Why can’t I change Content & privacy restrictions on iPhone 8?

Question

Why can’t I change Content & privacy restrictions on iPhone 8?

I have an old iPhone 8 that my children use with safari and all websites blocked, and not sharing screen time across devices, but they have discovered various methods to access a safari like web view by going to Settings, Privacy & Security, Safety Check or Lockdown Mode, then clicking Learn More. I went to Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time to try and do something about this, but the Content & Privacy Restrictions section is grayed out and I can’t chance any of the settings. What should I do?

iPhone 8, iOS 16

Posted on Sep 13, 2025 09:00 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

424,121 points

Sep 13, 2025 09:21 PM in response to RandomUser360_human

If an app or feature on your device is not working, not appearing, or is restricted (grayed out), a frequent reason is it may have been disabled using Screen Time, or by a technology administrator if you are using a device owned by an employer or educational institution.

- Read this support article If your Apple ID or other options are greyed out in Settings —> If your Apple Account is grayed out in Settings, or you can't sign out - Apple Support

Tap your Settings app > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > scroll to Allow Changes and turn on.

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Answer 2

Mac Jim ID

Level 9

54,032 points

Sep 13, 2025 10:18 PM in response to RandomUser360_human

Screen Time Restrictions can be set on both the childs device and from the Organizer's device in a Family Sharing group with a different Passcode. The most restrictive setting will be applied to the device.

You should turn off Screen Time on your child's device at Settings > Screen Time, and if it asks for the Screen Time Passcode and it is not yours that you placed on the device, then you will need to reset that Screen Time Passcode from your device by following the steps here under "Reset the Screen Time passcode for your child's device". Make sure you have Share Across Devices turned on as well as stated in the Support Article.

If you forgot your Screen Time passcode - Apple Support

After you are able to turn it off, then you can turn Screen Time on again with a Passcode only you know.

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Answer 3

Sep 14, 2025 06:20 AM in response to Mac Jim ID

If I turned Screen Time off then on again, would that reset all the Screen Time settings I set up? I spent a long time setting up Screen Time and I don’t want to have to go through that again. I do know that the screen time passcode is mine, but if I managed screen time from one of my devices, how do I know which of my child’s devices will be affected? My child has multiple devices on Screen Time and Share Across Devices isn’t enabled on them.

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Answer 4

Sep 13, 2025 09:54 PM in response to RandomUser360_human

I can’t change any of the content and privacy restrictions. Nobody else manages the device only I do.

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