Why did access disappear?

Someone turned it off in Settings, Screen Time, or the phone was restored from a backup, or Screen Time itself was switched off. Without access, iOS lifts everything Eclipsis set.

How do I stop it happening?

A Screen Time passcode you do not know, set by a friend, makes turning access off a conversation instead of a tap. For a child, Guardian mode with a Family Sharing child account lets the system refuse the change.

It is the daily window, not a fault.

If the time matches your unlock window, this is normal: the apps return for that hour and hide again when it ends.

Troubleshooting · iPhone · updated 2026-10-02

The locked apps
came back.

Outside the daily window, hidden apps only come back when Screen Time access is gone. Grant it again and the lock re-arms.

The Stats tab with an Enable Screen Time button

Open Stats. If it offers Enable Screen Time, access is off. Tap it.

Apple asks again. Continue.

Allow with Face ID. The lock re-applies on the next check, within a minute.

Get Eclipsis. Free on the App Store. The slowdown and Parent Mode are Eclipsis Pro.

Get the iPhone app

Questions

Why did access disappear?: Someone turned it off in Settings, Screen Time, or the phone was restored from a backup, or Screen Time itself was switched off. Without access, iOS lifts everything Eclipsis set.
How do I stop it happening?: A Screen Time passcode you do not know, set by a friend, makes turning access off a conversation instead of a tap. For a child, Guardian mode with a Family Sharing child account lets the system refuse the change.
It is the daily window, not a fault.: If the time matches your unlock window, this is normal: the apps return for that hour and hide again when it ends.

The locked appscame back.

Questions

More guides

The locked apps
came back.