Where to find the PIN settings on your iPhone

Your iPhone PIN is the four- or six-digit code you enter when you restart your phone or after a certain number of failed Face ID or Touch ID attempts. To change it, open the Settings app on your home screen, then tap "Face ID & Passcode" or "Touch ID & Passcode" depending on which biometric system your model uses. You will be asked to enter your current PIN before you can proceed.

If you have an older iPhone without Face ID or Touch ID, go to Settings, then tap "Passcode" instead. The process is the same from that point forward.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, then tap "Face ID & Passcode" or "Touch ID & Passcode" and enter your current PIN to access the change screen.
  • Tap "Change Passcode" and enter your current PIN again, then type your new PIN twice to confirm it.
  • Your new PIN takes effect immediately and you will need it the next time your phone locks or restarts.
  • If you forget your new PIN, you will need to erase your iPhone and set it up again from a backup or as a new device.

Steps to enter your new PIN

Once you are in the Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode screen, tap "Change Passcode" near the top of the menu. Your phone will ask you to enter your current PIN one more time to confirm your identity.

After you enter the current PIN correctly, a screen will appear asking you to enter your new PIN. Type the four or six digits you want to use. Your iPhone will then ask you to enter the new PIN a second time to make sure you typed it correctly. Once both entries match, your new PIN is saved and active immediately.

Choosing a PIN that is hard to guess

When you create a new PIN, avoid sequences like 1111, 1234, or your birth year. These are the first codes people try when attempting to unlock a phone. A random mix of numbers is much harder to guess.

Write your new PIN down and store it somewhere safe outside your phone — a notebook at home, a password manager, or a trusted family member. If you forget it, there is no way to recover it without erasing your entire phone.

What happens if you enter the wrong PIN too many times

After six failed PIN attempts, your iPhone will disable the unlock screen for one minute. After the tenth failed attempt, it locks for five minutes. After the fifteenth failed attempt, it locks for fifteen minutes or longer. This delay increases with each failed attempt to prevent someone from guessing your code repeatedly.

If you reach a certain number of failed attempts (usually around 10 on newer models), your iPhone may offer to erase itself entirely. Do not tap this option unless you have a backup and truly cannot remember your PIN.

Resetting your PIN if you forget it

If you forget your new PIN and cannot unlock your phone, you will need to erase it and start over. Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes or Finder, put the phone in recovery mode, and restore it from a backup you made before you changed the PIN. This will return your phone to its previous state, including your old PIN.

If you do not have a backup, you can restore your iPhone as a new device, but you will lose all data stored only on the phone itself. Photos, messages, and apps synced to iCloud will still be there once you sign back in.

Using a longer PIN for better security

When you tap "Change Passcode," your iPhone will show you options for PIN length. The default is usually six digits, but you can choose a four-digit PIN if you prefer something shorter and faster to type. You can also tap "Passcode Options" to create a longer PIN with letters and numbers, though this is less common for everyday use.

A six-digit PIN offers a good balance between security and speed. A four-digit PIN is faster but easier to guess. If you use your phone in public places or around people you do not fully trust, a six-digit PIN is the safer choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my PIN without knowing my current one?

No. Your iPhone requires you to enter your current PIN before you can change it. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from changing your code if they gain temporary access to your phone. If you have forgotten your current PIN, you must erase your phone and restore it from backup.

Will changing my PIN affect Face ID or Touch ID?

No. Your PIN and your biometric data (Face ID or Touch ID) are separate security layers. Changing your PIN does not change your fingerprint or face data. Both systems will continue to work as before.

How long does it take for a new PIN to start working?

Your new PIN is active immediately after you confirm it on the change screen. The next time your phone locks or you restart it, you will need to enter the new PIN instead of the old one.

What if I want to remove my PIN entirely?

You cannot remove your PIN on modern iPhones. Apple requires all devices to have a passcode for security. You can only change it to a different code. Older iPhone models may have allowed PIN removal, but current versions do not.