Ever found yourself staring at your iPad, hitting the "Ignore Limit" option on an app, and wishing there was a way to make that button disappear entirely? Perhaps you're a parent trying to manage your child's screen time, or maybe you've set limits for yourself and want to stick to them more effectively. Whatever your reason, getting rid of that "Ignore Limit" button can be a game-changer for enforcing healthy digital habits.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various methods to remove the "Ignore Limit" option on your iPad, giving you more control over your or your family's screen time. Let's dive in!
Understanding "Ignore Limit" and Screen Time
Before we get to the "how-to," it's important to understand why the "Ignore Limit" option appears. Apple's Screen Time feature is designed to help users understand and manage their device usage. When you set an App Limit, you're essentially telling your iPad to restrict access to a particular app or category of apps after a certain amount of time.
The "Ignore Limit" option, which typically offers choices like "Remind Me in 15 Minutes" or "Ignore Limit For Today," is a built-in flexibility. While useful for adults who might occasionally need a little more time, it can undermine the purpose of Screen Time, especially when trying to set firm boundaries for children.
The key to removing "Ignore Limit" lies in strengthening the Screen Time restrictions, often by enabling specific blocking features or, if necessary, by managing the Screen Time passcode.
Step 1: Confirm Your Screen Time Setup – Do You Have a Passcode?
This is a crucial first step! The presence and knowledge of your Screen Time passcode significantly impact how you can remove the "Ignore Limit" option.
Have you set a Screen Time Passcode?
- If yes, great! This gives you the most control. We'll proceed with methods that utilize this passcode.
- If no, or if you've forgotten it, don't worry. We'll also cover solutions for that, though they might involve more drastic measures.
Let's begin by checking your current Screen Time settings.
Step 1.1: Accessing Screen Time Settings
- Open the Settings app on your iPad. It's the gear-shaped icon usually found on your Home screen.
- Scroll down and tap on Screen Time.
Step 1.2: Verifying Passcode Status
- Look for options like "Change Screen Time Passcode" or "Turn Off Screen Time Passcode."
- If you see "Turn Off Screen Time Passcode," it means a passcode is already set. You'll need to know this passcode to make changes.
- If you see "Use Screen Time Passcode" or similar, it means no passcode is currently set. You can set one now if you wish, which is highly recommended for greater control.
Step 2: Enabling "Block at End of Limit" (The Most Common Solution)
This is the most effective and straightforward method to remove the "Ignore Limit" option for specific app limits. When "Block at End of Limit" is enabled, instead of seeing "Ignore Limit," the user will only have the option to "Ask for More Time" (if Family Sharing is set up) or simply be blocked from the app.
Step 2.1: Navigating to App Limits
- From the Screen Time menu in Settings, tap on App Limits.
- You'll see a list of categories or individual apps for which you've set limits. If you haven't set any, you'll need to add one first.
Step 2.2: Enabling the "Block at End of Limit" Option
- Tap on the specific app category or individual app limit you want to modify.
- At the bottom of the screen, you'll find an option called "Block at End of Limit."
- Toggle this option ON (it will turn green).
- If prompted, enter your Screen Time passcode.
What happens now? When the time limit for that app or category is reached, the screen will no longer present the "Ignore Limit" option. Instead, it will strictly block access. If this is for a child's device managed via Family Sharing, they might see an "Ask for More Time" option, which sends a request to the family organizer for approval.
Step 3: Utilizing Downtime with "Block at Downtime"
Downtime is a powerful Screen Time feature that restricts access to almost all apps (except those you specifically allow) during a scheduled period. By enabling "Block at Downtime," you can remove the "Ignore Limit" option during these periods. This is particularly useful for bedtimes or study times.
Step 3.1: Setting Up Downtime
- From the Screen Time menu, tap on Downtime.
- Toggle "Scheduled" ON.
- Set the "From" and "To" times for your Downtime period.
- Ensure "Block at Downtime" is ON (it will turn green).
- If prompted, enter your Screen Time passcode.
Step 3.2: Managing "Always Allowed" Apps (Important!)
During Downtime, only apps you designate as "Always Allowed" will be accessible. If you want to completely block an app, ensure it's not on this list.
- Back in the Screen Time menu, tap on Always Allowed.
- Review the list of apps. To remove an app from the "Always Allowed" list, tap the red minus sign next to it, then tap Remove.
- To add an app, tap the green plus sign next to it.
What happens now? During the scheduled Downtime, apps not on the "Always Allowed" list will be inaccessible, and the "Ignore Limit" option will not appear.
Step 4: Turning Off Screen Time Entirely (Use with Caution)
If your goal is to completely remove all limits and restrictions, including the "Ignore Limit" option, you can turn off Screen Time altogether. However, this will remove all App Limits, Downtime schedules, and Content & Privacy Restrictions you've set.
Step 4.1: Accessing the "Turn Off Screen Time" Option
- From the Screen Time menu, scroll all the way to the bottom.
- Tap on "Turn Off Screen Time" (or "Turn Off App & Website Activity" on newer iOS versions).
Step 4.2: Confirming the Action
- You will be prompted to enter your Screen Time passcode.
