How to Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode and Losing Data

by Lorena Hill

Updated on 2024-07-31

5min read

“Hi there,

I’ve set a time limit for an app on my iPhone 14 Pro using Screen Time and now I want to turn it off as its interfering with my onscreen activities. However, unfortunately, I can’t remember the passcode to turn it off. Please, how do I turn off Screen Time without passcode?”

Losing the passcode to your Screen Time configuration could stem a lot of issues and one of them is the difficulty with disabling the feature just as described in the scenario above. If this is a problem you are also experiencing on your iDevice, then this post has gotten the solution you need. Here, we will explore the 6 easy ways to turn off Screen Time without passcode on any iPhone/iPad model. Ready to discover what our solution entails? Stick around and let’s delve in!

Part 1. Overview About Screen Time Passcode

Screen Time is a productivity feature tucked into an iPhone or iPad with the sole purpose of managing your onscreen activities, while Screen Time Passcode is a 4-digit code often used to protect your configurations each time you decide to set up a Screen Time limit on your iPhone or iPad. It’s mostly used by parents to manage their ward’s devices and restrict their access to make alterations to their setups. It can be set up on the host (usually the parent) device or respondent device (the child/ward).

Part 2. How to Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode and Data Loss

Now onto the technique to turn off Screen Time without passcode on iPhone. Find below the top 2 ways to get it done without data loss.

Way 1. Use Passixer iPhone Unlocker

Passixer iPhone Unlocker is outstanding software you can depend on to help you fix Screen Time issues without passcode. It lets you disable Screen Time on any iPhone or iPad model without tampering with any of the data files on it. This software removes Screen Time or retrieves Screen Time passcode depending on the iOS version you operate on. It’s extremely useful when you forgot your Screen Time passcode on your old iPhone or bought a secondhand iPhone whose Screen Time is on. Passixer also caters to other security restrictions issues you may encounter on an iDevice. With this tool, you can easily unlock your disabled/unavailable iPhone screen, get rid of the iCloud Activation Lock without Apple ID, remove Apple ID without password, and more.  

Key Features

  1. Turn off Screen Time without resetting your device.
  2. Unlock any type of screen lock, including 4/6-digit passcode, custom passcode, Face ID, Touch ID, etc.
  3. Offers MDM removal from all iPhone or iPad models without causing data loss.
  4. Bypass iCloud Activation Lock from previous owner seamlessly.

Steps to Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode Using Passixer

Step 1: Install and run Passixer on your computer. On the quick start interface, select Screen Time.

select Screen Time | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

Click Start on the screen that follows.

Step 2: Connect the iPhone you want to turn off Screen Time Passcode on to your computer using the right USB cable, then click Start once the software detects it.

click Start | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

Step 3: Screen Time Passcode removal will commence depending on the iOS version you are using. Check below for the condition for the different iOS versions:

iOS 12 or Later

If you have the Find My feature disabled on your iPhone, then Passixer iPhone Unlocker will start the Screen Time Passcode removal.

start Screen Time Passcode removal | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

iOS 11 or Earlier

Screen Time passcode removal will start if you don’t have iTunes backup encrypted on the device. However, if you do, then you have to provide the password to the iTunes encryption so as to decrypt the backup first. After that, Passixer will retrieve and display the passcode to your Screen Time on your screen. Copy and enter the passcode to turn off Screen Time on your device.

turn off Screen Time | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

Way 2. Change Screen Time Passcode via Apple ID (iOS 13.4 or Later)

Another straightforward technique you could employ to turn off Screen Time without passcode on your iPhone is via the Apple ID and password linked to it. This technique follows a simple trick which involves trying to change your Screen Time passcode. It’s OS specific, which means that it works for limited iOS versions, iOS 13.4 or later.

Follow the instructions below to turn off Screen Time without passcode using your Apple ID details:

  1. Open the Settings menu screen on your device by tapping on the appropriate icon.
  2. Select Screen Time on the subsequent interface that appears.
  3. Next, click on Change Screen Time Passcode.
  4. Afterwards, tap on Change Screen Time Passcode to continue.
  5. Select Forgot Passcode?, then provide your Apple ID and password in the fields provided on the subsequent page to complete this guide. At last, you can use the new passcode to deactivate Screen Time.

select Forgot Passcode | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

Pros

  1. No data loss.
  2. The technique is completed directly from the settings panel on the iPhone itself.

Cons

  1. You must have the correct Apple ID and password linked to the iPhone to successfully implement this solution.
  2. It works for selected iOS versions.

Part 3. How to Disable Screen Time without Passcode [Data Loss]

In this section, we will discuss some other handy solutions you can use to disable Screen Time without passcode on your iPhone. However, this time, data loss is imminent. Check and follow the technique that’s easiest from the list below:

Way 1. Restore iPhone via iTunes

We recommend this technique since iPhone restoration via iTunes could restore your device to factory settings, which obviously clears all installed content and settings, including Screen Time configuration, you have on the device.  

