How to disable Screen Time on your device
Screen Time is a built-in monitoring tool on Apple devices and similar features exist on Android and Windows. To turn it off completely, you need to remove it from your device settings — not just pause it. The exact steps depend on whether you set it up yourself or a parent set it up for you, and whether you remember the passcode.
If you set up Screen Time yourself and remember the passcode, disabling it takes less than a minute. If a parent set it up and you do not have the passcode, you cannot remove it without their permission or by resetting the device to factory settings, which erases everything on it.
The sections below cover each situation. Start with the one that matches your setup.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Screen Time > Turn Off Screen Time, then enter your passcode to confirm the removal.
- On Android, Screen Time is called Digital Wellbeing and lives in Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls > toggle off or uninstall the app.
- On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Family > remove the account or turn off monitoring in Family Safety settings.
- If a parent set it up and you do not have the passcode, you cannot remove it without their permission, a factory reset, or contacting Apple or Google support with proof of ownership.
- Removing Screen Time does not delete your usage history — it only stops new monitoring from that point forward.
Disabling Screen Time on iPhone and iPad
Open Settings and scroll down to Screen Time. Tap it, then scroll to the bottom and tap Turn Off Screen Time. The system will ask you to confirm and enter your Screen Time passcode. Once you do, Screen Time stops running when ready.
If you forgot your passcode, you have two options. You can reset your entire device to factory settings through Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, which removes Screen Time but also deletes everything else on the phone. Or you can contact Apple Support with proof that you own the device — they can help you regain access without erasing everything, though the process takes longer.
If a parent or guardian set up Screen Time on your device and you do not have the passcode, you cannot remove it yourself. You would need them to go into their own device, open Family Sharing settings, find your device, and turn off Screen Time from there. Alternatively, they can remove you from their Family Sharing group entirely, which disables all parental controls on your device.
Disabling Digital Wellbeing on Android
Android devices call this feature Digital Wellbeing & parental controls. Open Settings, scroll down, and look for Digital Wellbeing (the exact location varies by phone brand — Samsung, Google Pixel, and others place it differently). Tap it, then look for an option to turn off or disable the feature. Some phones let you toggle it off directly; others require you to uninstall the app.
If you set it up yourself, toggling it off removes monitoring when ready. If a parent set it up through Google Family Link, you cannot turn it off without their permission. They would need to open the Family Link app on their own device, select your account, and remove parental controls from there.
If you forgot your Google account password, you can reset it at accounts.google.com, but you will need access to your recovery email or phone number. Once you reset the password, you can log back into your device and access Digital Wellbeing settings.
Disabling Screen Time on Windows
Windows uses Family Safety to monitor screen time. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Family & other users. If you see your account listed under "Family," a parent has set up monitoring. Click on your account, then look for Screen time or App and game restrictions. You can toggle these off if you have admin access to the device.
If a parent set up Family Safety and you do not have admin rights, you cannot disable it without their permission. They would need to open their own Family Safety settings, find your account, and turn off monitoring from there. If you have forgotten the admin password, you can reset it through the Windows login screen by answering security questions or using a recovery email.
What happens when you disable Screen Time
Disabling Screen Time stops the system from tracking new usage and enforcing app limits or downtime schedules going forward. However, your past usage history remains on the device — turning off Screen Time does not erase what was already recorded. If you want to clear that history, you would need to reset the device or contact support.
Once Screen Time is off, you can use apps without restrictions, stay awake past any scheduled downtime, and use your device without notifications about daily limits. The device will no longer send reports to any parent or guardian account linked to it.
If you cannot disable Screen Time yourself
If a parent or guardian set up Screen Time and you do not have the passcode, your options are limited. The most straightforward path is to ask them directly to remove it. Explain what you want to do and why — many parents will disable it if you show you are being responsible with your device time.
If that is not possible, you can contact Apple Support (for iPhone and iPad) or Google Support (for Android) with proof that you own the device. This might be a receipt, your name on the account, or other documentation. They can verify ownership and help you regain access, though the process can take several days.
A factory reset will remove Screen Time entirely, but it erases all photos, messages, apps, and files on the device. This is a last resort and should only be done if you are certain you want to lose everything on the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling Screen Time delete my usage history?
No. Turning off Screen Time stops future monitoring but keeps all past usage data on your device. That history remains visible in the Screen Time settings until you manually clear it or reset the device. If you want to erase it, you would need to factory reset the phone.
Can my parent turn Screen Time back on after I disable it?
If they have your device or your account password, yes. If you disable it on your own device and they do not have access, they cannot re-enable it remotely. However, if they have Family Sharing set up, they can set it up again from their own device.
What if I reset my password but still cannot access Screen Time settings?
If a parent set up Screen Time through Family Sharing or Family Link, resetting your password alone will not remove their monitoring. You would need them to remove you from their family group or turn off parental controls on your account from their device.
Will disabling Screen Time affect my other settings or apps?
No. Turning off Screen Time only removes the monitoring and restriction features. Your apps, photos, messages, and all other settings stay exactly as they are. The device functions normally once Screen Time is off.
Can I disable Screen Time on just one app instead of the whole device?
No. Screen Time is an all-or-nothing feature — you either have it enabled on the device or you do not. However, you can adjust individual app limits within Screen Time settings without disabling the whole feature, if you have access to the passcode.