Navigation

5 Easy Ways to Recover a Forgotten Restrictions Passcode

To prevent others using some certain applications and features, many people prefer to block the access by using "Restrictions". You can call it as "Parental Controls" as well.

For instance, you can hide in-app purchase, location service and other features with a restrictions passcode. Therefore, you can unlock them only you enter the right restrictions PIN (Personal Identification Number).

But what if you forgot restriction passcode? Well, it means you are disallowed by your iPhone or iPad either. To solve this problem, this article mainly introduces how to recover forgotten restrictions passcode quickly.

Forgot Restrictions Passcode

Part 1: Recover or Remove Restrictions Passcode (Easiest)

The easiest way to fix the forgotten restriction passcode is to recover or remove it. For making it, you will need the third-party software, Apeaksoft iOS Unlocker.

Apeaksoft iOS Unlocker is the easy unlocker to get into the locked iPhone when your iPhone is locked, because you forgot the screen-lock passcode, Screen Time restriction password or Apple ID password. Only 2 steps, it can unlock the iOS device by removing those restrictions.

RecommendRecommendation
  • Remove and recover Screen Time restriction password on iPhone iPad iPod.
  • Wipe screen-locked iPhone from 4-digit, 6-digit, customized number and code.
  • Remove Apple ID when you forgot Apple ID account or password.
  • Compatible with all iOS devices like iPhone 15/14/13/12/11/XS/XR/X/8, iPad Pro, iPod, etc., running in iOS 17/16/15 and before.

This short tutorial below shows you how to recover or reset the Screen Time restriction passcode when you forgot it on iPhone.

Step 1. Free download Apeaksoft iOS Unlocker from the download link above. Run this software and initiate the window to select Screen Time mode.

Meanwhile, get the USB cable to plug your iPhone into the computer.

Step 2. Click the Start button and this software will start removing Screen Time restriction passcode immediately.

Unlock Screen Time

Then you can create a new passcode or use Screen Time without any passcode.

Tips :

1. iTunes is required for scanning your device. Make sure iTunes is installed with the latest version on your computer.

2. If your iPhone is running iOS 11 or earlier and the iTunes backup is not encrypted, the program can recover your restrictions passcode. If your iTunes backup has been encrypted, you need to decrypt the backup first and then recover the password.

3. For iPhone running in iOS 12 and later, this software will remove the Screen Time password directly.

Part 2: How to Reset Restriction Passcode when You Forgot

If you set a restrictions password before, and you just forgot the restrictions passcode on iPhone or iPad, then you can use iTunes to solve this problem. You had better back up iPhone before resetting restrictions passcode. Otherwise, you may lose some latest iOS data.

There are two things you need to know if you forgot restrictions passcode and want to reset it.

The first thing is that it does not work if you hit "Erase All Contents and Settings". You will still be required to provide your Apple ID passcode and restriction passcode, even though you forgot restriction passcode on Apple products already. Another thing you need to do is to turn off "Find My iPhone", or you will fail to remove the forgotten restriction passcode.

Step 1. Turn off "Find my iPhone"

Open "Settings" and tap your profile on iPhone or iPad. Click "iCloud" button. Scroll down to turn off "Find My iPhone" option. You will be asked to enter Apple ID password, and then choose "Turn off".

Turn Off Find iPhone

Step 2. Launch iTunes and connect iPhone to computer

Use a lightning USB cable to connect iPhone to computer. Launch iTunes and your iPhone will be detected automatically. Make sure your iTunes has updated to the latest version.

Launch iTunes and Connect iPhone to Computer

Step 3. Restore iPhone to factory settings

Click "Summary" in the left panel. Press "Restore iPhone" button. Confirm to restore iPhone to its factory settings. After that, iTunes will start downloading the latest iOS and restore iPhone immediately. Now you can use those applications again even though you forgot restrictions passcode.

Restore iPhone to Factory Settings

Part 3: Recover Restriction Passcode with iBackupBot (Forget Restriction Passcode)

When you forget restriction passcode, you can also try recovering it without restoring iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Just use following method to find back forgotten restrictions passcodes. Do not forget to back up iPhone before recovering restrictions passcodes beforehand. After that, you can reset a new restrictions passcode without computer as usual.

Step 1. Launch iBackupBot

Download and install iBackupBot on your Windows or Mac computer. Launch iBackupBot, it will detect all your backup files automatically, so you need to wait for a while.

