How to turn off parental controls on iPhone

Keeping your child safe online is important, but you can’t stand over their shoulder every time they pick up an iPhone®. That’s where Apple’s Screen Time feature comes in—it lets you manage what your child can access, even when you’re not around.

Of course, you won’t want those limits in place all the time. Maybe you’d like to unwind with some PG-13 browsing after bedtime, or reward your child with 20 extra minutes of screen time for bringing home an A+ on their algebra quiz.

At Asurion, our experts help families stay safe while making the most of their tech. This guide will show you how to turn off parental controls on an iPhone so you can adjust settings whenever it makes sense for your household. For more tips, check out our guide to iPhone Screen Time settings.

Turn off Screen Time completely

As a parent, there’s nothing worse than trying to sneak in a quick Reddit session, only to get blocked by content restrictions. And during a long road trip, letting your kids spend a couple of hours playing mobile games can be an instant cure for backseat bickering.

Follow these steps to disable the iPhone parental control settings:

• Go to Settings and tap Screen Time.
• Find Turn Off Screen Time and tap it.
• Enter your iPhone restriction passcode—which is typically different from the main device code—and confirm it.

This process disables app limits on iPhone, so you can go down the TikTok rabbit hole or log into your bank app easily. It also switches off downtime. That’s helpful if your child is working on a big project for school or if you’re borrowing their device during soccer practice.

Turn off specific parental control settings

As a parent, there’s nothing worse than trying to sneak in a quick Reddit scroll on your own iPhone®, only to get blocked by the same restrictions you set for your kids. And on a long road trip, handing over your phone so they can play mobile games can be the fastest way to end backseat bickering.

Here’s how to temporarily turn off parental controls on your iPhone:

• Go to Settings and tap Screen Time.
• Tap Turn Off Screen Time.
• Enter your Screen Time passcode (this is usually different from your main device passcode), then confirm.

This process turns off app limits and downtime, so you can use your iPhone without interruptions. You can also manage restrictions individually—for example, disable downtime while keeping other settings in place, or lift purchase and app-specific limits when needed.

Reset a forgotten Screen Time passcode

Can’t remember your top-secret code? Don’t worry. Here’s how to turn off parental controls on iPhone without a password:

• Go to your iPhone access settings and tap Screen Time.
• Select Change Screen Time Password twice.
• Type in your Apple ID and the password for your main account.
• Enter a new Screen Time passcode, then re-enter it to confirm. You may also need to authenticate this change with Face ID or Touch ID.

Once you’ve reset your password, you can easily log back in to manage Screen Time settings.

What changes when parental controls are lifted

Before turning off Screen Time, it’s important to know exactly what you’re removing. The last thing you want is to open access to adult content when all you meant to do was allow a homework app.

Disabling Screen Time on your iPhone removes all parental controls at once. This includes:

• App and feature access. All apps become available, even ones you may have previously restricted.
• Downtime and content filters. Time limits, blocked websites, and age-based restrictions are lifted.
• Purchase controls. In-app purchase and download restrictions are removed.
• Activity monitoring. You’ll no longer see reports on which apps your child is using or how much time they spend on the device.

Troubleshooting if restrictions remain active

Even after turning off parental controls, you may find some limits still in place. If that happens, try these Screen Time troubleshooting tips:

• Confirm your Apple ID. Double-check you’re using your own passcode, not your child’s. It’s an easy mistake when you’re multitasking.
• Review Family Sharing settings. Another organizer in your Family Sharing group may be controlling Screen Time remotely.
• Check for other parental control apps. Restrictions might come from third-party apps, not just iPhone settings. Adjust or remove those as needed.
• Restart and update. A simple restart or the latest iOS update can often clear lingering issues.
• Contact Apple Support. If you’ve tried everything and restrictions won’t lift, Apple Support can help reset Screen Time.

Still stuck? Asurion’s tech support team is here to help. From adjusting parental controls to finding the right phone protection plan for your family (because kids and cracked screens often go hand in hand), we’ll walk you through it.