Block Changing Date and Time on iPhone: Full Guide

To block changing the date and time on an iPhone, you use Screen Time’s Content & Privacy Restrictions to lock the Date & Time setting, or you can disable changes by setting a Screen Time passcode. This guide explains both methods, what they do and don’t prevent, and how to set them up step by step.

Why You Might Want to Lock Date and Time

There are several common reasons people want to prevent the date and time from being changed on an iPhone:

• Parental controls: A child could change the time to bypass app limits or bedtime schedules set in Screen Time.
• Work or school devices: Managed devices often need to keep accurate timestamps for logs, attendance, or scheduling.
• Security and integrity: Apps that rely on time-based authentication (like some banking or trading apps) may flag or disable themselves if the clock is altered.
• Preventing accidental changes: Auto-set is usually reliable, but manual changes can cause calendar and reminder glitches.

Apple does not offer a single toggle that says “lock the clock.” Instead, you have to use Screen Time restrictions, which are designed for parental control but work for any user who knows the passcode.

What the Screen Time Restriction Actually Does

When you enable Content & Privacy Restrictions and then turn off Date & Time under Allowed Changes, the Settings app’s Date & Time page becomes unchangeable. The user cannot toggle “Set Automatically” on or off, and cannot manually adjust the time zone or the time itself. The clock stays on whatever it was set to, and no error message appears—the controls are simply greyed out or do nothing when tapped.

However, this restriction does not stop the time from changing due to network time updates if “Set Automatically” was already on before you locked it. It only prevents the user from changing the setting. If you want to freeze the time at a specific value, you must first turn off “Set Automatically,” set the desired time, and then apply the restriction. But note that even then, the time will drift slightly over time because the iPhone’s internal clock is not perfectly accurate without network sync.

How to Block Date and Time Changes (Step by Step)

Here is the standard method for iOS 12 and later (including iOS 15, 16, 17, and 18):

1. Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
2. If you haven’t set up Screen Time before, tap Turn On Screen Time and then tap Continue (choose “This is My iPhone” or “This is My Child’s iPhone”). If it’s already on, skip this.
3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle it on if it isn’t already.
4. Enter a Screen Time passcode when prompted. This is a separate 4-digit code from your device passcode. Do not forget it—you’ll need it to change restrictions later.
5. Tap Allowed Changes (sometimes labeled “Allowed Apps & Features” on older iOS versions).
6. Scroll down to Date & Time and tap it.
7. Choose Don’t Allow.

After that, go to Settings > General > Date & Time. You’ll see that the controls are greyed out or tapping them does nothing. To re-enable changes, go back to Screen Time, enter your passcode, and set Date & Time back to Allow.

What This Restriction Does NOT Do

This restriction only blocks the Settings app’s Date & Time pane. It does not:

• Prevent the time from changing if “Set Automatically” was left on and the phone syncs with the network.
• Stop apps from reading the system clock or adjusting their own internal timers.
• Prevent a user from resetting the phone or restoring it via a computer, which could wipe the restriction.
• Block changes made through a configuration profile or MDM (mobile device management) if the device is supervised.

If you’re trying to stop a child from changing the time to get around Screen Time limits, this method works because the Screen Time passcode is required to change the restriction. But if the child knows the passcode, they can simply turn it back on. The restriction is only as strong as the passcode’s secrecy.

Alternative: Use a Screen Time Passcode and Downtime

If your goal is to prevent a child from bypassing app limits, you might not need to lock the date and time at all. Screen Time’s Downtime and App Limits are enforced by the system clock, and a child could change the time to get around them. By locking Date & Time with the restriction above, you close that loophole. But you can also set up Communication Limits and Content Restrictions to further control usage.

Another approach is to use Guided Access (Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access), which locks the iPhone to a single app and disables the Home button and touch in certain areas. It doesn’t lock the clock, but it can prevent a child from leaving an app to change settings. Guided Access is useful for short-term tasks, not as a permanent solution.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Here are issues people run into when trying to lock the date and time:

• Date & Time option is missing under Allowed Changes: On some iOS versions, it’s located under “Allowed Apps & Features” instead. Make sure you scroll down fully. If it’s still missing, update iOS.
• Forgot the Screen Time passcode: You can reset it using your Apple ID if you set that up when creating the passcode. Go to Settings > Screen Time > “Forgot Passcode?” and follow the prompts. If that fails, you may need to erase the device and restore from backup (which may not remove the passcode if it’s part of the backup).
• Restriction doesn’t stick after restart: Reboot the phone and check if the restriction is still active. If not, re-apply it. Some users report that the restriction resets after an iOS update, so re-check after updating.
• Time changes anyway even with “Don’t Allow”: This usually means “Set Automatically” was on when you locked it. Turn off “Set Automatically” before applying the restriction, then set the time you want, then lock it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I lock the date and time without using Screen Time?
A: On a standard iPhone, no. There is no dedicated toggle in Settings to prevent changes. You can use a configuration profile (via Apple Configurator or MDM) on supervised devices, but that’s for enterprise/school management. For personal use, Screen Time is the only built-in way.

Q: Will this stop my child from changing the time to cheat on games?
A: It will stop them from changing the system clock, which affects games that rely on real time. However, some games use their own servers for time, so they won’t be affected. Also, if the child knows the Screen Time passcode, they can reverse it.

Q: Does locking the date and time affect the alarm or calendar?
A: No, the alarm and calendar will continue to work based on the current time. If you manually set a wrong time before locking, alarms will go off at that wrong time. The restriction only prevents changes, not the functioning of the clock.

Q: Can I set a specific time zone and lock it?
A: Yes. Turn off “Set Automatically,” choose the time zone you want, then apply the Date & Time restriction. The time zone will remain fixed until you allow changes again.

Q: What if I forget the Screen Time passcode?
A: You can reset it with your Apple ID if you enabled that option. If not, you may need to erase the device and set it up as new, or restore from a backup that was made before the passcode was set. This is a last resort because it erases data.

Q: Does this work on iPad and iPod touch?
A: Yes, the same Screen Time settings are available on iPad and iPod touch with iOS 12 or later. The steps are identical.

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