Change your passcode through Settings on your iPhone

Open Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models), then enter your current passcode. Tap "Change Passcode" at the top of the screen. You'll be asked to enter your current passcode again, then type your new passcode twice. That's it — your iPhone is now protected by the new code.

The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you use a four-digit PIN, six-digit PIN, or custom alphanumeric passcode. If you've forgotten your current passcode, you'll need to erase your iPhone and set it up again — there's no way around this, and it's by design. That's why changing your passcode while you still remember the old one matters.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your passcode in Settings under Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode), not in iCloud or Find My iPhone.
  • Your iPhone will ask you to enter your current passcode before letting you create a new one, so you need to remember it.
  • If you forget your passcode, your only option is to erase the iPhone completely and set it up from scratch.
  • A strong passcode is at least six digits; avoid birthdays, sequential numbers, or repeated digits like 1111.

Why you should change your passcode regularly

Your passcode is the first line of defense against someone accessing your photos, messages, payment methods, and passwords stored in Keychain. If you've used the same passcode for months or years, or if someone has watched you enter it, changing it closes that gap. You don't need to change it constantly — once or twice a year is reasonable — but do it if you suspect anyone has seen it.

Changing your passcode is also worth doing if you've recently given your iPhone to someone else to use (even briefly), if you've used it on a public Wi-Fi network, or if you're about to sell or give away the device. A fresh passcode ensures only you can unlock it.

The difference between a four-digit and six-digit passcode

By default, newer iPhones use a six-digit passcode. A six-digit code has one million possible combinations, compared to ten thousand for a four-digit code. That makes it significantly harder to guess or crack through brute force — a method where someone tries every possible combination.

If you want to use a four-digit passcode instead (for speed, if you unlock your phone many times a day), you can choose that when you set your new code. You can also create a custom alphanumeric passcode with letters and numbers, which is the strongest option but slower to enter. When you tap "Change Passcode," the screen will show you these options before you create your new code.

What happens if you forget your new passcode

If you enter the wrong passcode too many times, your iPhone will lock you out temporarily. After the first few wrong attempts, it waits 1 minute before letting you try again. After more attempts, the wait extends to 5 minutes, then 15 minutes, then 60 minutes. After 10 failed attempts, your iPhone erases itself completely.

If you forget your passcode before it locks you out, you have one option: erase the iPhone using Find My iPhone (if you set it up) or by connecting it to a computer with Finder or iTunes. You'll lose all data unless you have a backup. This is why writing down your passcode somewhere safe — not on a sticky note on your monitor, but in a password manager or a locked drawer — matters.

Using a password manager to store your passcode safely

Your iPhone passcode is different from your Apple ID password, and you should store it somewhere you can retrieve it if you forget. A password manager like 1Password, Bitwarden, or the built-in Passwords app on newer iPhones keeps your passcode encrypted and accessible only to you.

Write down your passcode in your password manager before you change it, or immediately after. If you use iCloud Keychain (Apple's built-in password storage), you can store it there too — it syncs across your devices and is encrypted end-to-end. The goal is to have a backup you can access from another device if you ever need it, without relying on memory alone.

Passcode versus Face ID and Touch ID

Your passcode is separate from Face ID or Touch ID. You can use all three at once: Face ID or Touch ID unlocks your phone most of the time, but your passcode is what you enter if your face or fingerprint isn't recognized, if you restart your phone, or if you haven't unlocked it in 48 hours. Changing your passcode doesn't affect Face ID or Touch ID — they continue to work as before.

If you want to turn off Face ID or Touch ID entirely, you can do that in the same Settings menu. But keeping your passcode strong matters regardless, because it's your fallback when biometric unlock isn't available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my passcode without knowing my current one?

No. To change your passcode, you must enter your current one first. If you've forgotten it, you'll need to erase your iPhone using Find My iPhone or a computer, then set it up again with a new passcode. This is intentional — it prevents someone else from changing your passcode without your knowledge.

Does changing my iPhone passcode affect my Apple ID password?

No, they're completely separate. Your Apple ID password is what you use to sign into iCloud, the App Store, and Apple services. Your iPhone passcode unlocks your device. You can change one without affecting the other.

What's the strongest type of passcode I can use?

A custom alphanumeric passcode with uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols is the strongest. It takes longer to enter each time you unlock your phone, so many people use a six-digit numeric code as a balance between security and convenience. Avoid birthdays, sequential numbers, or patterns like 123456.

If I change my passcode, will I lose my data?

No. Changing your passcode doesn't erase anything on your iPhone. Your photos, messages, apps, and settings all stay exactly as they are. Only forgetting your passcode and being forced to erase your phone results in data loss.

Can I use the same passcode on multiple devices?

Yes, but it's not recommended. Each device — your iPhone, iPad, Mac — has its own passcode or password. Using the same code on all of them means if someone learns one, they can access everything. Use different passcodes for each device, and store them in a password manager so you don't have to remember them all.