Change your iPad password through Settings

To change your iPad password, 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 and confirm your new one. The entire process takes about two minutes.

Your iPad password — technically called a passcode — is the numeric or alphanumeric code that unlocks your device. This is different from your Apple ID password, which you use to sign into the App Store and iCloud. Changing your device passcode does not change your Apple ID password, and vice versa.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode), and select Change Passcode to update your device unlock code.
  • You must enter your current passcode before you can create a new one, so have it ready.
  • A strong passcode is at least six digits long, though you can choose a longer numeric code or mix letters and numbers.
  • If you forget your new passcode after changing it, you will need to erase your iPad and set it up again using your Apple ID.

Step-by-step instructions for changing your passcode

Start by unlocking your iPad and opening the Settings app from your home screen. Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode if your iPad has facial recognition, or Touch ID & Passcode if it uses fingerprint recognition. On older iPads without either feature, look for Passcode in the main Settings menu.

When prompted, enter your current passcode. This confirms you have permission to change it. Once you've entered it correctly, tap Change Passcode at the top of the screen. Enter your current passcode one more time, then create your new passcode in the field that appears. Confirm your new passcode by entering it again, and you're done.

Choosing a strong passcode

By default, iPads require a six-digit numeric passcode. This is secure enough for most people, but you can make it stronger. When you reach the "New Passcode" screen, you'll see an option to Passcode Options — tap it to choose a different format.

Your choices are a six-digit numeric code (the default), a custom numeric code of any length, a four-digit numeric code (less secure), or an alphanumeric code that mixes letters and numbers. An alphanumeric passcode is the hardest to guess, but also the hardest to remember and type in quickly. A longer numeric code — say, eight or ten digits — offers a good balance between security and usability.

What to do if you forget your new passcode

If you change your passcode and then forget it, you cannot simply reset it from Settings. Instead, you'll need to erase your iPad completely and set it up again. This means losing all data stored on the device unless you have a backup.

To erase your iPad, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. You'll be asked to enter your passcode, your Apple ID password, or both — if you've forgotten your passcode, you can use your Apple ID credentials instead. After erasing, you can restore from a backup or set up as new. This is why writing down your new passcode somewhere safe, or storing it in a password manager, is worth doing before you forget it.

Difference between device passcode and Apple ID password

Your device passcode unlocks your physical iPad. Your Apple ID password signs you into Apple services like iCloud, the App Store, and Apple Music. They are separate and changing one does not affect the other.

If you need to change your Apple ID password instead, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password. You'll need to enter your current Apple ID password and then create a new one. Changing your Apple ID password will sign you out of all your Apple devices and services, and you'll need to sign back in with the new password.

Passcode vs. Face ID or Touch ID

Your passcode is a backup unlock method. If you've set up Face ID or Touch ID on your iPad, you can unlock it with your face or fingerprint most of the time. However, you still need a passcode for situations where facial or fingerprint recognition doesn't work — when your face is covered, your hands are wet, or after you restart your device.

Changing your passcode does not affect Face ID or Touch ID. Both methods will continue to work as before. If you want to turn off Face ID or Touch ID entirely, you can do so in the same Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode settings menu by toggling off the features you don't want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know my old passcode to change it?

Yes. When you tap Change Passcode, you'll be asked to enter your current passcode twice — once to verify you have permission to make changes, and once more before you create the new one. If you've forgotten your current passcode, you'll need to erase your iPad and set it up again using your Apple ID.

Will changing my passcode affect my Apple ID or iCloud account?

No. Your device passcode and your Apple ID password are completely separate. Changing one has no effect on the other. Your iCloud data, App Store purchases, and other Apple services will continue to work normally.

Can I use the same passcode I used before?

Yes, technically you can, though it defeats the purpose of changing it. If you're changing your passcode because you think someone knows it, choose something new that only you know.

What happens if I enter the wrong passcode too many times?

After six failed attempts, your iPad will disable passcode entry for one minute. After more failures, the wait time increases — eventually to hours. If you've locked yourself out completely, you'll need to erase your iPad and set it up again using your Apple ID or a computer with Finder.

Can I change my passcode from a computer?

No. You must change your device passcode directly on your iPad through Settings. You cannot do it remotely from a Mac, PC, or another device. However, you can use Find My iPad on iCloud.com to erase your iPad if you've forgotten the passcode entirely.