How to reset forgotten Restrictions password with iPhone restore?

Hi,

I set restrictions on my iphone to disable in-app purchases so that my children don't rack up a bill on my account. Unfortunately I've forgotten the password and now I need an in-app purchase for CoPilot navigation app.

Can I reset my iPhone and then restore from a backup to clear the restrictions password? If so, is there a step by step guide to do this? Much appreciate any help.

Boz

iPhone 3GS, iOS 4, Windows 7 (rocks)

Posted on Nov 30, 2010 9:49 AM

Reply
316 replies

Jul 26, 2012 11:50 AM in response to jjkboswell

Good afternoon Boz,


I read your post where you thanked someone for listing the steps you take to reset you restrictions passcode. Looking through the posts, I am unable to find where the steps are listed. I did see where you re-listed some steps that began with -Backup, however I don't seem to be able to located where to find that option on my I4. Do you have a moment to go through this with me?


Thank you in advance,


Propermee

Oct 26, 2012 8:56 AM in response to jjkboswell

Well, problem solved... my on/off button went on the fritz and Apple replaced the phone 🙂. When I reloaded my backed up file, with the changed switch as you recommended above, the password was gone. Then I had to temporarily set up a password to change the 'deleting apps' switch to 'on' (it was stuck in the off position and couldn't be changed) and then un set the password. Yay! I think a regular old 'restore' would have done the same thing.

Dec 4, 2012 12:13 PM in response to jjkboswell

So I used the iBackupBot option by adding

<dict>

<key>countryCode</key>

<string>us</string>

</dict>

<key>SBParentalControlsPIN</key>

<string>1234</string>


It all worked like a treat! Thank you!


At first my phone didn't want to boot right after restore, but I held the Power and Home buttons and it reset, with Restrictions password working 1234!


Only one little problem I'm having though, Turn Password Off, Simple Password and Erase Data options are grayed out, I want to change these settings. Why are they grayed? out? 😟

Dec 4, 2012 5:33 PM in response to jjkboswell

Hey all,


I went to text edit, have read this entire post, and all my springboard.plis shows is

bplist00€


\New item - 3_ senttweet-sound-identifierXNew item_ voicemail-sound-identifier_ sentmail-sound-identifier_ reminderalert-sound-identifierXringtone_ newmail-sound-identifier_ sms-sound-identifier\New item - 2_ calendaralert-sound-identifierP_ texttone:Sent Tweet_ texttone:Tri-tone_ texttone:Sent Mail_ texttone:Reminder AlertY<default>_ texttone:New Mail_ texttone:Calendar Alert ,IRo㨵–ÁÙ , @ U o y ç ß


can anyone help!

Dec 9, 2012 5:34 PM in response to jjkboswell

Ok, Thanks to BigBopper66, MRCoffey, and other previous posts, here is a complete step-by-step on how to reset your restictions passcode:


1) Download iBackupBot [http://www.icopybot.com/itunes-backup-manager.htm]


2) Backup iPhone/iPod/iPad to iTunes


3) Close iTunes (leave your device plugged in to your computer)


4) Open iBackupBot


5) Select your backup from the left column


6) Navigate to "Library/Preferences/com.apple.springboard.plist" (there may be two files named this; try them both) and double-click to open


7) If the backup is from iOS 4.X or lower then you should be able to find "<key>SBParentalControlsPIN</key>" somewhere in this file and your passcode will be below this line.

If your backup is iOS 5 or higher, then continue on.


8) Look for and change the string for "SBParentalControlsFailedAttempts" to 0


9) Add in "<key>SBParentalControlsPIN</key>


<string>1234</string>" (without the quotes)

After

"<dict>


<key>countryCode</key>


<string>us</string>


</dict>"


10) Click save


11) Close out of that file


12) Click restore backup/file to iPhone/iPod Touch (the icon of an iPhone and a blue arrow) located under the menu bar in iBackupBot


13) After restore is done and phone restarts the password should be 1234.




I have done this on both an iPad and an iPhone 4, and it worked both times.

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How to reset forgotten Restrictions password with iPhone restore?

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