Launch iBackupBot

Step 2. Open iBackupBot file

After completing iPhone scanning, you can see a folder with your iPhone's name. Unfold it and select "System Files Folder". Choose "HomeDomain" from the list. Open "Library" folder, and then locate "Preferences" folder in the left panel. Right click "com.apple.springboard.plist" to open it with Wordpad or Notepad.

Open iBackupBot File

Step 3. Recover a forgotten restrictions passcode

SBParentalControlsPIN

1234

Copy and insert it to the pointed place just as the picture shows below. Save this file and then close it. Use a USB cable to connect iPhone to computer. Later, you can right click your iPhone icon to restore from the backup with iBackupBot.

Recover a Forgotten Restrictions Passcode

Surely, you do not have to recover restrictions passcode, but get another option to reset iPhone restriction password directly.

Part 4: Reset Restriction Passcode with PinFinder (Forget Restriction Passcode)

PinFinder is another restriction passcode resetting tool which can help you reset a Forgotten Restrictions Passcode without Restoring. Now you can take the next steps to fix the issue.

Step 1. Download PinFinder and install with iTunes

Launch iTunes and connect iPhone to computer with a USB cable. Back up your iPhone in advanced. Moreover, disable "Encrypt iPhone Backup" option. Download the latest PinFinder on your Mac or PC. Double click PinFinder icon to run the program.

Download PinFinder

Step 2. Recover a forgotten restrictions passcode on computer

Right click the "Start" button and then select "Command Prompt". Press "Return" on your keyboard. Now you can recover your forgotten restrictions passcode for iPhone quickly. It is on the right side of "Backup Time".

Recover a Forgotten Restrictions Passcode

Part 5: Use iOS Restriction Passcode Cracker when you forget Restriction Passcode

iOS Restriction Passcode Cracker is an online restrictions passcode extractor which can help you deal with the forgetten restriction passcode problem.

Step 1. Extract RestrictionPasswordKey and RestrictionPasswordSalt

Remember to back up iOS data in advanced. Download and install iPhone Backup Extractor app on your computer. Open it and hit "Read Backups" button in the lower left corner. Select your latest iTunes backup file, and click "Choose" to continue. Scroll down to tap "iOS Files" and then hit "Extract" button. Open "com.apple.restrictionpassword.plist" with "Text Editor". You can find it after choosing "Library" and "Preferences". Now you can find the target information in details.

Extract RestrictionPasswordKey

Step 2. Unlock iPhone and reset restrictions passcode

Open iOS Restrictions Passcode Cracker site with your browser. Copy and Paste numbers of RestrictionsPasswordKey and RestrictionsPasswordSalt. Hit "Search for Code" and wait until iOS Restrictions Passcode Cracker find the correct restrictions PIN. Though it may take you a long time to recover a restrictions passcode, you do not have to factory reset iPhone actually.

Unlock iPhone and Reset Restrictions Passcode

Best iPhone/iPad/iPod data recovery you may want to know:

If you forgot to backup iPhone before factory resetting, just as you forgot restrictions passcode before, then you can use Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery to solve the problem. There are 3 data recovery methods that you can recover data from iPhone/iPad/iPod touch selectively.

iPhone Data Recovery

  • Recover up to 19 kinds of data from any iOS device directly
  • Restore data from iTunes backup to computer
  • Download and extract iCloud backup to output lost data
  • Preview and scan lost iOS data before recovery
  • Highly compatible with the latest iOS 17 and iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, XS, XR, 8, 7, 6, etc.
Download for WinDownload for Mac

As a result, you can reset a new restrictions passcode even if you forgot restrictions passcode on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Later, you can add or remove applications to adjust restrictions on Apple devices easily.

Part 6: FAQs of Restrictions Passcode

1. What is an iPhone restrictions passcode?

An iPhone restrictions password or passcode is a numeric series of digits that you set up when you enable the restrictions feature on your iPhone. Each time you need to access the restrictions settings and wish to configure it, you need to enter the passcode.

2. How do I reset restrictions passcode on iPhone?

The easiest way to Reset Restrictions Passcode on iPhone is to simply erase the Passcode from your device by performing a Factory Reset on your iPhone. Note that a Factory Reset will erase all the data on your iPhone

3. What to do if I forgot the screen time passcode on my iPhone?

First, you can try possible or default screen time passcode. If this way not works, you could find the reliable software that allows you to remove the Screen Time passcode from your iPhone.

More Reading