My device was restricted using screentime and I do not have access to the recovery email used. How do I remove this?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Screentime passcode unknown
iPad mini 4, iPadOS 15
If you applied ScreenTime restrictions - and secured ScreenTime with a ScreenTime Passcode, you can only release this protection using the correct Passcode.
As a safeguard, to reset a forgotten ScreenTime Passcode, you have the option to use a recovery email address. The onus is upon you to ensure that you have access to the email account that you have used for Passcode recovery - as, if you lose access to the account, you also lose the ability to reset the associated Passcode. In such circumstances you can still recover full use of the device - but will have no alternative other than to fully reset the iPad, a process that will erase all locally stored data.
You are in the unfortunate predicament of having enabled multiple technical layers of security - individually designed to protect your device and data from potential compromise. Having forgotten an essential Passcode, and lost access to the recovery email account, you cannot remove the protection without fully resetting the iPad.
Assuming that you are the bona-fide owner and retain access to the iPad itself, you will need to manually back-up any critical data and files that are stored locally on the device prior to resetting the iPad. Any data synchronised with iCloud will remain accessible and available after resetting the iPad.
If you applied ScreenTime restrictions - and secured ScreenTime with a ScreenTime Passcode, you can only release this protection using the correct Passcode.
As a safeguard, to reset a forgotten ScreenTime Passcode, you have the option to use a recovery email address. The onus is upon you to ensure that you have access to the email account that you have used for Passcode recovery - as, if you lose access to the account, you also lose the ability to reset the associated Passcode. In such circumstances you can still recover full use of the device - but will have no alternative other than to fully reset the iPad, a process that will erase all locally stored data.
You are in the unfortunate predicament of having enabled multiple technical layers of security - individually designed to protect your device and data from potential compromise. Having forgotten an essential Passcode, and lost access to the recovery email account, you cannot remove the protection without fully resetting the iPad.
Assuming that you are the bona-fide owner and retain access to the iPad itself, you will need to manually back-up any critical data and files that are stored locally on the device prior to resetting the iPad. Any data synchronised with iCloud will remain accessible and available after resetting the iPad.
If you have forgotten the ScreenTime passcode, the procedures outlined within this link should resolve the problem:
If you forgot your Screen Time passcode - Apple Support
If your iPad is capable of supporting iPadOS 13.x or later, you should update to the most current version before attempting to resolve a forgotten ScreenTime passcode. The more recent versions of iPadOS have introduced a new mechanism whereby a forgotten ScreenTime passcode can be reset without wiping the iPad.
To reset a forgotten ScreenTime passcode on older versions of iOS/iPadOS, or if you cannot recover access using the recovery email address, the iPad must be complete reset “as new” losing all locally stored data:
Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content & Settings
In this situation, you’ll not be able to restore your data from an iCloud or iTunes backup - as the forgotten passcode is integral to the backup.
Jwelborn1212 wrote:
Why would one wish to lose all of the data from their device?
No one would want to lose all their data, that’s why its prudent to back of frequently, ideally automatically overnight, every night, and also to sync to iCloud (which is continuous). But if you have forgotten the Screen Time passcode resetting it is the only option.
Thanks but this is a bit more complicated than normal due to the screentime recovery email being unknown as I was not aware of this being added to my account by my spouse, who is not willing to unlock it nor provide the email used to set it up. I use family sharing, I fund all Apple services for my family of 6, am the family organizer, yet still Apple is unable to provide a solution to removing this from my account.
Why would one wish to lose all of the data from their device? And you say “older versions” as if iOS 18 or 26, for that matter, are any different. I am unable to sign out of my iCloud account due to restriction in place via screentime. Apple really failed in this case. Anyone capable of providing all proof necessary to verify that they are the rightful owner of a device, account or equipment should be afforded a way to circumvent someone placing a PIN number on their device and/or using and alternate email address to set up a recovery means that the owner does not or no longer has access to.
So you’re unable to reset it using the Apple Account information used to sign into your device?
Correct. My Apple ID being entered when forgot passcode option is used only causes the incorrect passcode count to increase by one.
So the easiest way to do this is to get the needed info from your spouse? Can’t you call the police on him or something?
How to bypass unknown Screen Time passcode on iPad without recovery email?
