Where to Find Restrictions on Your iPad

Restrictions on iPad are found in the Settings app under Screen Time, not under a section called "Restrictions" anymore. Apple renamed this feature in iOS 12 and later. Open Settings, tap Screen Time, then tap Content & Privacy Restrictions to see what limits are currently active on the device.

If you have never set up Screen Time before, you will need to turn it on first. Tap "Turn On Screen Time" and choose whether you are setting limits for yourself or for a child. The steps differ slightly depending on which you choose, but both lead to the same restrictions menu once Screen Time is enabled.

If Screen Time is already on but you do not remember the passcode, you will need to reset it using your Apple ID before you can change any restrictions. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized changes to parental controls.

Key Takeaways

  • Restrictions on iPad are managed through Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, not a separate Restrictions menu.
  • You must know the Screen Time passcode to change any restrictions, and you cannot view or modify them without it.
  • Common restrictions include app limits, content filters, and purchase controls, each toggled on or off independently.
  • If you forget the Screen Time passcode, you can reset it using your Apple ID, but this requires verifying your identity.
  • Changes to restrictions take effect when ready once you confirm them and exit the menu.

Turning Screen Time On or Off

To turn Screen Time on for the first time, open Settings and tap Screen Time. Tap "Turn On Screen Time" and select whether this iPad is for you or a child. If you choose "This is My iPad," you can set app limits and content restrictions for yourself. If you choose "This is My Child's iPad," you will set up parental controls and a Screen Time passcode that only you know.

To turn Screen Time off entirely, go to Settings > Screen Time and scroll to the bottom. Tap "Turn Off Screen Time" and enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted. This removes all app limits and content restrictions. Turning it off does not delete your history — if you turn it back on later, your previous limits will still be there.

Changing App Limits and Downtime

App limits restrict how long certain apps or app categories can be used each day. To set or change an app limit, go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits. Tap "Add Limit" or tap an existing limit to edit it. Choose which apps or categories you want to limit — for example, Social Networking, Games, or Entertainment.

Set the time allowed per day by dragging the hour and minute wheels. Once the daily limit is reached, the app will be blocked until midnight or until you manually allow more time by entering the Screen Time passcode. You can set different limits for different days of the week by tapping "Customize Days."

Downtime is a separate feature that blocks all apps except Phone, Messages, and FaceTime during a set time window — typically bedtime or family dinner. To set Downtime, go to Settings > Screen Time > Downtime, toggle it on, and set the start and end times. During Downtime, only the allowed apps work unless you enter the Screen Time passcode.

Filtering Content and Restricting Purchases

Content & Privacy Restrictions let you block apps, movies, music, books, and websites based on age ratings and content type. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle it on. Tap "Content Restrictions" to see options for Apps, Movies, TV Shows, Books, and Music.

For Apps, you can block downloads and in-app purchases by age rating — for example, blocking all apps rated 12+ or 17+. For Movies and TV Shows, select the highest rating allowed (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17, or Unrated). For Music and Podcasts, you can block explicit content. These filters prevent the blocked content from appearing in the App Store, Apple Books, and Apple Music.

To restrict purchases, tap "iTunes & App Store Purchases" under Content & Privacy Restrictions. Toggle off "In-App Purchases," "Installing Apps," or "Deleting Apps" to prevent those actions without a passcode. You can also require a password for all purchases, even if the user knows the Screen Time passcode.

Blocking Websites and Managing Web Content

The web content filter blocks adult websites and allows you to create a custom list of sites that are always allowed or always blocked. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content. Choose "Unrestricted Access," "Limit Adult Websites," or "Allowed Websites Only."

If you choose "Limit Adult Websites," the filter blocks known adult sites but allows most other content. If you choose "Allowed Websites Only," only sites you add to the allowed list will load — this is the most restrictive option. Tap "Add Website" under either section to manually add URLs to the allowed or blocked list.

The web filter applies to Safari and other browsers on the device. It does not block content within apps — for example, social media apps can still display web content even if the web filter is on. If you need to block specific apps entirely, use the App Limits or Content Restrictions features instead.

Resetting a Forgotten Screen Time Passcode

If you forget your Screen Time passcode, you cannot change restrictions until you reset it. Go to Settings > Screen Time and tap "Change Screen Time Passcode." Tap "Forgot Passcode?" and follow the prompts to verify your identity using your Apple ID and password.

After you verify your Apple ID, you will be asked to create a new Screen Time passcode. Write it down or store it in a password manager so you do not lose it again. The reset process takes a few minutes and requires an internet connection.

If you do not remember your Apple ID password either, you will need to reset it at iforgot.apple.com before you can reset your Screen Time passcode. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from removing parental controls on a child's device.

Removing Restrictions Completely

To remove all restrictions at once, go to Settings > Screen Time and scroll to the bottom. Tap "Turn Off Screen Time" and enter your Screen Time passcode. This disables app limits, Downtime, content filters, and purchase restrictions in one step.

If you want to keep Screen Time on but remove only specific restrictions, you can do that too. For example, you can turn off App Limits while keeping Content & Privacy Restrictions active, or disable Downtime while keeping app limits in place. Go to Settings > Screen Time and toggle off only the features you want to remove.

Removing restrictions takes effect when ready. Apps that were blocked will become available, and time limits will no longer explore. If you are removing restrictions from a child's device, they will notice right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change restrictions without knowing the Screen Time passcode?

No. You must enter the Screen Time passcode to view or change any restrictions. If you do not know it, you will need to reset it using your Apple ID. There is no way around this — it is a security feature to prevent unauthorized changes to parental controls.

What happens when an app limit is reached?

When the daily time limit for an app is reached, the app icon becomes grayed out and tapping it shows a message saying the limit has been reached. You can tap "Ask for More Time" to request additional minutes, which sends a notification to the parent if this is a child's device. Otherwise, you must enter the Screen Time passcode to unlock the app when ready.

Do restrictions explore to all users on the iPad?

Screen Time restrictions explore to the entire iPad, not to individual user accounts. If multiple people use the same iPad, they all see the same app limits, content filters, and Downtime schedule. If you need different restrictions for different people, they would need separate iPads or separate Apple IDs with their own Screen Time settings.

Can I set different restrictions for weekdays and weekends?

Yes. When you create an app limit, tap "Customize Days" to set different time limits for specific days of the week. For example, you can allow two hours on weekdays and four hours on weekends. Downtime can also be customized by day if you tap "Customize Days" in the Downtime menu.

Will changing restrictions delete my app usage history?

No. Changing or removing restrictions does not affect the usage data that Screen Time has collected. Your history of which apps you used and for how long remains in Settings > Screen Time > See All Activity, even after you turn off restrictions or change them.