How to reset forgotten Restrictions password with iPhone restore?

Then you will have to follow the instructions already posted dozens of times in this thread already. Repeated here for your convenience: If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled - Apple Support. You need to restore iOS and set up as a new phone, because the Restrictions passcode is saved in your backup.

That depends on how you set up your phone. If you logged in to iCloud on the phone and turned on sync for contacts, pictures, etc the will all be restored to the phone when you set it up as a new phone (which is the only way to clear the Restrictions passcode). See: If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled - Apple Support

Lawrence, I take your points, but I don't really think those are apt analogies.

First off, it was NOT a hack to bypass TouchID (which would give access to the entire phone) or to get into a bank account (which would give unfettered access to someone's money.) It was a hack which only helps a person who has an unlocked iPhone to which they already have the passcode—presumably a trusted user. There is no way to make the steps work without creating a backup, and no way to create a backup without the passcode.

I would add that if I forget my lock screen passcode, or my TouchID is wiped out, I can restore the phone and create a new one! If I forget my bank account PIN I can reset it or walk into the bank and show my ID. The fact that there is no way for a legitimate user to reset the Restrictions Passcode on the phone is a major, MAJOR flaw. Wiping the phone and rebuilding it is not a viable answer for many folks due to data loss.

Would I care if my kid had found this thread? Not really. If a kid can find this thread, s/he can find the dozens of unauthorized threads around the web devoted to this topic. I'd rather trust my kid and track the spending and if s/he overwrites the restrictions passcode, I would obviously know pretty quickly based on sudden unexpected purchases. And I'd rather this thread have answers that the Apple support community can rely on based on other registered users having tried them rather than asking dedicated Apple fans to sniff around who-knows-what-lurks-there websites around the web.

FWIW, the "next version of iOS" has not blocked this technique. My steps were based on a thread from two years ago when iOS 8 was current. (I cited that post in my response and did nobody any favors as mods have now chased the post down and deleted it after it sat there for two years). Also, please don't tell me how this will alert Apple to some features to add in the future. The thread is into its 7th year, and so fixing this major bug is clearly not a priority for them.

Lastly: I didn't violate any community guidelines. The relevant section is here:

1. No material may be submitted that is intended to promote or commit an illegal act.
2. Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise 'work around' digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about 'ripping' DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store.

Nothing I posted was a violation of either of those. (Although this post is a violation, as it is no longer a reply to the original topic! 😉 )

With all respect to you Lawrence, this is the last I will post on the matter. I'm frustrated because composing the original post took over an hour, and the findings within were the result of several hours of difficult work on my behalf, saving my friend from having to wipe her phone and lose a ton of data. I felt heroic when I was able to help her out, and wanted to pass the karma forward to others. I read the guidelines and the entire thread before I posted and felt I was in compliance. I understand the predicament Apple is in, but since the " Views expressed on the [Community] Site are not endorsed by Apple," I think they are pretty well covered.

Cheers.

It was the easiest solution for us too. After 10 mins, I manage to find out my son's Ipad Restrictions Code was. We were so relieved, as we do not know nothing about technology ha.

We followed the other method we had tried, <key>SBParentalControlsPIN</key><string>1234</string> did not work for us. Kept saying error line on 102.

<Edited by Host>

This might come in handy -if not posted before. It was part of my solution. And the other part of the solution (obtaining the salt and key), I suppose, is mentioned in this thread somewhere.

Cheers

<Link Edited by Host>

The post you responded to was made over 6 years ago, and that individual has not be back since. You might get some ideas by reading the replies to that post, but only look at recent ones because the security features of iOS have changed considerably in 6 years and 3 months.

Lawrence, thanks for your reply to my second post (which was also deleted). I suspect you are right, as the second message stated "inappropriate activites" whereas the first one had stated "test your answer to be sure it works."

I guess I can see the reasons behind deletion, but since the thread is filled with literally dozens of people who offered similar advice over the past 6 years, I don't quite understand the inconsistency. In any case, thanks again for the explanation.

Consider that everyone who follows this thread would have gotten email notifications containing your posts by default, so it was not completely useless. Each time a workaround like yours was posted the next version of iOS blocked the posted technique. I have mixed feelings about posting workarounds like you found. Yes, it helps people with a legitimate need, but it also publicizes a way to bypass security protections that are built in to iOS. Bypassing Restrictions is not a serious vulnerability, but it does defeat the primary purpose of Restrictions, which is parental control. How would you feel about a post that described how to bypass Touch ID or the screen unlock passcode? Or that described how to hack into your bank account?

Harish20 wrote:

I have forgoted my restriction password for my iPhone6s plu

Then you will have to restore iOS using iTunes and set up your phone as New. The Restrictions passcode is part of the backup, so you will not be able to restore the backup.

F000-off wrote:

There's a difference between easy and not able to recover. There is definitely way to validate the restriction owner/setter and recover. It is what good programmers do.

The purpose of the Restrictions feature is protecting children through parental control. If there was any way to bypass it many children would find it, making it a useless feature.

Very much agreed! This is especially true when I got the iPhone 4s as a hand me down phone from a sibling who got it from a friend who wasn't using it (spare phone after upgrade) after I terribly cracked the screen on the hand me down iPhone 4 my sibling gave me a year prior because I didn't/don't have money to buy a smartphone (especially an iPhone, even an old one) and get service on it, especially in the traditional way of major cellular service providers and contracts.

I diverted briefly, sorry!

So the said restrictions passcode was originally set by some third party unknown to me and was never wiped along with the rest of the phone?

Another flaw in apple's systems it seems?

Just thought of another number I can try though!!!

No it didn't.

Now I'm a year in and don't want to lose stuff again as I do every time, even when I "backup."

Other phones that "reset" go to 0000 also until you go in and specifically change it.

Thankfully? I'm stubborn enough that I'll try every code until one works.

And thankfully I can't remember what I tried to do to begin with that I needed the restrictions passcode so it must be something I don't need often!

But it's the RESTRICTIONS PASSCODE, not the code to the whole phone, and that was easier to reset than this, as the original poster stated at some point early in the thread in different words (it's not Fort Knox or some such...).

It's a flaw in my opinion. You don't have to agree.

I wish I were bored enough or disciplined enough to remember to try a new code every hour on the hour though... I'd have cracked it by now!

Peace to you and yours, especially in this season of remembrance!

If you need pictures and other content you will have to sync them to iCloud (NOT back up to iCloud) before restoring and setting up as New. To do that go to Settings, tap on your name, then iCloud, and make sure the switches for everything you want on the phone are turned on (Contacts, Calendars, Notes, Photos, etc). Then wait an hour for everything to sync. Log in to https://icloud.com using your Apple ID and verify that it is all there.

When you restore and set up as New you will have to reinstall all of your apps and music, but the iCloud content will be synced back to the phone when you log in to iCloud and turn those switches back on. App Data may or may not be restored, depending on the app design.

Finally found a post that's Super simple and quick. Go to github.com/gwatts/pinfinder/releases and download the correct version for your computer. Open it once downloaded and voala your passcode appears!!! This will only work if you have backed up your device to iTunes on that particular computer.

krtlet wrote:

Finally found a post that's Super simple and quick. Go to github.com/gwatts/pinfinder/releases and download the correct version for your computer. Open it once downloaded and voala your passcode appears!!! This will only work if you have backed up your device to iTunes on that particular computer.

AND your backup is not encrypted.