How to Delete a Personal Screen Time Password When You Forgot It

Screen Time is a somewhat useful feature to help limit time on screens, online, and, in particular, apps. It is used by parents for children, but you can also use it for yourself. With Screen Time enabled, you can choose your own limits.

You can take it a step further by setting a Screen Time password – you might want to enter a password instead of just typing when you exceed the limits you set for yourself. (You could even ask someone other to define the code and not tell you if you need additional external help.)

When you set up a Screen Time passcode for your iCloud account, Apple prompts you to enter an Apple ID and password to cache the code. It doesn’t have to be the same Apple ID you use with iCloud.

What happens if you forget your Screen Time password for your kids or yourself? With your kids, iOS/iPadOS and macOS can usually retrieve the keychain code using Touch ID or Face ID. Failing that, and for your own lost password, you can use Apple ID-based recovery.

On iOS/iPadOS:

1. Go to Settings > screen time.
2. Choose a user if it is not your own access code.
3. Faucet Change screen time passworde.
4. Faucet Disable screen passcode.
5. Faucet Forgot your password ?
6. Enter the Apple ID username and password you used when setting up your password.
7. Faucet OKAY.

Under macOS:

1. Go to System Preferences > screen time (Monterey or before) or System Parameters > screen time (Ventura).
2. Choose the user if other than you.
3. Click on Choice if you don’t see the Screen Time: Enabled label in the upper right corner.
4. Uncheck or disable Use screen passcode.
5. If you’re not prompted to use Touch ID, enter the Apple ID account and password you used when setting it up.
6. Click on OKAY.

This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by igamesnews reader Hassan.

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