Change your passcode through Settings

Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models). You will be asked 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 it, then enter your new passcode twice — once to set it, once to verify. Your new passcode takes effect immediately. If you forget it before you leave this screen, you can tap Change Passcode again and start over.

The entire process takes about one minute. You do not need to restart your phone or sign out of anything.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your passcode in Settings under Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode), not in a separate security menu.
  • You must enter your current passcode twice during the process — once to access the change screen, once to confirm before setting the new one.
  • Your new passcode works immediately and does not require a restart or sign-out.
  • If you forget your current passcode before finishing, you can start the change process over without losing access to your phone.
  • If you have forgotten your passcode and cannot change it, you will need to erase and set up your iPhone again using a computer or another device.

What happens if you forget your current passcode

If you cannot remember your current passcode and have not written it down, you cannot change it through Settings — the system will not let you proceed without entering the old one first. Your only option is to erase your iPhone and set it up again.

To erase your phone, you can use a Mac or Windows computer with Finder or iTunes, or you can use another iPhone or iPad with the Find My app. If you do not have access to another device, you can also erase your iPhone at an Apple Store. After erasing, you will set up your phone as new or restore from a backup, and you can create a new passcode at that time.

Passcode length and character types

By default, iPhone passcodes are six digits long. When you change your passcode, you can keep a six-digit code, switch to a four-digit code, or create a custom passcode using numbers, letters, and symbols.

To use a custom passcode instead of digits only, tap Passcode Options before you enter your new code. The longer and more varied your passcode, the harder it is to guess, but you will need to remember it or write it down somewhere safe.

Passcode versus Face ID and Touch ID

Your passcode is separate from Face ID or Touch ID. Changing your passcode does not affect your fingerprint or face recognition — those continue to work as before. However, your passcode is the backup: if Face ID or Touch ID fails or is turned off, you will need your passcode to unlock your phone.

If you want to turn off Face ID or Touch ID entirely and use only a passcode, you can do that in the same Settings screen where you change your passcode. Tap the toggle next to Face ID or Touch ID to turn it off. Your passcode will still work.

When your passcode syncs across devices

Your iPhone passcode is unique to that device — it does not sync to your iPad, Mac, or other Apple devices. If you have multiple iPhones, each one has its own separate passcode, and you can change them independently.

However, if you use iCloud Keychain to store passwords and other sensitive information, that data is encrypted using your passcode as part of the security chain. Changing your passcode does not lock you out of iCloud Keychain, but it does mean you may be asked to sign in again on other devices the next time you try to access stored passwords.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. The Settings app requires you to enter your current passcode before you can change it. If you have forgotten it, you cannot change it through Settings — you will need to erase your iPhone and set it up again.

Will changing my passcode log me out of apps or services?

No. Changing your passcode does not sign you out of any apps, email accounts, or services. Your apps and accounts remain logged in. However, some services may ask you to sign in again the next time you try to access sensitive features like payment information.

Can I use the same passcode on multiple iPhones?

Yes, you can use the same passcode on multiple iPhones if you want to. Each phone's passcode is set independently, so you can make them the same or different. Using the same passcode on multiple devices makes them easier to remember but less secure if one device is lost.

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

If you forget your new passcode immediately after changing it, you can go back to Settings and try the change process again — but you will need to enter the new passcode you just created. If you cannot remember it, you will need to erase your iPhone.

Does changing my passcode affect my Apple ID password?

No. Your iPhone passcode and your Apple ID password are completely separate. Changing one does not change the other. Your Apple ID password is what you use to sign in to iCloud, the App Store, and other Apple services across all your devices.