How to Turn Off Restrictions on an iPhone

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Quick and easy guide to taking restrictions off your iPhone

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: December 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Disabling Content & Privacy Restrictions
|
• Troubleshooting
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

If you share your phone, you might want to disable (or enable) the restrictions feature. You can set up restrictions such as blocking websites, preventing app purchases, and restricting app use. This wikiHow teaches you how to disable restrictions on an iPhone through Apple’s Screen Time feature. If you're on a device controlled by your parents or employer, you may or may not be able to edit these restrictions.

Things to Know About Disabling iPhone Restrictions

• Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions to disable restrictions.
• You can disable/modify individual restrictions in the Content & Privacy Restrictions menu.
• Turn off App Limits, Communication Limits, and more from the main Screen Time menu.

Steps

Section 1 of 2:

Disabling Content & Privacy Restrictions

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1. 1
   Open your iPhone's Settings

   

   . It's a gray app with cogs that can be found on one of your phone's home screens.

   • It may also be in a folder labeled "Utilities."
2. 2
   Tap Screen Time. Depending on your version of iOS, it's located in the second or third grouping of menu options, next to an icon of an hourglass.
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3. 3
   Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. This will open a new menu.

   • If you’re disabling restrictions on your child’s phone, tap Family in the main Screen Time menu and select your child’s name, then select Content & Privacy Restrictions.
4. 4
   Toggle off Content & Privacy Restrictions. If you’ve set a Screen Time passcode, you’ll be prompted to enter it when you tap the toggle switch.

   • Your Screen Time passcode is usually different from the passcode you use to unlock your iPhone. If you’ve forgotten your passcode, tap Change Screen Time Passcode in the main Screen Time menu, then tap Change Screen Time Passcode again. Tap Forgot Passcode? at the bottom of the screen and follow the instructions to reset your passcode.
   • Turning off Content & Privacy Restrictions saves your previous settings, so you will see your previous settings as suggestions when you re-enter this menu.
5. 5
   Turn off selected restrictions instead (optional). You can also turn off individual restrictions rather than disabling all of them. Scroll through the main Content & Privacy Restrictions menu and tap any item (such as iTunes & App Store Purchases or Allowed Apps) to modify or disable its current restrictions.

   • If you’ve set other kinds of limits or restrictions in Screen Time, such as Downtime, App Limits, or Communication Limits, you can change or disable those from the main Screen Time menu.
   • You may be asked to enter your Screen Time passcode before making any of those changes.
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Section 2 of 2:

Troubleshooting

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1. 1
   My parent controls my phone and I can't access my Screen Time settings. In order to access the Content & Privacy Restrictions settings in Screen Time, you'll need the Screen Time passcode that was created when the restrictions were set. If you don't know the Screen Time passcode, you won't be able to disable the content restrictions on your phone.

   • You can always try to bypass the Screen Time passcode, but be aware of the consequences or punishment you may face if you do so.
2. 2
   My employer or school controls my phone and I'm still seeing "Restrictions Enabled". If your device was provided by your employer or school, their IT department has likely placed some content restrictions on your device to comply with security and/or content policies at your workplace or school.

   • The only way to get around this is to contact the phone's administrator (likely your work or school's IT department), though your manager, teacher, or counselor may also be able to help.
   • Review your workplace or school technology policies to learn why your phone has restrictions in place, and to make yourself aware of what is and isn't allowed.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  do you have to reset your iPhone if you forgot your restriction password?

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor
  Staff Answer

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  You can tap "Forgot passcode?" when you're prompted for the code and enter your Apple ID and password instead. If you forgot that as well, you'll have to erase your iPhone and set it up as a new device if you forget your Restriction passcode or enter it incorrectly six times.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 14 Helpful 8
• Question

  Will I loose my photos if I reset iphone

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor
  Staff Answer

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  You will not lose your photos if you have iCloud (or any other cloud storage like Dropbox or Google Photos) set to automatically back up your photos. You will lose any photos or videos that are located only on your phone, that aren't backed up with cloud storage.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6
• Question

  how do I turn off screen time passcode

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor
  Staff Answer

  This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Answer

  You can tap "Forgot passcode?" when you're prompted for the code and enter your Apple ID and password instead. If you forgot that as well, you'll have to erase your iPhone and set it up as a new device if you forget your Restriction passcode or enter it incorrectly six times.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 11 Helpful 5

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