What a screen time passcode does and why you might need to find it

A screen time passcode is a PIN you set on your phone or tablet to lock restrictions you've created — like app limits, content filters, or downtime schedules. If you set one and then forgot it, or if someone else set it on your device, you need to find or reset it before you can change those restrictions.

The passcode itself isn't stored anywhere you can just look it up. It's encrypted on your device, which means Apple, Google, or Samsung can't retrieve it for you, and neither can a tech support person. Your options depend on what device you have and whether you remember any part of the passcode.

On iPhones and iPads, screen time restrictions are part of Apple's built-in parental controls. On Android phones, Google Family Link serves the same purpose. The process to recover or reset the passcode is different for each system.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen time passcodes cannot be retrieved by Apple, Google, or customer support — they're encrypted on your device only.
  • On iPhone or iPad, you can reset a forgotten screen time passcode using your Apple ID, but you'll need access to that account.
  • On Android with Google Family Link, the parent account holder can reset restrictions through the Family Link app on their own device.
  • If you don't have access to the account that set the restrictions, you may need to factory reset the device, which erases all data.
  • Screen time passcodes are different from your device passcode or lock screen PIN — resetting one does not affect the other.

Resetting screen time passcode on iPhone or iPad

On an iPhone or iPad, screen time restrictions are managed through Settings. If you forgot the passcode, you can reset it using your Apple ID — the account you use to sign into the App Store and iCloud.

Open Settings, then tap Screen Time. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode. The system will ask for your current passcode; if you don't know it, tap "Forgot Passcode?" at the bottom of that screen. You'll be asked to enter your Apple ID and password. Once verified, you can create a new screen time passcode.

This only works if you have access to the Apple ID that's signed into that device. If someone else set up the restrictions and you don't know their Apple ID password, you cannot reset the passcode without their help or without erasing the device.

Resetting screen time passcode on Android with Family Link

On Android devices, Google Family Link is the tool that manages screen time and app restrictions. Unlike iPhone, there is no separate passcode for Family Link restrictions — instead, the parent account controls everything through the Family Link app on their own phone.

If you are the parent and forgot how to access Family Link, open the Family Link app on your own Android phone or iPhone. Sign in with your Google account. You can then view and change all restrictions for any child device linked to your account. There is no passcode to reset; you manage restrictions directly through the app.

If you are the child and the parent set restrictions you want to change, you'll need to ask the parent to open their Family Link app and adjust the settings. The parent can remove restrictions, change limits, or disable Family Link entirely from their own device.

What to do if you don't have access to the account that set the restrictions

If someone else set a screen time passcode on your iPhone and you don't have their Apple ID password, or if a parent set up Family Link on your Android phone and won't help you change it, your options are limited.

The most direct option is to ask the person who set it up to help you. They can reset the passcode (iPhone) or adjust restrictions (Android) from their own device in minutes. If that's not possible, you can factory reset your device, which erases all data and removes all restrictions — but you'll lose photos, messages, apps, and everything else on the phone.

Before you factory reset, back up any data you want to keep. On iPhone, use iCloud or a computer. On Android, use Google Drive or your computer. Then, on iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. On Android, go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase All Data (Factory Reset).

The difference between screen time passcode and device passcode

Your device passcode (or PIN, or Face ID, or fingerprint) is what you use to unlock your phone every day. Your screen time passcode is a separate PIN that only controls restrictions — app limits, content filters, downtime schedules, and so on.

Forgetting your device passcode and forgetting your screen time passcode are two different problems with different solutions. If you forgot your device passcode, you'll need to erase the phone and set it up again. If you forgot your screen time passcode, you can reset it using your Apple ID (iPhone) or ask the parent account holder (Android), without erasing anything.

Why screen time passcodes exist and what they actually protect

Screen time passcodes exist so that whoever sets restrictions can't have them easily disabled. A parent might set a passcode so a child can't remove app limits. An adult might set one on their own phone to make it harder to override their own downtime schedule.

The passcode is not a security feature against hackers or data theft. It's a friction tool — it makes it slightly harder to change your own restrictions in a moment of weakness, or to let someone else change them without permission. If someone has physical access to your device and knows your Apple ID password (or is the parent account on Family Link), they can reset the passcode anyway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Apple or Google tell me my screen time passcode?

No. Screen time passcodes are encrypted on your device only. Apple, Google, Samsung, and their support teams cannot see, retrieve, or reset your passcode. Only you (using your Apple ID on iPhone) or the account holder (on Android Family Link) can reset it.

What happens if I factory reset my phone to remove screen time restrictions?

Factory reset erases everything on your device — all photos, messages, apps, contacts, and settings. You'll need to set up the phone from scratch and restore from a backup if you have one. It will remove the screen time passcode and all restrictions, but at the cost of losing all your data if you don't back up first.

If I reset my screen time passcode, will the restrictions go away?

No. Resetting the passcode just lets you change the restrictions. The app limits, downtime schedules, and content filters stay in place until you manually turn them off. You'll need to open Settings > Screen Time (iPhone) or the Family Link app (Android) and disable each restriction individually.

Can I set a screen time passcode that's the same as my device passcode?

Yes, you can use the same numbers, but the system treats them as separate passcodes. Forgetting one doesn't mean you've forgotten the other. For security, it's actually better to use different passcodes so that someone who learns your device PIN can't also disable your screen time restrictions.

What if my child knows my Apple ID password and resets the screen time passcode themselves?

If your child has your Apple ID password, they can reset your screen time passcode and change restrictions on their device. The solution is to use a strong, unique password for your Apple ID and not share it. You can also enable two-factor authentication on your Apple ID so that password resets require a verification code sent to your phone.