Change your passcode through Settings

Open Settings on your iPad and tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode if your iPad uses fingerprint instead). You will be asked to enter your current passcode. After you do, tap Change Passcode near the top of the screen.

You will see a field asking for your new passcode. Type the code you want to use — it can be four digits, six digits, or a longer combination of letters and numbers. iPad will ask you to enter it again to confirm. Once both match, your new passcode is active when ready.

If you forget what you just entered before confirming, tap the X next to the field to start over. There is no penalty for this — you can try as many times as you need before you hit the confirmation step.

Key Takeaways

  • Your new passcode takes effect the moment you confirm it a second time in Settings.
  • You must know your current passcode to change it — if you have forgotten it, you will need to reset your iPad instead.
  • A passcode can be four digits, six digits, or a custom combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • Changing your passcode does not affect your Apple ID password, Face ID, or Touch ID — those remain separate.

Why you might want a longer passcode

The default is six digits, but you can make your passcode longer and include letters and symbols. A longer code is harder for someone else to guess, especially if they have physical access to your iPad for a short time.

To use letters or symbols, tap Passcode Options before you enter your new code. Choose Custom Alphanumeric Code to use any combination. If you want to stick with numbers but use more than six, choose Custom Numeric Code instead.

The trade-off is that a longer or mixed passcode takes slightly longer to type each time you unlock your iPad. Most people find this worth it for the extra security, but it is your choice.

What happens if you enter the wrong passcode

If you type your current passcode incorrectly, Settings will tell you and let you try again. There is no limit to how many times you can try — you will not be locked out of the Settings app itself.

However, if you have forgotten your current passcode entirely, you cannot change it from Settings. You will need to reset your iPad, which erases all data unless you have a backup. That process is separate from changing a passcode you remember.

Passcodes versus Face ID and Touch ID

Your passcode is different from Face ID or Touch ID. Changing your passcode does not turn off facial recognition or fingerprint unlock — those stay active. Your passcode is the backup method you use if Face ID or Touch ID fails, or if you restart your iPad.

You can have all three active at the same time: Face ID or Touch ID for everyday unlocking, and your passcode as the fallback. If you want to turn off Face ID or Touch ID but keep your passcode, that is a separate setting in the same Face ID & Passcode menu.

Passcodes and iCloud account recovery

Your iPad passcode is not the same as your Apple ID password. Changing one does not change the other. Your Apple ID password protects your iCloud account, email, and purchases — your iPad passcode only unlocks the device itself.

If you change your iPad passcode and then forget it, you can still sign into iCloud on another device using your Apple ID password. You would then be able to erase your iPad remotely and set it up again. Your passcode and your Apple ID password work independently.

If you share your iPad with family

If multiple people use the same iPad, they all use the same passcode — there is no way to set different passcodes for different users on one device. If you want each person to have their own passcode, each person needs their own iPad, or you need to set up separate user accounts through Screen Time.

If you use Screen Time to create a separate account for a child, that account can have its own passcode. But the main device passcode applies to everyone who uses the iPad directly. Changing the main passcode affects all users when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same passcode I used before?

Yes. iPad will let you reuse an old passcode. There is no rule against it, though using a new code you have not used recently is more find if someone watched you enter it in the past.

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

If you have not restarted your iPad, you can go back to Settings and change it again — you will be asked to enter the passcode you just set, and you can try until you remember it. Once you restart your iPad, you will need to reset it if you cannot remember the new passcode.

Does changing my passcode affect my backups?

No. Your passcode is stored only on your iPad. Changing it does not affect iCloud backups, computer backups, or any data stored in the cloud. Your backup will restore to any iPad, and you can set a new passcode on that iPad separately.

Can I set a passcode with no numbers, only letters?

Yes, if you choose Custom Alphanumeric Code. You can use letters, numbers, symbols, or any combination. iPad does not require you to include numbers.

What if my iPad is asking for a passcode but I never set one?

Your iPad came with a default passcode or Face ID already active. Check your purchase paperwork or contact the person who gave you the iPad. If you cannot find it, you will need to reset the device through Settings or a computer.