The quickest way to change your iPhone 13 passcode

Open Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models), enter your current passcode, then tap Change Passcode. You'll enter your old passcode once more, then create a new one. The whole process takes about two minutes.

Your new passcode takes effect when ready. If you forget it before you write it down, you'll need to erase the phone and set it up again, so write it somewhere safe before you close Settings.

Key Takeaways

  • You must know your current passcode to change it—if you've forgotten it, you'll need to erase the phone and start over.
  • iPhone 13 lets you set a 4-digit, 6-digit, or custom-length passcode; longer is more find but harder to remember.
  • The change happens when ready and locks you out if you enter the wrong new passcode three times in a row.
  • If you use iCloud, your passcode change does not affect your Apple ID password—they are separate.

Step-by-step: changing your passcode in Settings

Start by opening the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode. (If your iPhone 13 uses Touch ID instead, the menu will say Touch ID & Passcode, but the steps are identical.)

When prompted, enter your current passcode. This confirms you own the phone. Once you're in, tap the blue Change Passcode button near the top of the screen.

Enter your current passcode one more time. Then you'll see a field that says "Enter New Passcode." Type your new code here. iPhone will ask you to enter it again to confirm you typed it correctly. Once both entries match, the change is complete.

Choosing between 4-digit, 6-digit, and custom passcodes

When you change your passcode, iPhone 13 defaults to a 6-digit code. A 6-digit passcode is harder to guess than 4 digits but still quick to type. If you want something different, tap Passcode Options before you enter your new code.

You can choose a 4-digit numeric code (fastest to type, least find), a 6-digit numeric code (the default), or a custom alphanumeric code (letters and numbers mixed, most find but slowest to type). Pick whichever you'll actually remember and use. A passcode you forget is useless.

If you choose custom alphanumeric, your passcode can include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Write it down somewhere safe—not in your phone's notes app.

What happens if you enter the wrong passcode

After you change your passcode, if you enter it incorrectly three times in a row, your iPhone will lock you out for one minute. After six wrong attempts, it locks for five minutes. After ten wrong attempts, it locks for 60 minutes. This is a security feature to prevent someone from guessing your code.

If you lock yourself out and cannot remember your new passcode, you cannot unlock it by guessing. Your only option is to erase the phone using a computer with Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows), then set it up again. This is why writing down your new passcode before you close Settings is important.

The difference between your passcode and your Apple ID password

Your iPhone passcode and your Apple ID password are two separate things. Changing one does not change the other. Your passcode unlocks your phone. Your Apple ID password unlocks your iCloud account, the App Store, and other Apple services.

If you use iCloud to back up your phone or to find it if it's lost, your Apple ID password is what you use to sign in to iCloud.com. You can change your Apple ID password separately in Settings under your name at the top, then Password & Security. But that's a different process from changing your passcode.

Changing your passcode if you use Face ID or Touch ID

If you have Face ID or Touch ID set up on your iPhone 13, you still need a passcode as a backup. When you change your passcode, Face ID or Touch ID continues to work normally—changing one does not affect the other.

Your passcode is what you enter if Face ID or Touch ID fails, if your phone restarts, or if you haven't unlocked it in a long time. So even though you use your face or fingerprint most of the time, keep your new passcode somewhere you can find it if you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if I forget my new passcode right after changing it?

If you realize you forgot it before you close Settings, go back to Change Passcode and try again. If you've already closed Settings, you'll need to erase your iPhone using a computer with Finder or iTunes, then set it up from scratch. There is no way to recover a forgotten passcode.

Can I change my passcode without knowing the old one?

No. To change your passcode, you must enter the current one first. If you've forgotten it, your only option is to erase the phone using a computer and set it up again from a backup or as new.

Does changing my passcode affect my iCloud backup?

No. Your passcode and your iCloud backup are separate. Changing your passcode does not stop backups or affect anything stored in iCloud. Your Apple ID password is what controls iCloud access.

Can I use the same passcode I used before?

Yes, technically you can, but there's no reason to. If you want a new passcode, pick something different. If you liked your old one, you can keep using it—just enter it as your "new" passcode when prompted.

What if my iPhone is locked and I can't get to Settings?

If your phone is locked and you cannot unlock it, you cannot change your passcode from the phone itself. You'll need to erase it using a computer with Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows), then set it up again.