You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Content & Privacy Restrictions

My sons iPad 5 changes the passcode I set for Screen Time on Content & Privacy Restrictions by itself and now we cannot change options because we don’t know the passcode. I have reset and restored iPad 3 times now and it continues to reset passcode.

iPad mini 5 Wi-Fi

Posted on Jan 24, 2021 12:13 PM

Reply
9 replies

Jan 24, 2021 1:11 PM in response to FrustratedParents

If you have forgotten the ScreenTime passcode, one of the two 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 most recent iPadOS updates 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, the iPad must be reset “as new”, losing all locally stored data. 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.


I hope this information is helpful to you in successfully resetting your forgotten passcode.

Jan 24, 2021 3:10 PM in response to FrustratedParents

I presume you’re aware of the available Parental Controls?

Use parental controls on your child's iPhone, iPad and iPod touch – Apple Support


As the the “design flaw”, Apple have addressed the issue in iPadOS13/14, such that a forgotten ScreenTime/Restrictions Passcode can be reset. Prior to this, the encrypted Restrictions Passcode was included within the device backup - and was always restored along with data from the backup.

Jan 24, 2021 1:15 PM in response to LotusPilot

Thank you but I have done a full recovery 2 times and did a full remove and set up as a new iPad and this happens over and over again. I am not forgetting the passcode the iPad resets it to an unknown passcode. There must be a defect and this is not even a year old iPad. I bought AppleCare+ so I feel like I am going to need to get a replacement.

Content & Privacy Restrictions

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.