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User profile for user: screentimebug
screentimebug Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

screen time locked and cannot reset or reboot.

Hi, my screen time on iPhone 8 has randomly activated Downtime. I cannot access phone for 16+ hours a day. I cannot change screen time password, delete password, or reset password using Apple ID.

On advice from Apple help I have reset my phone to factory settings but still the issue remains.

I have been told by Apple help that this is a bug which is being worked on by their engineers.


My question is this. Has anyone else experienced this bug and how long has it been going on? I have been promised a fix but with no time frame. If this will be in a week then I can just about work around it, but if this has been ongoing for months with no fix then I will have to find another solution until Apple can fix their software bug. Thank you to anyone with any information.

iPhone 7, iOS 14

Posted on Jul 14, 2021 11:12 PM

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User profile for user: SravanKrA
SravanKrA
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
419,672 points

Posted on Jul 15, 2021 1:01 AM

If you are unable to reset Screen Time passcode from the this-> link then, you will need a computer. If you don't have one, borrow from a friend.


Forgot? Click below to reset…

Click->If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your ...


Regarding your data, If…

  1. You have an iCloud or iTunes backup, I am sorry there is no use of a backup because if you restore from your backup your Screen Time Passcode will be back. 
  2. You have not imported nor you have synced nor uploaded your data to cloud drives prior to forgetting the Screen Time passcode then I am sorry, all your data is lost.


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User profile for user: SravanKrA
SravanKrA
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
419,672 points

Jul 15, 2021 1:01 AM in response to screentimebug

If you are unable to reset Screen Time passcode from the this-> link then, you will need a computer. If you don't have one, borrow from a friend.


Forgot? Click below to reset…

Click->If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your ...


Regarding your data, If…

  1. You have an iCloud or iTunes backup, I am sorry there is no use of a backup because if you restore from your backup your Screen Time Passcode will be back. 
  2. You have not imported nor you have synced nor uploaded your data to cloud drives prior to forgetting the Screen Time passcode then I am sorry, all your data is lost.


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User profile for user: screentimebug
screentimebug Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jul 15, 2021 3:43 AM in response to SravanKrA

Thank you for your reply. I went through this step with Apple help and reset the phone using my MAC, and as you correctly say in point 1 above, the screen time password requirement is back.

My data is backed up to icloud.

Is there no way of removing the screen time password in this case? My phone is next to useless like this.

I did not even set a screen time password, the phone was randomly locked.

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screen time locked and cannot reset or reboot.

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