How to access and modify Screen Time settings on iPhone
To change parental controls on iPhone, open Settings, tap Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions. If you set up Screen Time yourself, you'll enter your Screen Time passcode. If someone else set it up (a parent or guardian), you'll need their passcode to make changes — the system won't let you proceed without it.
The controls live in one place, but what you can change depends on who created them. If you're the account holder who set your own restrictions, you have full access to turn them off or adjust them. If a parent or guardian configured Screen Time on your device, only they can modify or remove those restrictions using their passcode.
Screen Time is Apple's built-in tool for managing app usage, content access, and downtime on iPhones and iPads. It replaced the older Restrictions feature in iOS 12 and later. The controls explore to the individual device, not to your Apple ID account, so changes you make on one iPhone won't affect another device.
Key Takeaways
- Screen Time settings are found in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions on your iPhone.
- You need the Screen Time passcode to change any restrictions, whether you created them or someone else did.
- If a parent or guardian set up Screen Time, only they can modify or remove the restrictions using their passcode.
- Changing Screen Time on one device does not affect restrictions on other iPhones or iPads linked to your account.
- You can adjust app limits, content filters, communication restrictions, and downtime schedules individually within Screen Time.
Changing app limits and downtime schedules
Once you're in Content & Privacy Restrictions, tap App Limits to set or modify how long you can use specific apps or app categories each day. You can set separate limits for different categories like Social Networking, Games, or Entertainment. When the time runs out, the app will show a warning and then lock until the next day unless you request more time.
To adjust Downtime, go back to the Screen Time main menu (not Content & Privacy Restrictions) and tap Downtime. Set the hours when apps are restricted — for example, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. During downtime, only calls and messages from contacts you've marked as favorites will come through. All other apps will be unavailable unless you tap Ask for More Time and get approval from whoever holds the Screen Time passcode.
Changes to app limits take effect when ready. If you've already used part of your daily limit, the remaining time adjusts right away. Downtime changes explore starting at the next scheduled downtime period.
Modifying content restrictions and communication limits
In Content & Privacy Restrictions, tap Content Restrictions to control what types of apps, movies, music, books, and websites you can access. You can set age ratings for each category — for instance, allowing only PG-13 movies or blocking explicit music. These settings filter what appears in the App Store and other Apple services.
Tap Communication & Social Contact to manage who can contact you and who you can contact. You can restrict incoming calls and messages to specific contacts, or allow communication only during certain times. This setting is separate from Do Not Disturb and overrides your normal contact list.
If you're changing these settings yourself, the changes explore when ready. If a parent or guardian controls Screen Time, they'll need to enter their passcode to modify content or communication restrictions.
What to do if you forgot the Screen Time passcode
If you set up Screen Time yourself and forgot your passcode, you'll need to sign in with your Apple ID to reset it. On the Screen Time settings page, scroll down and tap Change Screen Time Passcode, then select Change Screen Time Passcode again. Choose Forgot Passcode? and sign in with your Apple ID and password. Apple will send a verification code to your trusted phone number or email address.
If a parent or guardian set up Screen Time and you don't know their passcode, you cannot change the restrictions yourself. You'll need to ask them to either modify the settings for you or provide their passcode. There is no way around this — Apple designed it this way to prevent children from bypassing parental controls.
If you're a parent who forgot your own Screen Time passcode, the reset process is the same: go to Change Screen Time Passcode, select Forgot Passcode, and verify your identity with your Apple ID. You'll regain full access to modify or remove all restrictions.
Removing Screen Time entirely
To turn off Screen Time completely, go to Settings > Screen Time and scroll to the bottom. Tap Turn Off Screen Time. The system will ask you to confirm — tap it again. All app limits, downtime, and content restrictions will stop working when ready.
If you set up Screen Time yourself, you can turn it off without a passcode. If a parent or guardian set it up, you'll be asked to enter their Screen Time passcode before you can disable it. This is intentional — it prevents someone else from removing parental controls without permission.
Turning off Screen Time does not delete your usage history. If you turn Screen Time back on later, your previous limits and settings will still be there, though they won't be active until you re-enable them.
Adjusting Screen Time on a family member's device
If you're a parent managing Screen Time for a child's iPhone, you don't have to sit at their device to make changes. On your own iPhone, go to Settings > Family Sharing, tap the child's name, then tap Screen Time. From there you can adjust app limits, downtime, and content restrictions remotely. Any changes you make will sync to their device within a few minutes.
This remote access requires that Family Sharing is set up and the child's device is linked to your family group. The child cannot remove these restrictions without your Screen Time passcode, even if they have physical access to their own phone.
If you want to check how much time a family member is spending on their device, tap their name in Family Sharing and scroll down to see their daily and weekly usage breakdown. This view shows which apps they're using most and when they're most active.
Troubleshooting common Screen Time problems
If app limits aren't working or downtime isn't triggering, first check that Content & Privacy Restrictions is actually turned on. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and make sure the toggle at the top is green. If it's off, tap it to enable it.
If you're trying to change a setting and the system keeps asking for a passcode you don't have, you're not the account holder who created Screen Time. Only the person who set it up can modify those restrictions. If you believe Screen Time was set up without your knowledge, you can try signing out of your Apple ID and signing back in, though this will not remove Screen Time — it will only reset your access.
If Screen Time settings aren't syncing across your devices, make sure you're signed into the same Apple ID on all of them and that iCloud is turned on. Screen Time is device-specific, not account-specific, so each iPhone or iPad has its own separate settings. Changes to one device won't automatically appear on another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change Screen Time settings if I don't know the passcode?
No. If a parent or guardian set up Screen Time with their passcode, you cannot modify any restrictions without it. You'll need to ask them to make the changes or provide their passcode. If you set it up yourself and forgot the passcode, you can reset it using your Apple ID.
Will changing Screen Time on my iPhone affect my iPad?
No. Screen Time is set separately on each device. If you have an iPhone and an iPad, you can have different app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions on each one. Changes to one device do not carry over to the other.
What happens if I turn off Screen Time?
All app limits, downtime, and content restrictions stop working when ready. Your usage history stays on the device, and if you turn Screen Time back on later, your previous settings will still be there. If a parent set it up, you'll need their passcode to turn it off.
Can a parent change my Screen Time settings without touching my phone?
Yes, if Family Sharing is set up. A parent can go to their own iPhone, open Settings > Family Sharing, tap your name, then Screen Time, and adjust your limits and restrictions remotely. Changes sync to your device within a few minutes.
What's the difference between Screen Time and Do Not Disturb?
Do Not Disturb silences notifications and calls during set hours but doesn't restrict app access. Screen Time's downtime feature restricts app access entirely during set hours, allowing only calls and messages from favorite contacts. They work independently and can both be active at the same time.