The Quick Comparison: Your Bypass Options
Before we jump into the step-by-step tutorials, here is a quick overview of how these methods stack up against each other:| Method | Success Rate | Data Loss Risk | What You Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Apple ID Reset | Extremely High | None | The Apple ID and password used to set up Screen Time. |
| 2. Family Sharing (Parent Device) | High | None | Your own iPhone or iPad linked to the child’s account. |
| 3. Mac/PC Restore | 100% | High (unless backed up) | A computer, USB cable, and your Apple ID login. |
Method 1: The Official & Easiest Way (Using Your Apple ID)
If your iPad is running iOS 13.4 or iPadOS 13.4 and later, Apple built a direct backdoor specifically for this scenario. They finally realized that parents forget passwords. Here is how to use your Apple ID to reset the Screen Time passcode directly on the child’s iPad:- Open the Settings app on the iPad.
- Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
- Tap on Change Screen Time Passcode, then tap it again to confirm.
- Tap on Forgot Passcode? (This option only appears if you set up the passcode using an Apple ID recovery option).
- Enter the Apple ID credentials you used when you originally configured the Screen Time settings. Note: This might be your Apple ID, not your child's.
- Enter a brand new Screen Time passcode, and then enter it again to verify.
Method 2: Bypassing via Family Sharing (From Your Own Phone)
If you manage your child’s iPad using Apple’s Family Sharing feature, you don’t even need to touch their iPad to fix this. You can bypass and reset the Screen Time passcode directly from your own iPhone or iPad. This is incredibly convenient because you can do it while sitting on the couch while they are playing in the other room.
How to do it:
- On your personal iPhone or iPad, open Settings.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen (your Apple ID settings).
- Tap on Family Sharing, then select your child’s name from the list.
- Tap on Screen Time.
- Select Change Screen Time Passcode.
- Your device may prompt you to authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device’s main passcode.
- Enter a new Screen Time passcode and confirm it.
Method 3: The Nuclear Option (Erase and Restore)
What happens if you forgot your Apple ID password too? Or what if you never linked an Apple ID to the Screen Time setup in the first place? In this scenario, you have to factory reset the iPad. This is the hardest route because it wipes the device clean. Crucial Warning: You cannot simply restore a standard iCloud backup from yesterday to fix this. If you restore an iCloud backup that was created *while* the Screen Time passcode was active, the backup will restore the forgotten passcode right back onto the device! You will need to restore the iPad as a *New Device* or carefully selectively sync only contacts, photos, and purchases. Like cleaning up after your toddler decides to use your laptop as an art canvas (if that actually happened to you, check out our guide on how to remove permanent marker from a laptop screen safely), cleaning up an iPad reset requires patience and the right tools.How to Reset the iPad via Recovery Mode:
- Turn off the iPad completely.
- Connect the iPad to a Mac or PC using a USB cable while holding down the appropriate physical button:
- For iPads with Face ID (No Home Button): Hold the Top button while plugging it in. Keep holding it until you see the Recovery Mode screen (a cable pointing to a computer).
- For iPads with a Home Button: Hold the Home button while plugging it in. Keep holding it until the recovery screen appears.
- Open Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows).
- Locate your iPad in the sidebar. You will see a popup saying there is a problem with the iPad that requires it to be updated or restored.
- Select Restore. This will download the latest iPadOS software and completely wipe the device.
- Once completed, set up the iPad as a brand new device. Log back into your child's Apple ID, but do not restore from an older full backup. Manually sync their apps and photos via iCloud instead.
Common Tech Pitfalls to Avoid
Kids are incredibly smart when it comes to technology. Sometimes, parents search for bypasses because their kids have bypassed the settings themselves! If you are resetting things, keep these common loopholes in mind:- Changing the Time Zone: Kids often bypass Screen Time limits by changing the iPad's system clock back a few hours. To stop this, go to Settings > General > Date & Time, and make sure "Set Automatically" is locked under Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Deleting and Reinstalling Apps: If an app's time limit expires, kids sometimes delete the app and download it again from the App Store to reset the clock. Turn off "Installing Apps" in your iTunes & App Store Purchases settings to block this trick.
- Using iMessage Video Tricking: Sometimes kids bypass limits by sharing screens or playing videos through text threads. Keep an eye on the specific apps they use to chat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use third-party bypass software?There are dozens of software companies claiming they can "crack" or "bypass" Screen Time passcodes with one click. Most of these programs cost money, require you to install sketchy profiles on your computer, and essentially do the exact same recovery process you can do yourself for free. We highly recommend sticking to Apple’s official recovery channels to protect your privacy and data. Will my child lose their game progress if I reset the iPad?
It depends on the game. If the game uses cloud saves (like Roblox, Minecraft with an Xbox login, or Apple Arcade games), their progress is saved online. Once you log back into their game account, their progress will be right there. However, local offline games will lose their saved data if you have to perform a factory reset. What if the "Forgot Passcode" option does not show up?
This usually means the iPad is running an outdated iOS version (older than 13.4) or that no Apple ID was linked when the passcode was set. In this case, updating the iPad via a computer or performing a factory recovery are your only viable options.