What to Do After 10 Failed Screen Time Passcode Attempts​

Screen Time helps you track how much time you’re spending on your device. And it also lets you set up restrictions, like closing an app after some minutes of usage or blocking certain websites. And to make sure those limits can’t be bypassed easily, you create a Screen Time passcode. However, what if you forget the passcode?

You even try a few guesses to unlock it. And now you’re wondering—what happens after 10 failed screen time passcode attempts? Will the device lock me out? Will it erase my data? Is there any way back?

This guide walks you through all of it. You’ll learn exactly what happens after each failed attempt and what your options are, even after the tenth. We’ll also show you how to use Passixer iPhone Unlocker to remove the Screen Time passcode without any data loss on any iPhone or iPad.

What Happens After 10 Failed Screen Time Passcode Attempts

The Screen Time passcode is a 4-digit code. Because of how simple it is, Apple doesn’t let you keep guessing endlessly. If it did, anyone could just try all combinations and break in. So instead, it starts locking you out for longer periods with each wrong attempt. You can still access your iPhone, but you can’t change your Screen Time settings.

Here’s the full breakdown of the delays after each wrong attempt:

What You Need to Do After 10 Failed Screen Time Passcode Attempts

Even after the tenth failed attempt, your iPhone doesn’t shut you out forever. The screen still gives you another chance after 60 minutes. And the same 1-hour waiting cycle will continue.

So instead of guessing blindly, here are some better ways to handle the situation.

1. Try Possible Passcode

As soon as the 60-minute wait ends, think back. If you’re confident about a particular passcode, try that one. And be careful—guessing wrong again just adds another hour to the clock. So pause, think clearly, and only try what feels right.

2. Find Screen Time Passcode

If you’ve the habit of using iCloud Keychain, password managers, or even writting it somewhere—home, office, or anywhere else, go back and check. Take 5-minutes to find out the password, so you can avoid wasting more time.

3. Remove or Recover Screen Time Passcode

If none of that works and you’re done waiting, then it’s time to remove or recover the screen time passcode. There are two broad types of solutions: one that doesn’t touch your data and another that erases everything and sets up your iPhone again.

We’ll show you both in the next section.

How to Get Rid Of Screen Time Passcode from iPhone/iPad [No Data Loss]

Each of these methods to remove Screen Time passcode without data loss works under different conditions. Some only work on specific iOS versions and others require your Apple ID.

So, you can pick the method that fits your situation.

Way 1. Use Screen Time Removal Software [Any iOS]

Best for: You want an easy and safe way to remove Screen Time passcode without password reset and data loss.

Passixer iPhone Unlocker has a dedicated feature to remove Screen Time passcode and turn off Screen Time feature. It works across all models and all iOS versions. Whether it’s your own iDevice or your child’s, Passixer works on Screen Time removal on them with the least conditions and efforts.

On iPhones and iPads running iOS 12 or later, it directly removes the Screen Time passcode. On older devices running iOS 8 to 11, it actually helps you recover your original Restrictions passcode, so you can simply re-enter the code and disable it yourself.

In both cases, Passixer will not touch any personal data on the iPhone. Plus, it’s available for both Mac and Windows and delivers a high success rate, up to 99% every time.

Key Features

• Sign out of Apple ID on your iPhone, even if you’ve forgotten the password.
• Unlock your new or second-hand iPhone without Face ID or passcode.
• Bypass iCloud Activation Lock and make the iPhone accessible again.
• Get rid of school or work’s MDM to use full features of your iPhone.

Steps to Use

Step 1. Open Passixer on your computer and select Screen Time from the first screen you see.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone or iPad using a USB cable.

Step 3. Hit Start and let the tool begin. You don’t have to press anything else.

What happens next depends on the iOS version:

• If your device runs iOS 12 or later, Passixer will erase the Screen Time passcode directly.



• If it’s running iOS 11 or below, Passixer will extract your original Restrictions passcode via iTunes backup. With the recovered passcode, you can disable Restrictions easily.

And that’s it. The passcode is either removed or revealed without touching a single file or setting on your iPhone.

Way 2. Use Apple ID [iOS 13.4 or Later]

Best for: Remove forgotten Screen Time passcode from devices running on iOS/iPadOS 13.4 or later and you remember your Apple ID password.

