Change Your iPhone Passcode Through Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone, then tap Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode depending on your model. You'll see a prompt asking you to enter your current passcode. After you do, tap Change Passcode at the top of the screen. Enter your current passcode one more time to confirm, then type your new passcode twice — once to set it, once to verify it matches. Your new passcode is active when ready.

If you've forgotten your current passcode, you cannot change it through Settings. Instead, you'll need to erase your iPhone and set it up again, which requires your Apple ID and password. This process takes longer but is the only way forward if you're locked out.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your passcode anytime by opening Settings, tapping Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode, and selecting Change Passcode.
  • You must enter your current passcode correctly before you can set a new one.
  • Your new passcode takes effect as soon as you finish entering it — there is no waiting period or confirmation email.
  • If you forget your current passcode, you will need to erase your iPhone and restore it using your Apple ID instead of changing the passcode.

What Happens When You Change Your Passcode

The moment you complete the change, your old passcode stops working. Your iPhone will ask for the new passcode the next time it locks or the next time you try to access Face ID or Touch ID settings. Any saved passwords in your keychain, banking apps, or other services remain unchanged — your passcode only unlocks your phone itself, not individual accounts.

If you use iCloud Keychain to sync passwords across your devices, changing your iPhone passcode does not affect that sync. Your Mac, iPad, or other Apple devices keep their own passcodes separate from your iPhone.

Choosing a Strong New Passcode

By default, iPhone requires a six-digit numeric passcode. You can make it longer or add letters and symbols if you want more security. To do this, when you reach the "Enter new passcode" screen, look for Passcode Options at the bottom and tap it. Choose Custom Alphanumeric Code for letters and numbers, Custom Numeric Code for a longer number-only code, or keep the default six-digit option.

A longer or mixed passcode is harder to guess, but you'll need to remember it or write it down somewhere safe. If you use a very long code, consider whether you're willing to type it every time your phone locks.

If You're Locked Out of Your Passcode

If you've entered the wrong passcode too many times, your iPhone will lock you out temporarily. After the first few wrong attempts, you'll see a message saying "iPhone is disabled." The wait time starts at one minute and doubles with each failed attempt — so after several tries, you may be locked out for 60 minutes or longer.

If you reach the point where your iPhone says "iPhone is disabled — try again in 60 minutes" or longer, you cannot change your passcode without erasing the phone. At that point, your only option is to use Find My iPhone (through iCloud.com or another Apple device) to erase it remotely, then set it up again with your Apple ID.

Changing Your Passcode on Older iPhone Models

The steps are the same on all iPhone models running iOS 16 or later. If you have an older iPhone running iOS 15 or earlier, the path is slightly different: open Settings, tap Security, then Passcode, and select Change Passcode. The rest of the process — entering your old code, then your new code twice — works the same way.

You can check your iOS version by opening Settings, tapping General, then About. Look for the number next to "Software Version."

Syncing Your Passcode Across Devices

Your iPhone passcode is separate from your iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch passcodes. Changing one does not change the others. If you want all your devices to have the same passcode, you'll need to change each one individually by following the same steps on that device.

Your Apple ID password is also separate from your device passcode. If you want to change the password you use to sign into your Apple account (for iCloud, the App Store, or other services), you'll do that through Settings by tapping your name at the top, then Password & Security, then Change Password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my passcode without knowing the old one?

No. If you've forgotten your current passcode, you cannot change it through Settings. You'll need to erase your iPhone using Find My iPhone or a computer, then set it up again with your Apple ID and password. This is a security feature to prevent someone else from changing your passcode without permission.

Will changing my passcode affect my Face ID or Touch ID?

No. Face ID and Touch ID are separate from your passcode. Changing your passcode does not turn off biometric unlock or require you to re-enroll your face or fingerprint. Your iPhone will still use Face ID or Touch ID first, and ask for your passcode only if biometric unlock fails or you request it.

How long does it take for a new passcode to work?

when ready. As soon as you finish entering your new passcode twice and tap the confirmation button, it's active. Your old passcode stops working right away, and your iPhone will ask for the new one the next time it locks.

What if I change my passcode and then forget the new one?

You'll need to erase your iPhone and set it up again using your Apple ID. There is no way to recover a forgotten passcode — Apple does not store it and cannot retrieve it for you. Write down your new passcode or store it in a password manager before you forget it.

Can I use the same passcode on my iPhone and iPad?

Yes, but you have to set them separately. Changing your iPhone passcode does not automatically change your iPad passcode. If you want them to match, change each device individually by following the same steps on that device.