A Restrictions passcode is the four-digit code that protects parental controls and usage limits on an iPhone. On older versions of iOS (iOS 11 and earlier), it lived in Settings > General > Restrictions. Since iOS 12, Apple has replaced Restrictions with Screen Time, and the code is now called the Screen Time passcode. It does the same job: it stops anyone who does not know it from changing content limits, app limits, and privacy settings.
This guide explains what the passcode does, how it differs from your regular iPhone passcode, how to set it, change it, or turn it off, and what to do if you forget it.
Quick Answer
The Restrictions passcode (now the Screen Time passcode) is a separate four-digit code that locks your iPhone's parental control and Screen Time settings. To manage it, go to Settings > Screen Time and tap Lock Screen Time Settings, Change Screen Time Passcode, or Turn Off Screen Time Passcode. If you forget it, tap Forgot Passcode? and verify with the Apple Account you used when setting it up.
Restrictions Passcode vs. iPhone Passcode
| iPhone passcode | Screen Time (Restrictions) passcode | |
|---|---|---|
| What it protects | Unlocking the phone, Apple Pay, security settings | Screen Time, content limits, app limits, privacy changes |
| Length | Usually 6 digits (can be 4 digits or alphanumeric) | Always 4 digits |
| Where to set it | Settings > Face ID (or Touch ID) & Passcode | Settings > Screen Time |
| Who usually knows it | The person using the phone | A parent or guardian, or the owner who set limits |
Apple recommends using a different code for each. If a child knows the phone's unlock code and the Screen Time passcode is the same, the parental controls are easy to change.
What the Passcode Controls
With a Screen Time passcode set, these settings require the code to change:
- Downtime: scheduled time away from the screen when only allowed apps and calls work.
- App Limits: daily time limits for app categories or specific apps. When time runs out, the passcode is needed to allow more time.
- Communication Limits: who can contact the device during allowed screen time and downtime.
- Always Allowed: apps that stay available no matter what.
- Content & Privacy Restrictions: blocking App Store purchases and app deletion, filtering explicit music, movies, books, and websites, restricting Siri and Game Center features, and preventing changes to the passcode, account, location, and cellular settings.
How to Set a Screen Time Passcode
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
- If Screen Time is off, tap App & Website Activity (or Turn On Screen Time on older versions) and follow the prompts.
- Tap Lock Screen Time Settings (called Use Screen Time Passcode on some versions).
- Enter a four-digit code, then enter it again.
- Enter your Apple Account email and password when asked. This lets you reset the code later if you forget it. You can tap Cancel to skip, but recovery becomes much harder.
For a Child's iPhone With Family Sharing
If you manage a child's device through Family Sharing, you can set up Screen Time from your own iPhone: go to Settings > Screen Time, tap your child's name under Family, and follow the setup. The Screen Time passcode can then be managed from your device, and you can approve extra time requests remotely.
How to Change the Passcode
- Go to Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap Change Screen Time Passcode, then tap Change Screen Time Passcode again.
- Enter the current code, then enter and confirm a new one.
How to Turn Off the Passcode
- Go to Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap Change Screen Time Passcode.
- Tap Turn Off Screen Time Passcode and enter the current code.
Your Screen Time limits stay in place, but anyone using the phone can change them. To remove limits completely, tap Turn Off App & Website Activity at the bottom of the Screen Time screen (you will need the passcode).
If You Forgot the Passcode
If you entered your Apple Account when you created the passcode, you can reset it:
- Make sure the iPhone is running iOS 13.4 or later.
- Go to Settings > Screen Time and tap Change Screen Time Passcode, then Change Screen Time Passcode again.
- Tap Forgot Passcode?
- Enter the Apple Account email and password you used when setting up the passcode.
- Enter and confirm a new Screen Time passcode.
For a child's device managed through Family Sharing, the family organizer or a parent can change the child's Screen Time passcode from their own device under Settings > Screen Time > [child's name] > Change Screen Time Passcode.
If you did not add an Apple Account when setting the passcode and do not remember it, Apple's documented option is to erase the iPhone and set it up as new (restoring from a backup may bring the old passcode back). Back up photos and other data first, and contact Apple Support if you are unsure. Avoid third-party "passcode recovery" tools; they are unnecessary and can put your data at risk.
Too Many Wrong Attempts
After several incorrect tries, the Screen Time passcode screen locks for a short period, and the delay grows with more failed attempts. Unlike the iPhone unlock passcode, repeated Screen Time failures do not erase the phone, but you will need to wait before trying again.
Tips for Parents
- Pick a code that is not a birthday, the phone's unlock code, or an obvious pattern like 1234.
- Enter the code privately so it is not seen over your shoulder.
- In Content & Privacy Restrictions > Passcode Changes, choose Don't Allow to stop the phone's unlock code from being changed.
- Enable Block at End of Limit on app limits so time cannot be extended without the passcode.
- Review the weekly Screen Time report to see how limits are working.
For step-by-step setup on an older model, see how to enable restrictions on an iPhone 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the iPhone still have a Restrictions menu?
No. Since iOS 12, the old Restrictions options are in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Is there a default Restrictions passcode?
No. The passcode is always created by whoever set up Screen Time or Restrictions. If you never set one, you will not be asked for it.
Can the Screen Time passcode be longer than four digits?
No. It is always a four-digit numeric code.
Does Screen Time sync to my other Apple devices?
If Share Across Devices is turned on, your Screen Time settings and reports sync to other devices signed in to the same Apple Account.
Will resetting the iPhone remove the passcode?
Erasing and setting up as a new iPhone removes it. Restoring a backup that included the passcode may bring it back.
Summary
- The Restrictions passcode is now the Screen Time passcode, a four-digit code that protects parental controls.
- It is separate from the code you use to unlock your iPhone.
- Manage it in Settings > Screen Time.
- If you forget it, use Forgot Passcode? with your Apple Account, or have the family organizer change it.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.