Change your passcode through Settings on any iPhone

Open Settings, 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, then enter your new passcode twice to confirm it.

The new passcode takes effect when ready. You will use it the next time you unlock your phone or access Settings. If you forget the new passcode before you leave this screen, go back and change it again — there is no penalty for doing this while you are still in Settings.

If you have never set a passcode, the option will say Turn On Passcode instead of Change Passcode. The steps are the same from that point forward.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your passcode in Settings under Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode), not in a separate security app.
  • Your current passcode must be entered before you can set a new one, so you need to remember it to make the change.
  • A new passcode is active as soon as you confirm it and takes effect on your next unlock.
  • If you forget your current passcode, you will need to erase the phone and set it up again, which is why writing down a new passcode before you leave Settings is worth doing.

What to do if you forgot your current passcode

If you cannot remember your current passcode, 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 the iPhone and set it up again from scratch. This means losing any data that was not backed up to iCloud or another service.

To erase the phone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. You will be asked to enter your passcode or your Apple ID password. If you know your Apple ID password, you can use that instead. After the phone erases, you will set it up as a new device and create a new passcode during setup.

If you do not know your Apple ID password either, you will need to recover your Apple ID through Apple's account recovery process on a computer or another device. This can take several days. For this reason, storing your Apple ID password somewhere safe (like a password manager) is more useful than trying to remember it.

Choosing a passcode you can actually remember

A passcode that is too complicated to remember defeats the purpose — you will either write it down unsafely or reset it constantly. A practical approach is to use a six-digit number that means something to you but would not be obvious to someone who knows you (not a birthday, not a sequence like 123456, not your address). If you use a pattern you already use elsewhere, write it down in a password manager rather than trying to remember a completely new one.

If you want stronger security, you can set a custom alphanumeric passcode by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Change Passcode > Passcode Options and choosing Custom Alphanumeric Code. This allows letters and numbers mixed together. The tradeoff is that it is harder to type on the lock screen, especially if you are in a hurry or your hands are cold.

Why you might want to change your passcode regularly

If someone has seen you enter your passcode — at a coffee shop, in a store, or anywhere else — changing it removes the risk that they memorized it. You do not need to change it constantly, but doing it once or twice a year is a reasonable practice if you use your phone in public often.

You should also change your passcode when ready if you suspect someone knows it, if you have lent your phone to someone and later regretted it, or if you have used the same passcode on multiple devices and one of them was lost or stolen.

The difference between passcode and password on iPhone

Your passcode is the four- or six-digit code (or longer custom code) you enter to unlock your phone itself. Your Apple ID password is separate and controls access to your iCloud account, App Store, and other Apple services. Changing one does not change the other.

If someone gains access to your Apple ID password, they can change your passcode remotely, lock you out of your phone, or erase it. For this reason, your Apple ID password should be longer and more complex than your phone passcode, and you should store it in a password manager rather than trying to remember it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same passcode on multiple devices?

Yes, but it is not recommended. If one device is lost or stolen, someone could use the same passcode to unlock your other devices. Using different passcodes for each device means you only need to change the one that was compromised.

What happens if I enter the wrong passcode too many times?

After six failed attempts, you will see a message saying the device is disabled. After more attempts, the wait time increases — 1 minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, and then longer. If you keep failing, the phone will eventually require you to erase it and set it up again.

Do I need to change my passcode if I change my Apple ID password?

No. Your passcode and Apple ID password are separate. Changing one does not affect the other. You can change them independently whenever you want.

Can I set a passcode that is just numbers, or does it have to include letters?

A passcode can be numbers only. The default is six digits. You only need letters if you choose Custom Alphanumeric Code in Passcode Options, which is optional.