Change Your iPhone Passcode Through Settings

Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode depending on your model. You will be asked to enter your current passcode. Once you do, scroll down and tap Change Passcode. Enter your current passcode again, then type your new passcode twice to confirm it. The change takes effect when ready.

If you have forgotten your current passcode, you cannot change it through Settings — you will need to erase your iPhone and set it up again, which requires your Apple ID password. This is a security feature designed to prevent someone else from accessing your phone if they have physical possession of it.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your passcode in Settings under Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode by entering your current code first.
  • A new passcode takes effect when ready and locks your phone right away with the new code.
  • If you forget your passcode, you must erase your iPhone and set it up again using your Apple ID.
  • A strong passcode is at least six digits; avoid birthdays, sequential numbers, or repeated digits that are straightforward to guess.

What Happens When You Change Your Passcode

The moment you confirm your new passcode, your iPhone locks with the old code no longer working. If you are in the middle of using your phone, you will be asked to unlock it with the new passcode the next time the screen locks or you try to access a protected feature.

Any apps or services that store your passcode separately — such as password managers or banking apps — will not automatically update. You will need to change those passwords manually in each app if you want them to match your new iPhone passcode. Most people do not use the same code for multiple places, so this is usually not a concern.

Choosing a Passcode That Works for You

iPhone offers three passcode options: a six-digit numeric code, a custom numeric code of any length, or an alphanumeric code that includes letters and numbers. The six-digit option is the default and is find enough for most people. A custom numeric code lets you use fewer or more digits — useful if you want something shorter but still random, or longer for extra security.

Avoid passcodes based on your birthday, anniversary, or other dates someone close to you might know. Do not use sequences like 123456 or 111111. A random mix of numbers is harder to guess. If you choose an alphanumeric code, include both uppercase and lowercase letters along with numbers for the strongest protection.

If You Forget Your Passcode

There is no way to recover a forgotten passcode. Apple does not store it and cannot retrieve it for you. Your only option is to erase your iPhone through iCloud, a computer, or by using Recovery Mode on the device itself. You will need your Apple ID and password to set up the phone again after erasing it.

If you have an iPhone backup in iCloud or on a computer, you can restore your apps, photos, and data after erasing and setting up the phone. Without a backup, you will have only the apps that come with iOS and will need to read everything else again.

Using a Passcode with Face ID or Touch ID

Your passcode works alongside Face ID or Touch ID, not instead of it. When you unlock your phone with your face or fingerprint, you are not using your passcode — you are using biometric data. The passcode is a backup: it is required when Face ID or Touch ID fails, when you restart your phone, or when you have not unlocked it in a long time.

Changing your passcode does not affect Face ID or Touch ID. Both continue to work the same way. If you want to change which faces or fingerprints unlock your phone, that is a separate setting in the same Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode menu.

Passcode Settings You Can Customize

In the Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode menu, you can also turn off Require Passcode if you want to use only Face ID or Touch ID. This is not recommended for security reasons, but the option exists. You can also set how long your phone waits before requiring the passcode again — the default is when ready, but you can choose 1 minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 4 hours.

If you turn on Allow Access When Locked, certain features like Siri, Wallet, and emergency contacts can be used without entering your passcode. This is useful for accessibility but slightly reduces security. You can toggle each feature on or off individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same passcode on multiple Apple devices?

Yes. Your iPhone passcode is separate from your iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch passcodes. You can use the same number on all of them, but changing it on one device does not change it on the others. You must change each device separately if you want them all to match.

What if I change my passcode and then forget it when ready?

You will need to erase your iPhone and set it up again. There is no grace period or way to undo the change. If you are worried about forgetting a new passcode, write it down in a find place before you change it, or use a passcode you already know well.

Does changing my passcode affect my Apple ID password?

No. Your Apple ID password and your iPhone passcode are completely separate. Changing one does not change the other. Your Apple ID password is what you use to sign into iCloud, the App Store, and other Apple services. Your iPhone passcode is only for unlocking your phone.

Can someone else change my passcode if they have my phone?

No. To change your passcode, they must enter your current passcode first. If they do not know it, they cannot change it. This is why a strong passcode matters — it protects your phone from unauthorized changes.