How to Remove Parental Controls on iPhone

This guide walks you through removing Screen Time restrictions or parental controls on an iPhone. You’ll need the Screen Time passcode if one was set, or the parent/guardian’s Apple ID credentials if you’re the child on a Family Sharing plan. The steps below cover both scenarios, plus what to do if you forgot the passcode.

What You’ll Need

• The iPhone with parental controls enabled
• The Screen Time passcode (if set)
• The Apple ID and password of the family organizer (if part of Family Sharing)
• Access to the device’s Settings app

Step-by-Step

1. Open Settings. On the iPhone’s home screen, tap the gear icon to launch the Settings app.
2. Tap Screen Time. Scroll down and select “Screen Time.” This is where all parental controls and usage limits are managed.
3. Enter the Screen Time passcode. If a passcode was set, you’ll be prompted to enter it. If you don’t know it, skip to the Troubleshooting section below.
4. Turn off Screen Time. Scroll to the bottom of the Screen Time menu and tap “Turn Off Screen Time.” You’ll be asked to confirm. Enter your Apple ID password if prompted (this is required to prevent someone from simply turning it off).
5. Confirm the action. A pop-up will ask if you want to turn off Screen Time. Tap “Turn Off Screen Time” again to confirm. This will remove all restrictions, including app limits, content restrictions, and downtime.

If you only want to remove specific restrictions (like app limits) but keep others, you can do that instead:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time and enter the passcode.
2. Tap App Limits, then tap the limit you want to remove. Tap “Delete Limit” at the bottom.
3. For Content & Privacy Restrictions, tap it, enter the passcode, and toggle off “Content & Privacy Restrictions.”
4. To disable Downtime, tap “Downtime” and toggle it off.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting the passcode. The most common issue is not knowing the Screen Time passcode. Without it, you can’t turn off Screen Time directly on the device.
• Not having the family organizer’s Apple ID. If the iPhone is part of Family Sharing, the parent/guardian’s Apple ID is required to disable Screen Time. Entering the child’s Apple ID won’t work.
• Only toggling off individual limits. Turning off App Limits but leaving Content & Privacy Restrictions on may still block websites or apps. To fully remove parental controls, turn off Screen Time entirely.
• Not confirming the turn-off. Some users tap “Turn Off Screen Time” but then ignore the confirmation dialog. You must tap the button again to finalize.

Tips

• Back up your device first. Before making significant changes, back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer. This ensures you don’t lose important data if something goes wrong.
• Use a strong passcode. If you’re a parent re-enabling controls later, choose a Screen Time passcode that’s different from your device passcode and hard to guess.
• Know your Apple ID. Keep your Apple ID password handy. You’ll need it to turn off Screen Time, and it’s also used for Find My and iCloud.
• Check for updates. Make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS. Older versions may have slightly different menu names.

Troubleshooting

Forgot the Screen Time passcode?

If you’re the parent/guardian and you forgot the passcode, you can reset it using your Apple ID. On the Screen Time passcode entry screen, tap “Forgot Passcode?” and enter your Apple ID credentials. If that option isn’t visible, you may need to erase the device and restore from a backup (see below).

Can’t turn off Screen Time because it asks for a family organizer’s Apple ID?

If the device is managed by Family Sharing, only the family organizer can disable Screen Time. The organizer must enter their Apple ID and password. If you’re the child, you’ll need to ask the organizer to do this. If the organizer is unavailable, you may need to wait until they are, or use the recovery method below.

Forgot the Apple ID password?

Go to iforgot.apple.com to reset your Apple ID password. Once reset, you can use it to turn off Screen Time.

Still stuck? Erase and restore.

If you cannot recover the passcode or Apple ID, the last resort is to erase the iPhone. Connect it to a computer, put it in recovery mode, and restore it. This will remove all data and settings, including Screen Time. After restoring, you can set up the iPhone as new or restore from a backup made before the parental controls were enabled. Note that this will erase all data on the device, so only do this if you have a backup or are willing to lose the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I remove parental controls without the Screen Time passcode?

A: Not directly. You can reset the passcode with your Apple ID if you’re the parent, or erase the device as a last resort. If you’re a child, you’ll need the family organizer’s help.

Q: Will turning off Screen Time delete my app data?

A: No. Turning off Screen Time only removes restrictions and limits. Your apps, photos, and other data remain untouched.

Q: What’s the difference between Screen Time and parental controls?

A: Screen Time is Apple’s built-in parental control feature. It includes app limits, downtime, content restrictions, and privacy settings. When you turn off Screen Time, you’re removing all these parental controls.

Q: Can I turn off only some restrictions, like app limits?

A: Yes. You can go into Screen Time and individually delete app limits, turn off downtime, or disable content restrictions without turning off Screen Time entirely.

Q: Why does it ask for an Apple ID when turning off Screen Time?

A: Apple requires the Apple ID that set up Screen Time (usually the parent’s) to prevent a child from simply turning it off. This is a security measure.

Q: Does removing parental controls affect Find My iPhone?

A: No. Find My iPhone is a separate feature and is not affected by Screen Time settings.

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