the recovery mode. The specific ways may vary from different iOS models.
3. Once you’ve put your device into recovery mode, you’ll see a prompt in iTunes, indicating that you can either update or restore your device. Tap on the “Restore” option.
4. After the restoration process is completed, take the on-screen steps to set up your iPhone and restore the data from the backup.

Restore iPhone via Find My iPhone

If your iPhone suffers from software issues and remains stuck on forgetting restrictions passcode, you need to restore your iPhone via Find My iPhone remotely. This progress will reset your device to factory settings and permanently erase all data on your device. Therefore, this should be the last resort when other troubleshooting methods fail to work.

1. Go to the iCloud official website and log in with your Apple ID on a computer.
2. Select the “Find iPhone” and then choose “All Devices” at the top of the screen.
3. Locate your iPhone from the list and tap the “Erase This Device” icon. This process will remove all data, including your Restrictions passcode.
4. Once erased, set up your device as a new one and restore data from your recent backup.

How to Change Restrictions Passcode on iPhone?

If you’ve shared your Restriction passcode with your children but no longer want them to have access, you can change your Restriction passcode. Or if you just want to enhance the applications’ security, you can take the following steps to update your passcode and maintain a secure environment on your device. Specifically, the way of changing the Restrictions passcode on iPhone slightly differs between iOS 11 and earlier versions, and iOS 12 and later.

For iOS 12 and Later Versions - Using Screen Time

1. Tap on the Settings app and scroll down to tap on the “Screen Time” icon.
2. Click on "Change Screen Time Passcode".
3. Input your current Screen Time passcode and enter a new one to confirm it.

For iOS 11 and Earlier Versions - Using Restrictions

1. Tap on the Settings app and scroll down to tap on “General”.
2. Select the “Restrictions” button
3. Input your current Restrictions passcode.
4. Select to disable the Restrictions, and then enter your passcode again to confirm.
5. Tap “Enable Restrictions”, and enter your new passcode twice to confirm it.

Conclusion

It can be frustrating when you forget the Restrictions passcode. However, there are several measures you can take to regain access to your applications. Whether you choose to restore your device through iTunes or use a third-party tool to reset the Restrictions passcode without restoration, it’s essential to avoid data loss. Always back up your data regularly to minimize the impact of such issues in the future.