Make your iOS Screen Time limits unbypassable
WaitToUnlock guides you to set an iOS Screen Time passcode you can't remember, so you can't just tap "Ignore Limit" and bypass it.
Free forever. One-time payment for longer wait times, no subscription.
How WaitToUnlock works
Screen Time can limit apps, schedule downtime and block porn. WaitToUnlock is just a website that locks it with a passcode you can't remember.
Lock Screen Time settings
On your iPhone, open Settings > Screen Time and set up your App Limits and Downtime, then scroll down and tap Lock Screen Time Settings.
Set a passcode you won't remember
We generate a random passcode and walk you through entering it in a way that is too confusing to remember.
"Ignore Limit" now asks for a passcode you don't know
Without the passcode, your limits can't be turned off. If you genuinely need it back, you wait out the timer you chose.
Close the loophole in Screen Time
Unlike Opal, Screen Time can't be uninstalled. WaitToUnlock closes its one loophole: you know the passcode.
Avoid expensive third-party blockers
Apps like Opal charge a yearly subscription, but can simply be uninstalled. Screen Time is free, built into iOS, and can't be deleted the way a downloaded blocker can.
Stop doomscrolling
Set App Limits on Instagram, TikTok, X, or your browser at the OS level. When the limit hits, "Ignore Limit" is off the table because you don't know the passcode.
Quit porn
Screen Time can restrict adult websites at the OS level, no separate blocker needed. See the full iPhone porn blocker setup.
Cut down on gaming
Cap your daily time in mobile games at the OS level. Once the limit hits, getting back in means requesting a reveal and waiting out the timer, not tapping one button.
What people say
The guided passcode entry is genius
It's so simple. It's just a website. It generates a random Screen Time passcode, then walks you through entering it: tap these digits, delete them, tap more, delete again. By the end, you've entered the passcode without knowing what it is. Then it stores it safely and makes you wait hours before you can get it back. It just works.
Fixes the one loophole iOS Screen Time has
You don't need another app. Screen Time already does everything. The only problem is you know the passcode. Apple will never change that because adults need to stay in control of their own phones, which is fair. WaitToUnlock closes that loophole.
My wife doesn't have to set my passcode anymore
I used to have my wife set my Screen Time passcode so I couldn't override my limits. It worked, but I'd constantly ask her to unlock it. WaitToUnlock gives me the same result without putting her in the middle.
Frequently asked questions
How can I set a passcode without knowing it?
WaitToUnlock generates a random passcode and walks you through typing it into your iPhone one step at a time. Along the way it has you enter extra digits and delete them again, so by the end you've set the passcode without ever seeing it in full.
Why not just ask a friend to set the passcode?
That works, and plenty of people start that way. But you have to ask them every time you want to change a limit, they have to be around when you do, and a friend can be talked into handing it over early. WaitToUnlock gives you the same result without putting anyone in the middle.
Why not just use Opal?
Opal is a well-made app, and it runs on Screen Time too. You can delete it, or change its settings, in about a minute. WaitToUnlock locks Screen Time itself, which is built into iOS and can't be deleted. Opal Pro also costs $99.99 a year, while WaitToUnlock is free, with an optional one-time upgrade.
Why should I trust WaitToUnlock with my Screen Time passcode?
The passcode is a random code WaitToUnlock generates, and it only controls Screen Time on your own iPhone. It isn't your phone's unlock code or your Apple Account password, and it's useless to anyone without your phone in their hand. It's encrypted before it's stored and only decrypted when you request it after your wait.
Is my passcode safe, and what if WaitToUnlock goes down?
Your passcode is encrypted before it's stored and is only decrypted when you request it after your wait. WaitToUnlock runs on Google Cloud and Vercel, the same infrastructure some of the biggest companies in the world rely on, and your encrypted passcode is copied across multiple data centers. WaitToUnlock has never had an outage (see our uptime history), and if one ever happens, your passcode stays stored and your timer keeps running. How we protect your passcode.
What data do you keep about me?
Only your email address and your encrypted passcode. Nothing is sold or shared for advertising, the app is hosted in the EU, and you can delete your account and all of your data at any time. Your data is handled under GDPR and UK GDPR. Privacy Policy.
Is this truly unbypassable?
For everyday limits, yes: without the passcode, "Ignore Limit" and your Screen Time settings stay locked until your wait ends. iOS also has a passcode recovery option linked to your Apple Account. For people who want that closed too, Complete Lockout, included with Lifetime, locks it away with the same wait. How Complete Lockout works.
Who's behind WaitToUnlock?
WaitToUnlock is built and run by Dan, a data scientist in London who made it to stop tapping "Ignore Limit" himself. It's independent and self-funded, with no ads, and it makes money only from the optional one-time upgrade. Every email to hello@waittounlock.com goes straight to him.
Is it free?
Yes, and you can get a lot out of the free version: one passcode with waits of up to 1 hour, which is enough to stop you giving in on impulse. If you want more, there's an optional one-time upgrade to Lifetime for $29.99, with no subscription. It adds waits from 6 hours to 30 days, up to 4 passcodes and Complete Lockout, and comes with a 30-day refund promise.
Ready to make Screen Time actually stick?
Set a passcode you won't remember, and let the timer keep you honest. It takes about a minute.
Get Started - it's free
