Level 2

183 points

What is Screen Time passcode in iOS 12?

I just upgraded to ios12. Screen Time was enabled by default. I want to turn it off. It demands a pass code. Obviously, I never set a pass code for Screen Time, since it didn't exist prior to the upgrade.

1) Restrictions, aka Parental controls, was not on when I upgraded. It's possible I messed around with it in the distant past and set a pass code at some point.

2) My screen lock pass code is 6 digits, while the Screen Time pass code is 4 digits, so the ST pc default is not the same as the screen lock pc.

3) I have tried several obvious (to me) pass codes, including 0000. Nothing works. I am now up to a 5 minute wait between tries.

[Insert nasty comments about Apple here]

[Re-Titled by Host]

Posted on Sep 17, 2018 6:09 PM

Top-ranking reply

janiemac13

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Sep 18, 2018 3:58 PM

Mine did the same thing. During the initial welcome pages of iOS 12 it just spontaneously displayed a message saying “Screen Time Passcode Set.” After 5 tries on the “Change Screen Time Passcode” screen in Settings, I got it to accept an older passcode I’d used to put restrictions on my phone back when my kid didn’t have one. Somehow it resurrected that code and supplied it for the new feature. Clearly a hiccup in iOS 12 that will break that feature for some people until Apple pushes out a fix (or until you set up your new XS!). Cuz personally, that feature (by itself) would never be worth the pain of a full restore on my 256GB phone. But I can confirm that, for me, it was indeed an old restrictions passcode that got put in there during setup without my having anything to do with it.

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171 replies

Oct 7, 2018 10:58 AM in response to askbarnabas

Try 0000. It worked for me.

Oct 8, 2018 8:47 PM in response to SKManns

I have never, never used a passcode, but after lots of research, I tried 0000—and it worked!!!

Please pass this on.

Oct 13, 2018 9:30 AM in response to Joe Sixpack

I used 0000 and it worked.

Oct 14, 2018 2:00 PM in response to billsbs

Perfect fix in my mind!

Oct 26, 2018 7:32 AM in response to cherylfromaiea

cherylfromaiea wrote:

This is insane of Apple to do! I hope they’re reading all of our posts.

No, they are not reading any of our posts. This is a user to user forum. If you want to express an opinion to Apple use https://apple.com/feedback.

The Restrictions passcode exists for managing parental controls. If there was an easy way to get around it then it would be useless for that purpose.

Yes, great idea to go to another platform than Apple. However, no matter what platform you go to you will find features that you don't like. Such as Google spying on virtually everything that you do if you go to Android.

Backing up won't help, as the restrictions code is saved in the backup, so you will have to set up the phone as new, as your sons do.

Jan 28, 2019 5:12 PM in response to Joe Sixpack

thank you.. i am waiting for 12th time being locked out for an hour each time.

Jan 28, 2019 6:09 PM in response to Pbs2439

i did the same but it said i had to have the encrypted pass code which i also do not remember..

Mar 3, 2019 5:03 AM in response to Joe Sixpack

So, it's true, or not ? Does screentime turn on by itself ? or you just messed up and dont remember ?

Mar 3, 2019 5:08 AM in response to Joe Sixpack

TEST

Mar 4, 2019 5:32 PM in response to Joe Sixpack

I feel you. Same problem. I am entering my restrictions passcode but it doesn't work.

Apr 15, 2019 8:01 AM in response to shaheerfromIndia

Moot. I responded to the wrong post.

Apr 15, 2019 8:17 AM in response to tnxgod

I posted a reply, which you should have seen in your email notification, with the answer. I did not want the full answer to be posted permanently, so you will have to look at the email.

tnxgod

Level 1

4 points

Apr 15, 2019 8:32 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thanks, i will check

May 5, 2019 9:17 AM in response to Joe Sixpack

My screen Time passcode dew to new update

Oct 20, 2018 11:21 PM in response to LACAllen

Ok what I did is tried every password I knew it set a restriction I was about 15 missed passwords in but I would change the time an hour ahead to bypass the restriction everytime . So hope this helps anyone... haha

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What is Screen Time passcode in iOS 12?