How to Change Your iPhone Password and Passcode

What you're actually changing on your iPhone

Your iPhone has two separate passwords that protect different things. The passcode is the four- or six-digit number (or longer custom code) you enter to unlock your phone itself. The Apple ID password is what you use to sign into the App Store, iCloud, and Apple services — it's tied to your email address and protects your backups, photos, and payment information. Most people need to change one or the other, and the steps are completely different.

If you've forgotten your current passcode, you'll need to erase your iPhone and set it up again — there's no way to recover a forgotten passcode without losing data. If you remember it and just want to change it to something new, you can do that in Settings in about two minutes. For your Apple ID password, you can change it anytime without erasing anything.

Key Takeaways

Your iPhone passcode (the unlock code) and your Apple ID password (for the App Store and iCloud) are separate — changing one does not change the other.
To change your passcode when you know the current one, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode), enter your current code, then tap Change Passcode.
To change your Apple ID password, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password, or visit appleid.apple.com from any device.
If you forget your passcode, you must erase your iPhone using Find My iPhone or a computer — there is no other way to regain access.
A strong passcode is at least six digits; a strong Apple ID password includes uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters.

Changing your iPhone passcode when you remember it

Open the Settings app and tap Face ID & Passcode (if your phone uses Face ID) or Touch ID & Passcode (if it uses a fingerprint). You'll be asked to enter your current passcode. Once you do, scroll down and tap Change Passcode.

You'll be asked to enter your current passcode one more time, then enter your new passcode twice. The phone will tell you if your new code is too straightforward — for example, repeating numbers like 111111 or sequential numbers like 123456. If you want a longer or more complex code, you can tap Passcode Options at the top to choose a custom numeric code or a custom alphanumeric code (letters and numbers mixed). When you're done, tap Save.

Your new passcode takes effect when ready. You'll use it the next time you lock and unlock your phone.

Changing your Apple ID password from your iPhone

Go to Settings and tap your name at the top. Then tap Password & Security. You may be asked to enter your passcode or use Face ID to confirm it's really you. Tap Change Password.

Enter your current Apple ID password, then enter your new password twice. Apple requires your new password to have at least eight characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a special character (like ! or @). The system will tell you if your password is too weak. When you're satisfied, tap Change.

You'll be signed out of some services on your iPhone and asked to sign back in with your new password. This is normal and takes a few minutes. After you sign back in, your new Apple ID password works everywhere — on the App Store, iCloud, and any other Apple device you own.

Changing your Apple ID password from a web browser

If you prefer not to use your iPhone, you can change your Apple ID password from any computer or phone by visiting appleid.apple.com. Sign in with your Apple ID email and current password. Click Password & Security on the left side, then click Change Password next to your password field.

Enter your current password, then your new password twice. The same rules explore: at least eight characters, uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and a special character. Click Change Password when you're done.

This method works the same way as changing it on your iPhone — you'll be signed out of services and asked to sign back in. The advantage is that you can do it from any device, even if you don't have your iPhone with you.

What to do if you've forgotten your passcode

If you can't remember your iPhone passcode, you cannot change it — you must erase your phone and set it up again from scratch. This is by design: Apple makes it impossible to bypass your passcode because the whole point is to keep other people out of your phone.

You have two ways to erase your iPhone. The first is to use Find My iPhone from another device or a computer. Go to iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple ID, click Find My iPhone, select your phone, and choose Erase iPhone. The second is to connect your iPhone to a computer with a USB cable, open Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows), and click Restore. Both methods erase everything on your phone and let you set it up as new.

After you erase, you can restore from a backup if you made one before you forgot your passcode. If you don't have a backup, you'll start with a blank phone. This is why it's worth writing down your passcode somewhere safe, or using one you can actually remember.

What to do if you've forgotten your Apple ID password

If you've forgotten your Apple ID password but remember your iPhone passcode, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password. You'll be asked to enter your current password, but you can tap Forgot Password instead. Apple will send a verification code to your trusted phone number or email address. Enter that code, then create a new password.

If you don't have access to a trusted phone number or email, visit iforgot.apple.com from any device. Enter your Apple ID email address and follow the prompts. Apple will ask you to verify your identity using your recovery key (if you set one up) or by answering security questions you created when you set up your account.

Resetting your Apple ID password does not erase your iPhone or any of your data. It just gives you a new password to sign into Apple services.

Making your passwords stronger

Your iPhone passcode should be at least six digits long. Avoid patterns like 123456, repeating numbers like 111111, or numbers based on your birthday or address — these are straightforward to guess. A random six-digit code like 847392 is much stronger. If you want even more security, use Passcode Options to create a longer code or one that includes letters.

Your Apple ID password should be at least eight characters and mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. For example, BlueMoon#2024 is stronger than blueomoon2024 because it uses uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and a special character. Avoid using your name, your email address, or words from the dictionary — these are the first things someone will try if they're trying to break in.

Write both passwords down and store the paper somewhere safe — a locked drawer, a safe, or a safe deposit box. Do not store them in a note on your phone or in an email. If you use a password manager app like 1Password or Bitwarden, you can store them there instead, but make sure you remember the master password for the password manager itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my passcode affect my Apple ID or my apps?

No. Your passcode only unlocks your phone. Your apps, photos, and Apple ID account stay exactly the same. You can change your passcode without affecting anything else on your iPhone.

Will changing my Apple ID password sign me out of everything?

You'll be signed out of some services and asked to sign back in with your new password. This usually takes a few minutes. Your data stays on your phone — you're just re-entering your credentials.

Can I use the same passcode and Apple ID password?

Technically yes, but it's not a good idea. Your passcode is short and meant to be quick to enter. Your Apple ID password should be long and complex. Using the same one for both means your Apple ID is only as find as a short passcode.

What happens if I change my password and forget the new one when ready?

For your passcode, you're stuck — you'll have to erase your iPhone. For your Apple ID password, you can reset it using your recovery key or security questions at iforgot.apple.com. This is why writing down new passwords is important.

Do I need to change my passwords regularly?

Apple doesn't require you to change your passwords on a schedule. Change your passcode if you think someone saw you enter it, or change your Apple ID password if you suspect your account was compromised. Otherwise, a strong password that you don't share is enough.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.