Can You Delete Screen Time Data on iPhone?

Everyone · How-to · Updated October 1, 2026 · LearnLife Editorial

What do you need before deleting Screen Time data on iPhone?

Before starting to delete or reset your Screen Time data, ensure your iPhone is updated to the latest version of iOS to avoid software glitches. Have your Screen Time passcode ready if you have set one, as you must enter it to turn off or modify Screen Time settings. If you do not remember the passcode, you will need to reset it through Apple ID or, as a last resort, restore your device. It’s also a good idea to back up your iPhone via iCloud or a computer if you want to keep other data safe. Remember, deleting Screen Time data will erase all app usage history, limits, and downtime schedules, so consider whether you want to save or note any important information before proceeding. If your iPhone is part of a Family Sharing setup with parental controls, you may need the family organizer’s permission or assistance to make changes.

How can you delete or reset Screen Time data on iPhone step-by-step?

Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to delete all Screen Time data by turning Screen Time off and resetting it:

1. Open the Settings app: Locate the grey gear icon on your home screen and tap it.
2. Scroll down and tap Screen Time: This opens the control panel for your usage monitoring.
3. Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted: This step is mandatory if you have set a passcode to restrict changes.
4. Scroll to the bottom and tap Turn Off Screen Time: This will begin the process of deleting all Screen Time data.
5. Confirm by tapping Turn Off Screen Time again: The system asks for confirmation to ensure you want to delete all data and stop tracking.
6. Wait a few moments: The iPhone clears all usage data, app limits, and downtime settings.
7. Restart your iPhone: Press and hold the side or top button, then slide to power off. Turn your device back on to finalize clearing.
8. Return to Settings > Screen Time and tap Turn On Screen Time: This restarts the tracking from zero as if it were a new device.

Each step is important: turning off Screen Time deletes the data, confirming ensures you do not delete by mistake, and restarting helps clear cached data. Re-enabling Screen Time starts fresh tracking.

How do you know if deleting or resetting Screen Time worked?

After you reset Screen Time, open Settings > Screen Time and check the summary at the top of the screen. It should show no previous usage data, such as zero hours or minutes for all app categories and no reports for past days or weeks. The detailed reports (like Most Used Apps or Categories) will be empty until you use your iPhone again. Also, any app limits, downtime schedules, or communication restrictions you set before will no longer be active. If you see this blank state and no old data, the reset worked. If data still appears, double-check that Screen Time is turned off fully and try restarting your phone. If you use Family Sharing, confirm whether your Screen Time settings are being synced from another device, which can restore data.

What to do if deleting Screen Time data doesn’t work?

If after turning off Screen Time and confirming the reset you still see old data, try these troubleshooting steps:

• Verify you entered the correct passcode: Entering an incorrect passcode prevents turning off Screen Time.
• Restart your iPhone again: Sometimes a second reboot clears lingering data.
• Check for Family Sharing restrictions: If Screen Time is managed by a family organizer, they control settings and data syncing across devices.
• Reset All Settings: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t delete your apps or data but resets preferences and may clear residual Screen Time data.
• Contact Apple Support if none of the above works.

Avoid factory resetting unless absolutely necessary, as that erases all device content. Troubleshooting helps ensure you only erase Screen Time data safely.

Can you edit or clear individual Screen Time entries or history?

iPhone’s Screen Time does not allow you to edit or delete individual days or app usage entries. The system automatically records all activity and compiles reports, but the history is fixed and cumulative. You cannot selectively remove a single app’s past usage or a specific day’s data. The only option to clear all history is to turn off Screen Time completely. If you want to exclude certain apps from tracking going forward, you can do so by:

• Going to Settings > Screen Time > See All Activity > Scroll down to “Most Used” > Select an app > Tap “Add Limit” or turn off “Always Allowed” for that app.
• Alternatively, pause or disable Screen Time temporarily.

However, these changes do not erase past data but only affect future tracking. For managing digital habits, using app limits or downtime may be more effective than deleting history.

How to adapt Screen Time settings for different users or households?

If multiple people use the same iPhone or you want customized Screen Time controls for family members, consider Family Sharing. With it, a family organizer can set Screen Time limits and view usage for children or other members. Each user’s Screen Time data is separate and can be managed independently, including turning off Screen Time or resetting it per user. For example, if you want to delete a child’s Screen Time data, the family organizer must turn off Screen Time on that child’s device. Adults managing their own iPhones can follow the reset steps above. It is helpful to discuss Screen Time resets with family members to maintain trust, especially with children, so they understand why data is deleted or limits are changed. Applying personalized limits and schedules can improve digital wellbeing for everyone in the household.

What else should you know about Screen Time data management?

Screen Time data is kept only on your device unless you use iCloud sync for Screen Time across devices tied to the same Apple ID. Deleting Screen Time data on one device does not erase it on others unless you reset them individually. Also, Screen Time is a tool designed to encourage healthier device use, so regularly reviewing your data and adjusting limits can make deleting data unnecessary. Remember that resetting deletes all history and settings, which may be helpful occasionally but causes loss of helpful usage insights. If privacy is your concern, Screen Time data is local to your iPhone and not shared with Apple or third parties. For managing app permissions and device settings, you can combine Screen Time with parental controls or other privacy settings.

Frequently asked questions

Can I turn off Screen Time without deleting data?

Yes, turning off Screen Time stops collecting new usage data but keeps the existing history until you turn Screen Time back on. If you reactivate it later, the data may reset. To completely delete history, turn Screen Time off fully.

Can a parent delete a child’s Screen Time data remotely?

Yes, within Family Sharing, the family organizer can turn off Screen Time for a child’s device remotely, which deletes that child’s usage data and limits on that device.

Does resetting Screen Time affect my apps or other iPhone data?

No, resetting Screen Time only clears usage reports, app limits, and downtime. It does not delete apps, app content, or other personal data on the device.

Can I delete Screen Time history but keep app limits?

No, turning off Screen Time deletes all history and resets limits. You will need to set app limits again after turning Screen Time back on.

How do I reset a forgotten Screen Time passcode?

You can reset your Screen Time passcode using your Apple ID if that option was enabled. Otherwise, erasing and restoring your iPhone is necessary. Contact Apple Support for guidance.