How to change your iPhone lock screen password

Your iPhone lock screen password — also called your passcode — is the code you enter when you wake your phone or access certain settings. To change it, go to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models), enter your current passcode, then tap Change Passcode. You'll enter your old code once more, then create a new one.

The exact steps depend on which iPhone model you have and which version of iOS is installed. All iPhones require you to know your current passcode before you can set a new one — Apple does not allow you to change it without proving you remember the old one.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, find Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode), and tap Change Passcode to start the process.
  • You must enter your current passcode twice — once to unlock the settings, once to confirm you're changing it.
  • Your new passcode can be 4 digits, 6 digits, or a custom alphanumeric code; longer codes are more secure.
  • If you forget your passcode, you cannot change it — you must erase the phone and set it up again, which requires your Apple ID password.

Step-by-step instructions for all iPhone models

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode if you have an iPhone X or newer, or Touch ID & Passcode if you have an iPhone 8 or earlier. (Some older models may say Passcode only.)

When prompted, enter your current passcode. This confirms you have permission to change the security settings. Once you're in the passcode menu, look for the option that says Change Passcode and tap it. You'll be asked to enter your current passcode one more time to verify it's really you.

After you've confirmed your old code, you'll see a screen asking you to enter your new passcode. Type the code you want to use. If you want a longer or more complex code, tap Passcode Options before entering it — this lets you choose between a 4-digit code, a 6-digit code, or a custom alphanumeric password with letters and numbers.

Enter your new passcode again to confirm it. Your iPhone will show a message saying the passcode has been changed. You can now use the new code to unlock your phone.

Choosing a strong passcode

A 4-digit passcode is the quickest to enter but offers only 10,000 possible combinations. A 6-digit code is more secure and still reasonably fast. A custom alphanumeric code — mixing letters, numbers, and symbols — is the most secure option but takes longer to type each time you unlock your phone.

Avoid using obvious numbers like your birth year, your address, or a sequence like 1234. Do not use a code that matches a PIN you use elsewhere, such as your bank account or work system. Write your new passcode down and store it somewhere safe, separate from your phone — if you forget it, you will need to erase your entire phone to set a new one.

What happens if you forget your passcode

If you enter the wrong passcode too many times, your iPhone will lock you out temporarily. After the first few wrong attempts, you'll see a message saying "iPhone is disabled" and a timer showing how long you must wait before trying again. The wait time increases with each failed attempt.

If you've locked yourself out and cannot remember your passcode, you cannot simply change it. Instead, you must erase your iPhone completely and set it up again. You can do this using a computer with iTunes or Finder, or through iCloud's Find My iPhone feature. After erasing, you'll need your Apple ID password and email to set the phone up again.

Changing your passcode on different iOS versions

The steps above work on iOS 16 and newer. On iOS 15 and earlier, the menu is in the same place — Settings > Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode — but the wording of buttons may be slightly different. The process is identical: you enter your old code, tap Change Passcode, confirm the old code again, then enter your new code twice.

If you're not sure which iOS version you have, go to Settings > General > About and look for the "Software Version" line. Apple regularly releases updates that add security features, so updating to the latest iOS version before changing your passcode is a good practice.

Using Face ID or Touch ID alongside your passcode

Your passcode works independently of Face ID or Touch ID. You can use your face or fingerprint to unlock your phone most of the time, but you'll still need to enter your passcode if Face ID or Touch ID fails, if your phone restarts, or if you haven't unlocked it in a certain amount of time. Changing your passcode does not affect your Face ID or Touch ID settings — both will continue to work as before.

If you want to turn off Face ID or Touch ID entirely and use only your passcode, you can do that in the same Face ID & Passcode menu. However, Apple recommends keeping at least one biometric method enabled for convenience and security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my passcode without knowing my current one?

No. Apple requires you to enter your current passcode before you can change it. If you've forgotten it, you must erase your iPhone and set it up again using your Apple ID password. There is no way around this — it's a security feature to prevent someone else from changing your code without your knowledge.

How often should I change my iPhone passcode?

There's no rule requiring you to change it regularly. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you've used the same code on multiple devices, or if you want to update to a stronger code. Many people change their passcode once and keep it for years without problems.

What's the difference between a passcode and a password?

On your iPhone, the terms are used interchangeably. Your "passcode" is the code you enter to unlock your phone. Your "password" usually refers to your Apple ID password, which you use to sign into your account and download apps. They are separate and serve different purposes.

Will changing my passcode affect my apps or data?

No. Changing your passcode only affects how you unlock your phone. Your apps, photos, messages, and all other data remain exactly as they were. You won't need to sign into anything again or re-download anything.

Can I use the same passcode on multiple Apple devices?

Yes, you can use the same passcode on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac if you want. However, using different codes on different devices is more secure. Each device's passcode is independent — changing one does not change the others.