- Tap "Turn Off Screen Time" again to confirm.
What happens now? Screen Time will be completely disabled, and all associated limits and restrictions, including the "Ignore Limit" option, will be removed. Your iPad will function without any usage limitations set by Screen Time.
Step 5: Dealing with a Forgotten Screen Time Passcode
This can be a tricky situation, especially if the "Ignore Limit" option persists because you can't access the settings to change it. There are a few approaches here, ranging from simple resets to more impactful solutions.
Step 5.1: Resetting the Passcode via Apple ID (If Set Up)
If you set up Screen Time with your Apple ID for recovery, this is the easiest way to reset a forgotten passcode.
- Go to Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap "Change Screen Time Passcode", then tap "Change Screen Time Passcode" again.
- Tap "Forgot Passcode?"
- Enter the Apple ID and password
you used to set up the Screen Time passcode. - Follow the on-screen instructions to set a new Screen Time passcode.
Once you have a new passcode, you can go back to Step 2 or Step 3 to configure your settings and remove the "Ignore Limit" option.
Step 5.2: Erasing Your iPad (The Drastic Option)
If you cannot reset the Screen Time passcode via Apple ID and you absolutely need to remove all restrictions, erasing your iPad is an option. This will wipe all data on your iPad, so ensure you have a recent backup to iCloud or your computer!
There are a few ways to erase your iPad:
-
Via Settings:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad.
- Tap "Erase All Content and Settings."
- Follow the prompts. You might need your Apple ID password to proceed.
-
Via Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows):
- Connect your iPad to your computer.
- Open Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows).
- Select your iPad when it appears.
- Click "Restore iPad." This will erase the device and install the latest iOS.
-
Via iCloud's Find My:
- On a computer or another device, go to
iCloud.com/find - Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Select your iPad from the "All Devices" list.
- Click "Erase iPad."
- On a computer or another device, go to
After erasing, you can set up your iPad as new and choose not to restore from a backup that might contain the Screen Time restrictions, or restore from a backup and then immediately disable Screen Time if you wish. When setting up, ensure you skip setting up Screen Time initially if you don't want it enabled.
Step 5.3: Third-Party Tools (Proceed with Caution)
There are various third-party software tools advertised to remove Screen Time passcodes without data loss. While some may be legitimate, exercise extreme caution when considering such tools. Always research the software thoroughly, read reviews, and understand the potential risks (like data security or malware) before installing and using them. Apple generally does not endorse or support these methods.
Conclusion
Removing the "Ignore Limit" option on your iPad gives you greater control over Screen Time, making it a more effective tool for managing device usage. By enabling "Block at End of Limit" for specific apps and categories, or by strategically using Downtime with "Block at Downtime," you can prevent easy circumvention of your set limits. Remember your Screen Time passcode is your key to these controls, and if forgotten, consider the Apple ID recovery option or, as a last resort, a full device erase with a backup.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to set a Screen Time passcode on my iPad?
To set a Screen Time passcode, go to Settings > Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode. Follow the prompts to enter a 4-digit passcode and confirm it. You'll also have the option to enter your Apple ID for passcode recovery.
How to change my existing Screen Time passcode?
Go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode, then tap "Change Screen Time Passcode" again. Enter your current passcode, then you'll be able to set a new one.
How to turn off Screen Time entirely on my iPad?
Navigate to Settings > Screen Time, scroll down to the bottom, and tap "Turn Off Screen Time" (or "Turn Off App & Website Activity"). You'll need to enter your Screen Time passcode to confirm.
How to add an app limit to an app category on iPad?
Go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits > Add Limit. Select the category (e.g., Social, Games) or individual apps, tap Next, set the desired time limit, and then tap Add.
How to remove an app limit for a specific app on iPad?
From Settings > Screen Time > App Limits, tap on the category or individual app you want to remove the limit for. Then, tap "Delete Limit" at the bottom of the screen. You'll need to enter your Screen Time passcode.
How to allow certain apps during Downtime on iPad?
In Settings > Screen Time, tap on "Always Allowed." Use the green plus signs next to apps to add them to the "Allowed Apps" list during Downtime, or the red minus signs to remove them.
How to check my child's Screen Time usage from my device?
If you're using Family Sharing, go to Settings > Screen Time, and under the "Family" section, tap on your child's name. You can then view their activity reports and manage their Screen Time settings.
How to request more time on a limited app as a child?
When an app limit is reached and "Block at End of Limit" is enabled, your child will see an "Ask for More Time" option. Tapping this sends a request to the family organizer's device for approval.
How to prevent my child from changing device settings via Screen Time?
In Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, ensure "Content & Privacy Restrictions" is turned on. Then, scroll down to the "Allow Changes To" section and set options like "Accounts," "Passcode Changes," and "Cellular Data Changes" to "Don't Allow."
How to recover a forgotten Screen Time passcode without Apple ID or erasing my device?
If you didn't set up Apple ID recovery for your Screen Time passcode, and you don't want to erase your device (which is the official Apple solution for a forgotten passcode without recovery options), your options become very limited. Some third-party tools claim to bypass this, but use them at your own risk as they are not supported by Apple and may compromise your device's security or data.
