How to Change Parental Controls on Your iPhone Correctly

Clara Prescott Published on November 03, 2026iOS Tips3-min reading

Parental control is a useful tool to protect kids and control device usage. Apple's Parent Controls feature, called Screen Time, is built into all iPhones and iPad devices running iOS 12/iPad OS 12 and later. Users can monitor their activity breakdown, usage by category, and how often they pick up their device or receive notifications. This guide explains how to set Parental Controls on your iPhone correctly.

In this article:

Part 1: What Are iPhone Parental Controls
Part 2: How to Set Parental Controls on iPhone
Part 3: How to Change Parental Controls on iPhone
Part 4: How to Turn off Parental Controls on iPhone
Part 5: How to Bypass Parental Controls on iPhone

Part 1: What Are iPhone Parental Controls

iPhone Parental Controls, also known as Screen Time, reports how you or your kid actually use an iOS device and lets you set limits that stick. It gives detailed reports on app usage, notifications, and device pickups across the week. Furthermore, it prompts healthier digital habits and focus. In addition to reports, it lets you:

Add app and communication limits
Set Downtime
Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions
Manage screen time
Set screen distance

Part 2: How to Set Parental Controls on iPhone

To put parental controls on an iPhone, you need to set it up manually. Moreover, you can set it up on either your or your kid's iPhone to add parental controls to your kid's iOS device and manage device usage.

On Your Kid's iPhone

Step 1

Open the Settings app.

Step 2

Scroll down and choose the Screen Time tab.

Step 3

Tap the App & Website Activity option.

Step 4

Tap the Turn On App & Website Activity button.

Step 5

Back to the Screen Time settings screen.

Step 6

Tap the Lock Screen Time Settings button.

Step 7

Enter a Screen Time passcode.

Step 8

Enter your Apple Account to reset the Screen Time passcode.

Step 9

Tap OK to complete the setup.

On Your iPhone

Step 1

Run the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2

Go to Screen Time.

Step 3

Choose Set Up Screen Time for Family.

Step 4

Tap Continue to continue.

Step 5

Choose Create Child Account. If your kid is older than 13 years, choose Invite Others.

Step 6

Enter your child's name and birthday.

Step 7

Tap Verify You're an Adult.

Step 8

Follow the prompts to set parental controls on an iPhone.

Part 3: How to Change Parental Controls on iPhone

Changing the parental control passcode on an iPhone is available even if you forgot the existing passcode. You can complete the process with the current Screen Time passcode or the linked Apple Account password.

Step 1

Run the Settings app.

Step 2

Go to the Screen Time tab.

Step 3

Tap the Change Screen Time Passcode option.

Step 4

Choose Change Screen Time Passcode.

Step 5

Enter the old Screen Time passcode.

Step 6

Input a new passcode.

Note:

If you forgot the old passcode, tap Forgot Passcode, enter the linked Apple Account and password, and set a new passcode.

Part 4: How to Turn off Parental Controls on iPhone

When your kid grows up, you can turn off parental controls on the iPhone. You can complete the process on your kid's iPhone or the organizer's device. You must remember the Screen Time passcode.

Step 1

Go to Settings and Screen Time.

Step 2

Tap Turn Off App & Website Activity.

Step 3

Enter the Screen Time passcode if prompted.

Step 4

Next, choose Turn Off App & Website Activity.

Note:

To turn off parental controls on your iPhone, choose Screen Time in Settings, choose your kid's name under the Family section, and tap Turn Off App & Website Activity.

Part 5: How to Bypass Parental Controls on iPhone

If you cannot turn off parental controls on an iPhone, bypass them with imyPass iPassGo. It is able to remove Screen Time from any iOS device without restrictions or a passcode. During the process, you won't lose anything.

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How to Turn off Parental Controls on Your iPhone Without a Passcode

Step 1

Connect to your iPhone

Launch the iPhone unlocking software after you install it on your PC. There is another version for Mac. Choose the Unlock Screen Time mode. Connect your iPhone to the PC with a Lightning cable. Make sure to trust this PC.

Step 2

Remove Screen Time

After your device is detected, click the Start Now button. Choose how your parental control is set. Follow the onscreen instructions to turn off Find My iPhone while enabling Two-factor Authentication. Finally, click the Unlock button to turn off parental control on the iPhone.

Conclusion

This guide explained how to set parental controls on iPhone, including your and your kid's iOS devices. We shared how to set up this feature in various situations, change the Screen Time passcode, and turn it off. imyPass iPassGo helps you completely get rid of parental controls on an iOS device without restrictions.

Clara Prescott

Clara has over 8 years of experience helping users recover lost files and transfer data. She previously worked as a data recovery technician for a major IT service company. Certified in Data Recovery and Digital Forensics, her articles focus on simple solutions that make complicated recovery tasks easier for everyday users.