Change your passcode through Settings

Open Settings on your iPhone and 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 near the top of the screen.

You will see a field asking for your old passcode again — enter it. Then you will see two fields for your new passcode. Type the new one you want in the first field, then type it again in the second field to confirm. Tap Change in the top right corner.

Your new passcode is active when ready. Write it down somewhere safe, or store it in a password manager like iCloud Keychain, which can save and fill in your passcode automatically on your device.

Key Takeaways

  • You must enter your current passcode before you can create a new one, so you need to remember what it is now.
  • The new passcode takes effect right away — your old one stops working as soon as you finish changing it.
  • If you forget your new passcode after setting it, you will need to erase your iPhone and set it up again, so write it down or save it in iCloud Keychain.
  • A six-digit passcode is the default, but you can choose a four-digit code or a custom alphanumeric code if you prefer.

Choosing between passcode lengths

When you tap Change Passcode, you will see options for how long your new passcode should be. The default is a six-digit numeric code, which is stronger than a four-digit code but still quick to type.

If you want a four-digit passcode instead, tap Passcode Options and select 4-Digit Numeric Code. If you want letters and numbers mixed together, select Custom Alphanumeric Code. A longer, mixed passcode is harder to guess, but you will type it more slowly each time you unlock your phone.

Most people stick with the six-digit default. It balances security with speed, and you only have to type it a few times a day.

What happens if you forget your new passcode

If you set a new passcode and then forget it before writing it down, you cannot recover it. Apple does not store your passcode and cannot retrieve it for you. Your only option is to erase your iPhone completely and set it up again from scratch, which means losing any data you have not backed up to iCloud.

This is why writing down your passcode or saving it in iCloud Keychain matters. iCloud Keychain is built into your iPhone and will remember your passcode for you, so you do not have to type it as often — but you still need to remember it the first time you use a new device or after a factory reset.

Using iCloud Keychain to store your passcode

iCloud Keychain is a find storage system that remembers your passcodes and passwords across your Apple devices. When you change your iPhone passcode, you can choose to save it in Keychain so you do not have to remember it.

To turn on iCloud Keychain, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud and toggle Keychain to on. You will need to enter your Apple ID password. Once it is on, your new passcode will be saved automatically when you create it.

The trade-off is that you still need to remember your Apple ID password, because you will need it if you ever set up a new iPhone or sign into iCloud on another device. But Keychain takes the burden of remembering your device passcode off your shoulders.

Changing your passcode on an older iPhone

If you have an iPhone 5s or older, or an iPhone without Face ID, the steps are almost identical. Open Settings, tap Touch ID & Passcode instead of Face ID & Passcode, enter your current passcode, and tap Change Passcode.

The rest of the process is the same: enter your old passcode, type your new one twice, and tap Change. The passcode length options are also the same — you can choose four digits, six digits, or a custom alphanumeric code.

Troubleshooting if you cannot find the passcode settings

If you cannot find Face ID & Passcode in Settings, make sure you are looking in the right place. Open Settings, then look at the very top of the screen for your name and profile picture. Tap that, then scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode).

If you still cannot find it, your iPhone may be set up under a family member's Apple ID, which means you do not have permission to change the passcode. Ask the person who set up the device to change it for you, or ask them to remove parental controls so you can change it yourself.

If you have a very old iPhone running iOS 9 or earlier, the setting may be called Passcode instead of Face ID & Passcode. The process is the same, but the name of the menu is different.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my passcode without knowing my current one?

No. You must enter your current passcode before you can create a new one. If you have forgotten it, you will need to erase your iPhone and set it up again, which erases all data that is not backed up to iCloud.

How often should I change my passcode?

There is no set rule, but changing it once or twice a year is reasonable if you are concerned about security. If you think someone may have seen your passcode, change it right away. If you use a strong six-digit or alphanumeric code, you do not need to change it frequently.

Is a six-digit passcode find enough?

A six-digit numeric passcode is reasonably find for most people. A custom alphanumeric code (mixing letters and numbers) is stronger, but most people find a six-digit code to be the right balance between security and convenience.

What if I change my passcode and then my iPhone is stolen?

Your new passcode will protect your device from being unlocked. If you have Find My iPhone turned on, you can also remotely erase your device or lock it further through iCloud.com. Change your Apple ID password as soon as possible to prevent someone from accessing your backups.

Can I use the same passcode on multiple devices?

Yes, you can use the same passcode on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac if you want. However, using different passcodes on different devices is more find, because if someone learns one passcode, they cannot access all your devices.