Prior to implementing this solution, it’s important that you backup your crucial files so you can restore them when Screen Time is turned off. Afterwards, follow the detailed guide down here to restore your iPhone via iTunes:

  1. Install and launch the most recent and suitable version of iTunes on your computer.
  2. Plug your iPhone into the computer with the help of a certified USB cable to establish a connection with iTunes.
  3. Select the Device icon at the top of the interface displayed.
  4. Click Summary on the left sidebar to proceed.
  5. Proceed to the right-hand panel of the iTunes screen and click on Restore iPhone.
  6. Your iPhone restoration will commence immediately. Wait till it’s completed, then you can detach the iPhone from the computer and use it without Screen Time limitations.

commence iPhone restoration | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

Pros

  1. You need no Screen Time passcode to successfully apply this technique.
  2. Install a new update on your iPhone.

Cons

  1. All data and settings that are installed on your device are automatically cleared.
  2. You must not restore the backup containing the Screen Time configuration setup. If you do, then the Screen Time passcode request will come up again.

Note: If Find My is enabled on your iPhone before performing restoration, please turn it off  to avoid iCloud Activation Lock.

Way 2. Erase iPhone with iCloud

From your iCloud profile page, you can also turn off Screen Time on any iPhone model that uses Find My option. Like the aforementioned technique, this one also involves clearing the content on the device you are experiencing the underlying issue. This means data loss is certified. However, you must remember your Apple ID details and enable Find My iPhone for this solution to be effective.

Follow the illustrative guide down here to erase your iPhone with iCloud to turn off Screen Time without passcode:

Step 1: Open a web browser and proceed to the official website for iCloud.

Step 2: Sign in to your Apple ID profile by filling in your details correctly in the required field. Provide the 2FA code if necessary to gain access completely.

enter 2fa code | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

Step 3: Select Find My on the main interface displayed and the screen below will come up:

select Find My | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

Tap on the drop-down menu beside All Devices, then choose the iPhone you want to turn off Screen Time on.

Step 4: Click on Erase This Device on the subsequent screen and enter your Apple ID password to complete this guide.

tap Erase This Device | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

Pros

  1. Removes the Screen Time without password.

Cons

  1. A stable internet service is needed for you to finish this guide without interruption.
  2. You must have the correct Apple ID and password to employ this technique.

Way 3. Wipe iPhone Through Find My App

If you have another iPhone/iPad, you can use its Find My app to wipe your iPhone whose Screen Time is enabled. It works like using the Find My feature in iCloud. To try this way, Apple ID used on the iPhone with Screen Time on is required and Find My needs to be on. If you have this information ready, apply the stepwise guide below to wipe your iPhone:

  1. Tap on the Find My App icon on another iOS device which is signed in with the Apple ID same as your iPhone from your home screen to launch it.
  2. Locate the Devices icon at the bottom of your screen and click on it.
  3. Swipe up and select the iPhone you want to erase from the list. Afterward, click on Erase This Device.
  4. Enter your Apple ID password and all content and settings installed on your iPhone will be wiped.

Wipe iPhone Through Find My App | Turn Off Screen Time without Passcode

Pros

  1. This method is free to use.

Cons

  1. The Apple ID details of the device are needed to use this approach.
  2. Another available iPhone/iPad is required.

FAQs

How to set up Screen Time Passcode?

Setting up a Screen Time Passcode is not a tough task to execute. However, the procedure to follow depends on whether you want to manage a device directly from yours or from the device itself. Use the instructional guide shared below to set the Screen Time passcode if you are managing a device from yours:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Choose Screen Time from the options that show up on the subsequent screen.
  3. Follow the onscreen guide that comes up to configure the Screen Time settings you want for your ward.
  4. After that, input the Screen Time passcode to secure your settings. Re-enter the passcode again to confirm and complete the guide.

What is the threshold for a failed Screen Time Passcode?

The threshold for a failed Screen Time passcode attempt is 5 times consecutively. After this time, a timer will be set on subsequent failed attempts. Find below, what happens once the threshold failed attempt is met:

  1. 6 failed Screen Time passcode attempts, try again in 1 minute.
  2. 7 failed Screen Time passcode attempts, try again in 5 minutes.
  3. 8 failed Screen Time passcode attempts, try again in 15 minutes.
  4. 9 failed Screen Time passcode attempts, try again in 60 minutes.
  5. 10 failed Screen Time passcode attempts, try again in 60 minutes.

After the tenth attempt, then you have to keep waiting 60 minutes to try again.

Conclusion

Turning off Screen Time without a passcode is like a walk in the park now that you’ve read through this post. We discussed the top 6 ways you can turn off Screen Time without providing the passcode linked to the configuration. Of all the techniques, Passixer iPhone Unlocker is the most preferred. The software removes Screen Time without passcode or data loss. There are no darksides attached to using this method. So it’s safe to try out.

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