3 Ways to Reset Screen Time Passcode on iPhone in iOS 13

To prevent anyone from having unauthorized access toScreen Timesetting, I prefer to use a 4-digit passcode to lock it. As the Screen Time passcode is different from my iPhone passcode (a 6-digit alphanumeric passcode), it, unfortunately, slipped out of mind. Damn it! That’s how my struggle to recover Screen Time passcode began. Along the way, I found some helpful ways to reset Screen Time passcode on iPhone and iPad. If you are reading this article, I assume you have also forgotten the passcode and are desperately trying to reset it. So, without wasting any more time, let’s explore the ways and means to cut the chase!

Reset Screen Time Passcode on iOS and iPadOS

Reset Screen Time Passcode on iOS and iPadOS

First things first, there is good news and bad news. While the good news is, you can reset the parental control passcode on your iOS or iPadOS device by restoring the device from an encrypted backup. The bad news is if you hadn’t made an encrypted backup of your device, you will need to set it up as new after wiping out the entire data. Just in case, you don’t want to go through the grind, you can use a third-party tool like “iPhone Backup Extractor” to recover it. Keep in mind, it comes at a hefty price tag.

1. Restore Your iPhone or iPad from an Encrypted Backup Using iTunes/Finder

1. Restore Your iPhone or iPad from an Encrypted Backup Using iTunes/Finder

The following process will wipe out all the data of your device. So, ensure that Find My iPhone/iPad is disabled. OpenSettings app > Profile > Find My > Find My iPhone/iPad. Now, turn off the switch. As mentioned above, make sure you have theencrypted backup of your device.

  1. Connect your device to Mac or PC. Then, launchiTunes/Finderon your computer.

Note:With macOS Catalina, Apple has removed iTunes. Now, Finder allows users tosync iOS devices, back up or restore a backup.

  1. Now, select your device. In iTunes, you should see your device at the top left corner. In Finder, your device will appear under theLocationssection.

  2. Next, click onRestore iPhone/iPad.

  3. Now, you will get a popup asking whether you wish to back up your device before going for the restore. ChooseBack up.

After the firmware update is over, you will have the option tochoose the preferred backup to restoreyour device. Now, make sure to choose the backup you had made before you forgot your screen time passcode. Also, ensure that it’s encrypted.

2. Erase your iPhone or iPad And Set It Up As New

Another workaround is to wipe out your entire device and set it up as new. Yeah, it’s rather tedious and takes plenty of time. But when you don’t have a straightforward way, never hesitate to go through the long routes. Just be sure you have already backed up your device via iTunes/Finder or iCloud (Settings app > Profile > iCloud > iCloud Backup).

  1. Now, tap onErase All Content and Settings. Then, confirm. Once the device has been erased, set it up as new.

3. Reset Screen Time Passcode Using iPhone Backup Extractor

  1. After that, click on theUtilitiestab and choose Screen Time. Then, you will need todisable Find My iPhone/iPad(Settings > Profile > iCloud > Find My), if it’s turned on your device. Next, click onRecover.

Once the process is completed, your device will restart. After it has rebooted, it will appear at the setup screen. As all the data will remain on your device, make sure to selectDon’t transfer apps and data.It will ask you many questions during set up, all you need to do is choose “Continue” to go through them all. After that, you can reset the Screen Time passcode as usual.

Possible Ways to Reset Screen Time Passcode

I hope you have successfully reset Screen Time passcode on your iOS device. As Apple is said to be working on a more convenient way to recover the passcode, so things may become a lot easier in the future. Considering how essential it is to have a recovery tool, the tech giant should introduce it without any fail just likeiCloud recovery tool. Anyway, have any feedback? Do share it with us.

Rajesh Mishra

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.

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