Change your passcode through Settings on any iPhone

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 passcode is the numeric or alphanumeric code that unlocks your phone when Face ID or Touch ID fails — or when you restart your device. Changing it regularly, or whenever you think someone may have seen you enter it, reduces the window of time a person could use an old code to access your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • You need your current passcode to change it; if you've forgotten it, you'll have to erase and set up your iPhone again.
  • A strong passcode is at least six digits long, and a custom alphanumeric code (letters and numbers mixed) is harder to guess than numbers alone.
  • After you change your passcode, your phone will ask you to enter the new one before you can use it again.
  • If you use iCloud Keychain, your passwords stored in Safari will still work after you change your device passcode.

Step-by-step: changing your passcode

Step 1: Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Face ID & Passcode (iPhone X and later) or Touch ID & Passcode (iPhone 8 and earlier). Tap it.

Step 2: At the top of the screen, tap Change Passcode. Your phone will ask you to enter your current passcode. Type it in.

Step 3: Enter your new passcode twice — once to set it, and once to confirm. If you want a code longer than six digits or one that includes letters, tap Passcode Options before entering your new code and choose Custom Alphanumeric Code or Custom Numeric Code.

Step 4: Tap Done. Your phone will return to the Face ID & Passcode screen. Your new passcode is now active.

Why you might want a longer or more complex passcode

By default, iPhone offers a six-digit numeric passcode. A six-digit code has one million possible combinations, which sounds like a lot until you consider that someone with physical access to your phone can attempt many codes in a short time before the phone locks them out temporarily.

A custom alphanumeric code — one that mixes letters, numbers, and symbols — has billions of possible combinations. If you store sensitive information on your phone (banking apps, health records, work email), a longer or more complex passcode makes it much harder for someone who steals or borrows your phone to break in, even if they have time to try many codes.

The trade-off is that you'll type it more often if you restart your phone or if Face ID or Touch ID fails. Most people find a six-digit code is a reasonable balance between security and convenience, but the choice is yours.

What happens if you forget your passcode

If you can't remember your current passcode, you cannot change it through Settings — you'll need to erase your iPhone and set it up again. This means all data on the phone will be deleted unless you have a backup in iCloud or on a computer.

To erase your iPhone without the passcode, you can use Find My iPhone (if you know your Apple ID password) or take your phone to an Apple Store. Both routes will wipe the device, so you'll need a backup to restore your data afterward. This is why keeping a recent backup is important: if you ever lock yourself out, you can restore everything except the data created after your last backup.

Passcode versus Face ID and Touch ID

Your passcode is a backup to Face ID or Touch ID — it's what you enter when your face or fingerprint isn't recognized, when you restart your phone, or when you haven't unlocked it in a long time. You cannot disable your passcode entirely on modern iPhones; it's a required security layer.

If you want to make unlocking faster in everyday use, you can keep your passcode simple and rely on Face ID or Touch ID for most unlocks. But if someone steals your phone, they'll eventually be locked out of Face ID or Touch ID and forced to enter your passcode. A strong passcode is your last line of defense.

Changing your passcode on a family member's iPhone

If you're setting up an iPhone for a child or an older adult, you can set an initial passcode during setup. To change it later, you'll need to know the current passcode — there's no way around this without erasing the phone.

If the person using the phone forgets their passcode, you cannot change it remotely or bypass it. You'll need to erase the device using Find My iPhone (if you're the family organizer and the phone is linked to your account) or visit an Apple Store with proof of ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a passcode with just letters, no numbers?

No. iPhone requires at least one number in any passcode. You can choose Custom Alphanumeric Code to mix letters and numbers, but you cannot use letters alone.

Will changing my passcode affect my stored passwords or payment methods?

No. Your passcode unlocks your phone; it doesn't unlock your apps or accounts. Passwords stored in Safari, payment methods in Apple Pay, and login credentials in individual apps remain unchanged. You'll still need to enter those passwords separately when you use those services.

How often should I change my passcode?

There's no fixed rule. Change it if you think someone saw you enter it, if you've lent your phone to someone, or if you haven't changed it in several months. If your phone is always with you and you're the only one who uses it, changing it every few months is reasonable.

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

You'll need to erase your iPhone and set it up again. This is why it's helpful to write down a new passcode somewhere safe (not on a sticky note on your desk) and test it a few times before you rely on it.

Can I set a passcode that's the same as my Apple ID password?

Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Your Apple ID password and your device passcode protect different things — your account versus your phone. Using the same code for both means anyone who learns one has access to both. Keep them separate.