Clear Restrictions Passcode

What

The Clear Restrictions Passcode command clears the restrictions or Screen Time passcode on a supervised iPhone or iPad. A restrictions passcode must already be set on the device for this command to appear in FileWave Anywhere. This is different from Clear Passcode, which removes the passcode used to unlock the device.

To prevent users from enabling Restrictions or Screen Time on supervised devices, use an Apple Restrictions profile. Apple’s allowEnablingRestrictions setting also disables Screen Time if it is already enabled on iOS 12 or later; it is not just a passcode-setting restriction. See Apple Profile Filesets for profile creation and deployment.

When/Why

Use this command when an authorized administrator needs to clear an unknown or forgotten restrictions passcode. The device must be supervised and enrolled in MDM; the command is not available for User Enrollment BYOD devices.

Check the Screen Time configuration before clearing the passcode. Apple documents different outcomes for its Clear Restrictions Password command:

• On iOS 12.2 and later, when Screen Time uses iCloud Share Across Devices, the command disables Screen Time and clears its restrictions. If the user is a child in an iCloud family, the command fails.
• When Screen Time is not using iCloud on iOS 12.2 and later, the command clears the passcode but leaves Screen Time and its restrictions enabled.
• On iOS 11 and earlier, the command clears the restrictions password and all restrictions protected by it.

After the device processes the command, confirm the expected Screen Time or Restrictions state with the user. Selecting the action in Anywhere is not proof that the device has completed it.

How

In FileWave Anywhere, go to View - Devices, open the ellipsis (...) menu to the right of the device, and select Clear Restrictions Passcode.