Screen Time is a new feature that debuted with iOS 12. You can manage how much time you spend using your iPhone or iPad with Screen Time. This function is very useful to many users who are trying to control their screen time. Screen time reports are sent to you every week. You can limit the length of time that apps can run using this feature. Screen Time also enables you to set up various parental controls(such as restricting content, apps, and screen times) if you have kids.
However, a lot of people wonder why they can’t change the screen time passcode, and when the family sharing feature is activated, the screen time password won’t be changed or reset. Additionally, some users of iPhones, iPads or iPods are unable to change the screen time passcode.
If you encounter screen time problems frequently, it may be due to the bugs on your phone’s OS or you may have entered incorrect passcodes hastily. There might be many reasons you are facing the errors, so if you want to know how to change the screen time passcode, stay tuned to this article for proven solutions.
What is Screen Time Passcode?
The Screen Time password is more than just a password. If someone wants to use screen time wisely, they must be aware of all of it’s features. Here are some of these beneficial aspects of screen time:
Set App Limit: You can limit how long you can use an app by using the iPhone Screen Time passcode. This feature can help you manage your children’s phone usage if you have any. Kids can send you requests when the time limit has been exceeded and ask for more time.
Usage Record: The screen time feature generates weekly reports. These reports contain a thorough record of how much your kids use their electronic devices and which apps they use the most.
Set Limit on Communication: The goal of parents is for their children to live their lives in accordance with them. This feature was added by the iPhone Screen Time passcode to appease parents. To protect their children, parents can limit their children’s communication with some contacts in this way.
Always Access: You can give your kids unlimited access to certain apps with the help of this feature without any time limits. Even during outages, this feature will function. The time when your children are not permitted to use their phones or other electronic devices is known as downtime.
One Extra Minute: Parents may view an extra minute as a positive or negative trait. With this feature, children can use their devices for an additional minute after the allotted time has passed. Children are expected to stop using the device at this point. However, some kids are pretty intelligent to find that they can get one more minute after every minute by clicking “One More Minute.”
Why is the Screen Time Passcode Not Working?
Numerous factors and problems exist. It’s challenging to sum up, the causes in a single sentence. Actually, you are not the only one who has noticed that the screen time won’t be changed or reset. Screen Time Passcode (a 4-digit pin) is a lock that can be used to restrict almost all app limits on Apple devices firmly. But on the other hand, different people use it in different ways, whether for their own use or to set screen time limits for kids or other family members. Even more settings on your iPhone, iPad or Mac can be blocked by the screen time passcode, including the ability to reset iOS devices, signing out of Apple ID on your iPhone, and making location changes.
Errors involving the screen time passcode may occur knowingly or unknowingly. One of the potential causes of the query, “how to change screen time passcode” is one of the following:
- iOS version is out of date
- Several unsuccessful passcode attempts
- Without telling you, your family or friends changed your password
- Your password has been changed or forgotten
- The device does not belong to you
How to Change Screen Time Passcode?
1. Sign Out of Apple ID and Sign in back
Your Apple ID will function after signing out and back in again because account-related issues will be resolved. You can sign up again after logging out. This is one of the methods of how to change the screen time passcode and it allegedly works well for many people. By taking the following actions, you can give it a try:
- Go to “Settings”
- Your name and picture are visible at the top of the page; click on your name or profile picture
- Then, on the page’s bottom, click the “Sign-out” button
- Next, select the option ‘Sign out of iCloud’
- Enter your password, then press the “Turn Off” button
- Navigate to the top right corner and press on “Sign Out”
Signing out of your Apple ID is possible using this procedure. After this, you must re-sign in with your Apple ID.
- Click on “Sign In to your iPhone”
- Write your Apple ID and passcode
- After selecting “Next”, take a moment to wait
- Type in your passcode
- Press the “Merge” button
You’ve signed in to your Apple ID successfully. Check to see if your screen time passcode problem has been resolved at this point.
2. Restart
Restarting your phone fixes the problem related to the performance, including the problem of how to change the screen time passcode. Here are the methods to restart:
iPhone SE (1st Gen), 5, or Older Version
- To turn off your phone, press the “Power button” on the top
- The “Power-Off Slider” is visible, as you can see
- Slider: Move it to the opposite side
- Now, your device is turned off
- To activate it, hold down the “Power button” until the Apple logo appears
iPhone SE (2nd gen), 6, 7, and 8
- Click on the “Power Button”
- After a brief delay, move the Power-Off Slider to the opposite side
- To activate it, hold down the “Power button” until the Apple logo appears
iPhone X, 11, 12, and 13
- First, On the side of your phone, press the “volume down” and “power button” simultaneously.
- After a brief delay, move the “Power-Off Slider” to the opposite side
- After this, your device will turn off
- Then, it can be started by briefly pressing the “Power” and “Volume Down” buttons
Your device is turned on if you see the Apple Logo
MacBook
- At the bottom of your screen, in the left corner, click the Apple logo
- Choose Restart from the menu
- Locate “Reopen Windows When Logging Back in”, and select it
- In the bottom right corner, select Restart
3. Reset Your Passcode
If you’ve lost your phone or MacBook passcode, you can reset them both. This might assist you in regaining access and getting the solution for how to change the screen time passcode.
iPhone and iPad
Remembering the passcode can be problematic, for sure. It’s not impossible to recover your passcode if you forget it. To recover or reset your passcode, follow these steps:
- Go to “Settings”
- Click on the “Screen Time” menu
- After that, tap on “Change Screen Time Passcode” located at the bottom of the page
- Select “Change Screen Time Passcode” once more when it appears
- Select “Forget Passcode?”
- Input your Apple ID and password
- Enter the new passcode for your screen time
- The new screen time passcode must be entered again to be verified
This option is not available in firmware versions lower than 13.4.
MacBook
Here’s how to accomplish it using a MacBook. Mac OS Catalina 10.15.4 or newer must be installed on your computer.
- The “Apple logo” is located in the top left corner. Click on it
- Choose “System Preference”
- Tap on “Screen Time”
- Tap on the “three dots” option in the bottom left-hand corner
- Select “Change Passcode” → “Forgot Passcode”
- Type in both your Apple ID and password
- Please type a fresh screen time passcode and type it again to confirm
4. Update your iOS version
Apple releases new features, bug fixes, and software upgrades for the iPhone through software updates, enhancing both security and functionality. It can resolve the problem of how to change the screen time passcode as well. Follow the steps below to successfully check for your iOS updates:-
- Navigate to “Settings”
- Select “General option”
- Select the “Software Update” option
- Select “Automatic Updates”
- Turn on “Download iOS Updates” and also the “Install iOS Updates”
-
Reset All Settings
Resetting all of your phone’s settings is another quick fix for how to change the screen time passcode. It is hoped that a reset will fix any setting mistakes that may be to blame for the issue. Follow the steps:-
- Go to “Settings”
- Then, “General”
- Locate “Reset” and tap on that
- Finally, select “Reset All Settings”
Wait for the process to finish, check the screen time passcode issue and it should be resolved.
Closing Thoughts
We advise you to try the aforementioned techniques if your Screen Time Passcode won’t change. You can reset the screen time password using Apple’s Screen Time Passcode Recovery if you can remember your Apple ID and password. It’s important to note that using the app to reset and modify the screen time passcode is secure and great without losing any data. Nobody wants their sensitive personal information lost. All the best!
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
