How to turn off Screen Time, and what stops when you do
Updated 2026-09-12
To turn off Screen Time on an iPhone, open the Settings app, tap Screen Time, scroll to the bottom, and select 'Turn Off App & Website Activity'. This single switch disables several features at once, including usage reports, scheduled Downtime, and daily App Limits.
For a child's device, you'll find the same switch on their Screen Time page, which you can access from your own phone through Family Sharing. Before you turn everything off, consider whether pausing just one specific rule—like the bedtime schedule or a limit on one app—might solve the problem without losing the features you find useful.
Tasks first, then screen time. Set the chores, approve with one tap, and let the app say stop.
How to Turn Off Screen Time on Your Own Device
- 1
Open the Settings app.
- 2
Tap Screen Time.
- 3
Scroll down and tap Turn Off App & Website Activity.
- 4
You may be asked to enter your four-digit Screen Time passcode to confirm.
How to Turn Off Screen Time for a Child
- 1
On your own iPhone (as a parent or guardian in the Family Sharing group), open the Settings app.
- 2
Tap Screen Time.
- 3
Under the Family heading, tap your child's name.
- 4
Scroll down and tap Turn Off App & Website Activity.
- 5
Enter the four-digit Screen Time passcode to confirm the change. If you've forgotten it, Apple provides a recovery option using your Apple Account, though this recovery process might not work in every account situation.
What Actually Stops When You Turn It Off?
- Usage Reports — Your iPhone will no longer track or show you how much time you or your child spend in apps and on websites.
- Downtime — Any scheduled 'time away from the screen,' like for bedtime or dinner, will be deactivated.
- App Limits — Daily time limits for app categories (like Games) or individual apps will no longer be enforced.
- Always Allowed — The list of apps and contacts that were permitted during Downtime becomes inactive, as Downtime itself is off.
Note that Content & Privacy Restrictions, which can block explicit content or prevent App Store purchases, is a separate setting within Screen Time. You may need to review it independently.
Pausing a Rule Instead of Turning Everything Off
If a specific rule is causing frustration, you don't have to disable Screen Time entirely. You can adjust the individual parts that aren't working for your family.
To pause the bedtime schedule without affecting daily app limits, go to Settings > Screen Time > Downtime and turn off the Scheduled toggle.
To remove a limit for a single app or category, go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits, swipe left on a limit, then tap Delete. This leaves reporting and other rules active.
Frequently Asked Questions About Turning Off Screen Time
Where is the switch to turn Screen Time off?
In Settings > Screen Time. Scroll to the bottom and tap 'Turn Off App & Website Activity'. For a child in your Family Sharing group, tap their name first, then find the same switch.
Can you turn it off without the passcode?
No, if a passcode is set, you will be prompted for it. If you've forgotten it, you can use the 'Forgot Passcode?' option, which uses your Apple Account to let you reset it, provided your account setup allows for recovery.
Will turning off Screen Time delete my usage history?
Apple's support documents state that reporting stops from that point on. They do not specify whether previously collected data is deleted or just hidden. It's safest not to rely on historical reports being available after you turn the feature off.
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