How do I use iOS's Screen Time Passcode to lock Detox?

Detox blocks apps and websites through iOS's Screen Time framework. That means if someone (including you, in a moment of weakness) disables Detox's Screen Time access from iOS Settings, your blocks stop working. This is a system-level limitation that affects every app built on Screen Time, not just Detox.

iOS has a built-in fix for this: the Screen Time Passcode, a 4-digit code that locks Screen Time settings against any change. This article walks you through setting one up. Note that the Screen Time Passcode is an Apple/iOS feature, not a Detox feature; you configure it in iOS Settings, not inside Detox.

What the Screen Time Passcode prevents

Once a Screen Time Passcode is set on your device, no one (without the code) can:

• Disable Detox's access to Screen Time
• Change other Screen Time settings (limits, allowed apps, restrictions, etc.)
• Delete Detox from your home screen

Without it, any of those changes can be done in seconds and your blocks stop working.

iOS 26.4 requirement for full protection

Full enforcement requires iOS 26.4 or later. On earlier iOS versions, Face ID or your device passcode could sometimes substitute for the Screen Time Passcode, which meant the Screen Time Passcode wasn't truly required. Apple closed that gap in iOS 26.4: now the Screen Time Passcode is the only way to modify these settings.

We strongly recommend updating to the latest iOS version before relying on this protection.

Setting up a Screen Time Passcode

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap Screen Time.
3. Tap Lock Screen Time Settings.
4. Enter a 4-digit passcode.
5. Confirm by entering it again.

That's it. The passcode is now required for any future Screen Time change, including disabling Detox's access or deleting the app.

Making Detox truly tamper-resistant

The Screen Time Passcode is most effective when you don't know it. The pattern that works best:

• Ask a trusted friend, partner, or family member to set the passcode for you, and not tell you what it is.
• Have them use their Apple Account during the recovery setup. That way, the "Forgot Passcode" reset flow also requires them.

This removes the possibility of you disabling Detox during a moment of impulse. If you can't think of a trusted person, even a passcode you set yourself adds friction; you have to consciously decide to bypass the block, which is often enough.

Family Sharing note

On a child's device within an iOS Family Sharing group, only the family organizer can change the Screen Time Passcode. The child cannot reset it themselves. This is the most secure setup if a parent or guardian is the trusted person.

Resetting a forgotten Screen Time Passcode

If you set the passcode yourself and forgot it, you can reset it with your Apple Account credentials:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Screen Time.
3. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode.
4. Tap Forgot Passcode?
5. Enter the Apple Account email and password used during setup.

If a trusted person configured the passcode using their Apple Account, you will not be able to reset it without them. That's the intended design when you use the trusted-person pattern above.

Screen Time Passcode vs Strict Mode

Detox has its own layer of tamper-resistance called Strict Mode. The two work differently and complement each other:

For the strongest protection, use both: set up the Screen Time Passcode (so Detox can't be deleted or have its access revoked, ever), and enable Strict Mode on your most important blocks (so you can't weaken them while they're running).

What this doesn't do

• It's not a Detox feature. You configure it in iOS Settings; Detox can't set, read, or change your Screen Time Passcode.
• It doesn't change how Detox blocks apps. The actual blocking behavior is the same; the passcode only prevents tampering.
• It doesn't disable Urgent Unblock. Urgent Unblock is an in-app emergency escape valve, and it still works once every 24 hours per device.
• It doesn't sync between devices. iOS Screen Time Passcodes are per-device; if you have Detox on iPhone and iPad, set a passcode on each.

Related

• What is Strict Mode?
• What is Urgent Unblock?
• What can't Detox do?

Updated on: 22/05/2026