Increase Screen Time on an iPhone: 12 Real Fixes
If your iPhone’s screen time limit isn’t working or you need more time on a restricted app, the direct answer is: go to Settings > Screen Time, tap the app category or app under Limit, then choose Change Limit and enter a longer duration. You can also turn off the limit entirely for that app, or use Ignore Limit when the warning appears—provided you know your Screen Time passcode. Below is everything you need to know about extending, bypassing, and managing screen time on an iPhone, including what actually works and what doesn’t.
What Screen Time Actually Does
Screen Time is Apple’s built-in digital wellbeing feature, introduced in iOS 12. It tracks how long you spend on your iPhone, which apps you use most, how many times you pick up the device, and how many notifications you receive. It also lets you set limits on specific apps or entire categories (like Social Networking or Games), schedule downtime when only allowed apps work, and enforce communication limits for kids.
All limits are enforced by a passcode if you set one. That passcode is separate from your iPhone unlock code, and it’s what prevents you (or your child) from simply tapping “Ignore Limit� and continuing. If you don’t set a Screen Time passcode, anyone can extend or delete limits without confirmation.
How to Increase Screen Time on Your Own iPhone
If you’re the owner of the iPhone and you know the Screen Time passcode (or never set one), increasing your limit takes about 30 seconds:
- Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
- Tap App Limits (or tap the specific limit listed under “Limit� if you already have one).
- Tap the app or category you want to change.
- Tap Change Limit and adjust the time using the wheel.
- Tap Done in the top-right corner.
If you want to remove the limit completely, tap Delete Limit at the bottom of that screen. You can also turn off limits for all apps at once by toggling off App Limits at the top of the Screen Time main page.
What to Do When “Ignore Limit� Isn’t There
When a limit is reached, you normally see a pop-up with two options: Ignore Limit (adds 15 minutes) and One More Minute (gives you one minute). If you don’t see those options, it’s usually because:
- Downtime is active – During Downtime, only apps you’ve allowed are accessible. You can’t ignore a Downtime block the same way; you must tap “Ignore� on the Downtime screen or adjust Downtime hours in Settings.
- You’re in a “Strict� mode for a child – If the iPhone is managed by Family Sharing and the parent has set “Block at Downtime� or “App Limits� with a passcode, the child cannot extend time without the parent’s approval.
- The app is in the “Always Allowed� list – If an app is added to Always Allowed, it bypasses both Downtime and App Limits. Check Settings > Screen Time > Always Allowed and remove it if you want the limit to apply.
If you’re the parent and the child asks for more time, you can approve it remotely through Family Sharing: go to Settings > Screen Time on your own iPhone, select your child’s name, tap App Limits, and adjust the limit there. The child will see the change immediately.
How to Bypass Screen Time Without the Passcode
If you’ve forgotten the Screen Time passcode, you cannot simply “increase� the limit without resetting it. However, you have a few legitimate options:
- Reset via Apple ID – On the Screen Time passcode screen, tap “Forgot Passcode?� and enter your Apple ID password. This works if you set up the recovery option when you created the passcode.
- Erase the iPhone – Restoring the iPhone from a backup or setting it up as new will remove the Screen Time passcode, but it also wipes all data. Only do this if you have a backup and are prepared to lose current data.
- Use a third-party tool – Some software claims to remove Screen Time passcodes, but they often require a computer and may not work with the latest iOS versions. Use them at your own risk.
Important: If the iPhone is supervised or managed by a school or employer, bypassing Screen Time may violate policy. Apple’s Screen Time is not a security feature—it’s a self-control tool—so there are no official “backdoors� other than the ones above.
Why Your Screen Time Keeps Resetting or Not Saving
A common frustration is setting a limit, then finding it back to the default or not applied at all. Causes include:
- Multiple devices – Screen Time syncs across devices via iCloud. If you change a limit on your iPad, it may overwrite the iPhone setting. Check all devices.
- iOS updates – Occasionally, updates reset Screen Time settings. After updating, go to Settings > Screen Time and verify your limits.
- Time zone changes – If you travel across time zones, Downtime and App Limits are based on the device’s current time zone. A limit set for “9 PM� may appear to shift.
- Screen Time is off – If you toggle Screen Time off and on, all limits are erased. You must re-enter them.
If you’re a parent and your child’s limits keep disappearing, check that “Screen Time Passcode� is set on the child’s device, and that “Block at Downtime� is enabled. Without a passcode, the child can dismiss the limit and it won’t reappear.
Alternatives to Increasing Screen Time
If you find yourself constantly needing more time, consider these options instead of just raising the limit:
- Use Downtime instead of App Limits – Downtime blocks all apps except allowed ones during a set period. It’s stricter and often more effective for bedtime.
- Add apps to “Always Allowed� – If you need a specific app (like Maps or Messages) past your limit, add it to Always Allowed instead of raising the limit for everything.
- Set a shorter limit but take breaks – The “Ignore Limit� button gives you 15 extra minutes each time. You can use that as a grace period rather than increasing the base limit.
- Use Focus modes – Focus (Do Not Disturb) can silence notifications during work hours, which reduces the urge to pick up your phone without changing Screen Time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I increase screen time remotely for my child?
Yes, if you’re the family organizer, go to Settings > Screen Time on your own iPhone, select your child’s name, then tap App Limits and adjust the time. The change syncs to the child’s device automatically.
Why does “Ignore Limit� only give 15 minutes?
That’s Apple’s default grace period. You can tap it multiple times, but each tap adds 15 minutes. There’s no built-in way to change that interval.
What happens if I delete the Screen Time passcode?
Deleting the passcode turns off all limits immediately. You’ll need to re-enter your Apple ID password if you set the recovery option, or you’ll have to erase the device if you forgot it.
Does Screen Time track incognito browsing?
Screen Time tracks Safari usage even in Private Browsing mode, but it doesn’t show the specific sites visited. It counts the time spent in the browser as a whole.
Can I set a limit for a single app, not a category?
Yes. In App Limits, tap “Add Limit,� choose a category, then tap the category to expand it and select individual apps. You can also search for a specific app.
Why is my screen time not increasing even after I change the limit?
Make sure you tap “Done� after adjusting the time. Also, if the limit is for a category, the app you’re using might be in a different category than you think. Check the App Usage list to see which category the app falls under.
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