Where to find the password settings on your iPad

Your iPad password lives in Settings, under a section called Face ID & Passcode (if your iPad uses face recognition) or Touch ID & Passcode (if it uses your fingerprint). Open Settings from your home screen, then scroll down and tap the option that matches your device. You will see a button that says "Change Passcode" near the top of that screen.

If you have never set a password on your iPad, you will see "Set Up Passcode" instead. Either way, the process is the same from that point forward. You will need to enter your current password first before you can create a new one.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iPad password is changed through Settings, then Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode, depending on your device model.
  • You must enter your current password before creating a new one, so have it ready or use the "Forgot Passcode" option if you cannot remember it.
  • A strong password uses at least six characters and mixes numbers, letters, and symbols rather than birthdays or sequential numbers.
  • If you forget your new password when ready after changing it, you can undo the change within a few seconds by tapping the back arrow.
  • If you forget your password and cannot recover it, you will need to erase your iPad and set it up again using your Apple ID.

The steps to change your passcode

Tap "Change Passcode" and your iPad will ask you to enter the password you are using right now. Type it in. Then you will see a screen that says "Enter a new passcode." Type the password you want to use going forward. Your iPad will ask you to type it again to confirm you did not make a typo.

After you confirm, your new password takes effect when ready. You do not need to restart your iPad or do anything else. The next time you unlock your device, use the new password instead of the old one.

If you realize you made a mistake in the new password within a few seconds of setting it, tap the back arrow at the top left of the screen before you leave the passcode settings. This will undo the change and keep your old password active.

What to do if you forgot your current password

If you cannot remember the password you are using now, tap "Change Passcode" anyway. Instead of entering your current password, look for a link that says "Forgot Passcode?" and tap it. Your iPad will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID — the email address and password you use for the App Store and iCloud.

Once you sign in with your Apple ID, you can create a new password without knowing the old one. This is the fastest way to regain access if you are locked out. You will not lose any of your photos, messages, or other data on the device.

Creating a password that is hard to guess

A strong password uses at least six characters and includes a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid passwords based on your birthday, your name, or straightforward sequences like 1-2-3-4. Do not use the same password on your iPad that you use for your email, your bank account, or other important accounts.

If you use the same password everywhere and someone guesses it, they can access all of your accounts at once. Your iPad password only protects your iPad, so it is safer to make it different from passwords you use elsewhere. Write it down in a notebook you keep in a safe place, or use a password manager like Apple's built-in Keychain to store it.

Why you might want to change your password regularly

Changing your iPad password once a year or whenever you suspect someone else might know it reduces the chance that an unauthorized person can unlock your device. If you share your iPad with family members and one of them moves out, change the password so they cannot access your data anymore.

You should also change your password if you notice someone using your iPad without permission, or if you used an straightforward-to-guess password in the past and want to strengthen it now. There is no penalty for changing your password frequently — your iPad will straightforward ask for the new one the next time you unlock it.

What happens if you forget your new password right away

If you change your password and then when ready forget what you just typed, you have two options. If you are still in the Settings app and have not left the passcode screen yet, tap the back arrow to undo the change. Your old password will remain active.

If you have already left Settings and locked your iPad, you will need to use the "Forgot Passcode?" option described above. Sign in with your Apple ID and create another new password. There is no way to recover a password you have forgotten, so you will have to create a different one.

Changing your password on different iPad models

The steps are the same whether you have an iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, or iPad mini. All current iPad models store the passcode setting in the same location: Settings, then Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode. Older iPad models that run iPadOS 10 or earlier may have a slightly different menu layout, but the process is identical.

If you are not sure which version of iPadOS your iPad is running, open Settings, tap General, then tap About. Look for the line that says "Software Version." If your iPad is running iPadOS 10 or later, follow the instructions in this article. If it is running an older version, the passcode option will still be in Settings, but you may need to scroll further to find it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a password instead of Face ID or Touch ID?

Yes. In Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode settings, you can turn off the biometric option and use only your password. Tap the toggle next to "Face ID" or "Touch ID" to disable it. Your password will remain active and you can use it to unlock your iPad anytime.

What if I change my password and my iPad stops recognizing it?

Restart your iPad by holding down the power button until you see the "Slide to Power Off" screen, then slide to turn it off. Wait a few seconds and turn it back on. Try entering your password again. If it still does not work, use the "Forgot Passcode?" option to reset it with your Apple ID.

Will changing my iPad password affect my Apple ID or iCloud?

No. Your iPad password and your Apple ID password are separate. Changing one does not change the other. If you want to change your Apple ID password, you do that in Settings under your name at the top, then Password & Security.

Can someone unlock my iPad if they know my password?

Yes, they can unlock it. That is why you should keep your password private and change it if you think someone else knows it. If you are concerned about someone accessing your data, you can also turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID in Settings under your name.