Apple gives you a simple way to reset your Screen Time passcode using your Apple ID. This only works if the Apple ID was provided before the Screen Time passcode was set—usually the case for most users. And if Screen Time is shared across devices, the reset will reflect everywhere automatically.

Steps to Reset Screen Time Passcode with Apple ID

Step 1. After entering the wrong passcode, tap on “Forgot Passcode?” link appear on the same screen. You’ll be taken straight to the Screen Time passcode recovery page.

Step 2. Enter your Apple ID and password. Then tap OK.

Step 3. Create a new Screen Time passcode and confirm.

You can use this new one to change Screen Time settings as you wish.

Way 3. Use Pinfinder [iOS 8-12]

Best for: Anyone wanting to find Restrictions passcode on their iPhone running iOS 7 through 12.4. You must have (or can create) an encrypted iTunes backup. You need Windows, macOS, and Linux devices to run Pinfinder.

Pinfinder isn’t an fancy tool with a UI. However, it finds your forgotten Restrictions (Screen Time) passcode by scanning your encrypted iTunes backup and pulling the password Apple used to save inside it. It doesn’t reset anything but just shows you the exact code so you can turn off restrictions manually.

The only catch: You must have an encrypted iPhone backup created before launching Pinfinder.

Steps to Recover Screen Time Passcode Using Pinfinder

Step 1. Create an encrypted iTunes backup.

Step 2. Download the version that matches your OS from the Pinfinder GitHub page.

Step 3. Unzip the file and open the program. It’ll automatically search your machine for any available encrypted iPhone backup.

Step 4. Enter your iTunes backup password.

Step 5. Once done, Pinfinder will show you the Restrictions passcode directly in the right-hand panel—next to the device name and backup time.

That’s it. You can use the found passcode to remove or change the Restrictions settings however you like.

How to Remove Screen Time Passcode from iPhone/iPad [Data Loss]

These methods come directly from Apple, but all your data gets wiped. They reset your iPhone or iPad completely to remove the Screen Time passcode.

One more thing: If the Screen Time passcode is tied to an iCloud account, like Share Across Devices is turned on, it will return even after a reset. To avoid this, you will have to sign in with a different ID after the process.

So you should only use the following ways if:

• You’ve already backed up your data,
• You’re okay with starting fresh,
• Or the Screen Time is managed by someone else, like a parent who lost their device.

Way 1. Use iTunes (or Apple Devices or Finder)

Best for: You already have iTunes, Finder, or the Apple Devices app installed and you don’t mind erasing everything. Also, you can turn off the Find My feature on your device.

You can use these Apple management apps to restore your iPhone or iPad to factory condition. The Restore iPhone option will delete all personal data and settings, including the Screen Time lock.

Steps to Turn Off Screen Time Passcode via iTunes/Finder

Step 1. Launch iTunes, Finder, or the Apple Devices app—you can use any of these. And connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer.

Step 2. Select your device from the left sidebar. Then, go to the General (or the Summary) tab.

Step 3. Click Restore iPhone.

Step 4. Wait for the process to finish. Your iPhone will restart with the Hello screen.

Way 2. Use iCloud Find My

Best for: You hope to remove Screen Time password remotely from a browser or different Apple devices.

This method works just like iTunes or Finder, but instead of a physical connection, you can do it through iCloud Find My. So, Find My must be turned on and you must know the Apple Account and password that’s linked to that device. This also works to remove the Screen Time from Mac devices, not just iPhones and iPads.

Steps to Remove Screen Time via iCloud Find My

Step 1. Go to iCloud.com/find via a browser. Sign in using the Apple ID linked to the device with a forgotten Screen Time password.

Step 2. Tap All Devices and choose Erase This Device.

Step 3. Click Erase to confirm and wipe the device clean.

After the erase, the device will boot into the Activation Lock screen. Enter the Apple ID and password to use again.

Wrap Up

So now you know what happens after 10 failed Screen Time passcode attempts. You get caught in a cycle of wait times and retries. To escape that, you can try to recall or find the older password and we’ve given you some tips for that. If that’s not an option, we’ve walked you on how to remove Screen Time with and without data loss.

Out of everything we’ve covered, Passixer iPhone Unlocker stands out. It supports every iOS version and removes the Screen Time passcode without touching your data. So whether it’s your iPhone or your child’s, Passixer is the safest and quickest way to get Screen Time out of your device.