How to Remove or Reset a Forgotten Screen Time Passcode on iPhone and Mac

Screen Time is a phenomenal addition to the iPhone, iPad and Mac. It allows you to easily monitor habits, impose time limits, set restrictions for various applications and services, etc. But to secure any modification of Screen Time, you must create a Screen Time access code. It is especially important to do this when handing over your device to other people.

However, you don’t use your Screen Time password a lot (compared to your device’s passcode), which makes you completely forget about it. And when Screen Time was first introduced in iOS 12, it was almost impossible to change or delete a Screen Time password if you didn’t remember it using normal means.

The only “official” way to get rid of a forgotten Screen Time password was to restore your iPhone or iPad with an iTunes backup without a password or to configure it as a new device. Absurd, I know. There was a workaround that involved using encrypted iTunes backups to recover your Screen Time passcode in iOS 12. But again, it didn’t work when iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 started up.

Fortunately, Apple has regained consciousness. You can now easily change or delete your forgotten Screen Time password. The same applies to the Mac. Let’s see how.

Delete or reset forgotten screen time passcode – Mac

Starting with macOS 10.15 Catalina, you can also use Screen Time on the Mac to do a lot of things like monitoring application usage, disabling program features, blocking websites, etc. But just like with the iPhone and iPad, forget your Screen Time password, and it becomes almost impossible to make changes to the Screen Time settings.

If your Mac is running macOS 10.15.4 Catalina or higher, you can easily change or delete a forgotten Screen Time password using your Apple credentials.

You can find the current version of macOS by opening the Apple menu, and then clicking About This Mac. If your Mac needs to be updated, enter software update in Spotlight, select Software Update, and then install the pending updates.

Step 1: Open the Apple menu, then click System Preferences.

2nd step: Click on the thumbnail titled Screen Time.

Step 3: Switch to the Options side tab.

Step 4: Depending on what you want to do, uncheck the box next to Use screen time access code (to delete the access code) or click the button labeled Change access code.

Step 5: Click on “Forgot your password?” when prompted for the current screen time password.

Remember: You will not see this option if you have not installed macOS 10.15.4 Catalina or higher on your Mac.

Step 6: Enter your Apple ID and password, then click Next.

You can then change or delete your Screen Time password. If the box next to Share on all devices (located under Options) is enabled, your Screen Time access code will synchronize on all other devices under the same Apple ID.

A new start

The ability to quickly delete or reset the Screen Time passcode is an essential addition to any iPhone, iPad or Mac. How hasn’t Apple solved this problem for almost a year? It was a huge problem for people who forgot their password and had to submit their device to dangerous backup restores or factory reset procedures. Better now than ever, I guess.