How to Bypass Screen Time Passcode in iOS 12

When Apple introduced Screen Time in iOS 12, it included App Limits secured by a dedicated passcode to help users manage device usage and parental controls. However, early iterations of the software contained several system-level workarounds and official recovery methods that allowed users to circumvent these limits. This article outlines the known methods used to bypass or reset App Limits on devices running iOS 12.

Changing the Date and Time

One of the most common loopholes in iOS 12 involved the system clock. Because App Limits rely on the device’s internal calendar to reset daily allowances, altering the time could reset the timer.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Navigate to General > Date & Time.
  3. Toggle off Set Automatically.
  4. Manually adjust the date backward or forward to a time when the app was not restricted.

Note: If the "Prevent Changing Date & Time" restriction was not separately configured under Content & Privacy Restrictions, this immediately restored access to restricted apps.

Deleting and Reinstalling the Restricted App

In iOS 12, App Limit data was tied to the local installation instance of the application. Deleting the app would also clear the usage cache associated with it.

  1. Long-press the restricted app on the home screen until it jiggles.
  2. Tap the X icon to delete the app and its local data.
  3. Open the App Store, tap the user profile icon, and go to Purchased.
  4. Locate the app and tap the cloud download icon to reinstall it.

Once reinstalled, the App Limit timer would reset, allowing standard usage until the system recalculated limits.

Accessing Content via Alternative Routes

App Limits on specific social media or video applications often restricted only the primary application binary, leaving alternative pathways open:

  • Using Safari: If an app like YouTube or Instagram was locked, navigating to the web version via Safari often bypassed the limit, provided Safari itself was not restricted.
  • iMessage App Drawer: For certain apps with iMessage integrations (such as YouTube or games), launching content directly within a message thread allowed playback without triggering the main application block.
  • Share Sheets: Accessing photos or links and tapping the Share icon allowed limited access to certain messaging or sharing functions within restricted applications.

Official Method: Resetting via Apple ID or iTunes

If the passcode was forgotten legitimately, bypassing the limit without exploiting software flaws required resetting the passcode or the device.

  1. iOS Settings: Later updates to iOS 12 added a "Forgot Passcode?" prompt on the Screen Time passcode screen, allowing authentication via the associated Apple ID and password.
  2. Device Restore: Connecting the device to a computer running iTunes allowed the device to be restored to factory settings, effectively wiping the Screen Time configuration. Restoring from a backup created before the passcode was enabled would keep personal data without reinstating the App Limit.