Change your passcode through Settings, not through recovery mode

Open Settings on your iPhone, tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models), then enter your current passcode. Tap Change Passcode at the top of the screen, enter your current passcode again, then enter your new passcode twice. That's the full process — it takes about two minutes and you stay in control the whole time.

The reason to do this through Settings rather than through recovery mode is straightforward: recovery mode erases your phone. You only use recovery if you've forgotten your passcode entirely and have no other way in. If you remember your current passcode, changing it through Settings keeps all your data intact and is faster.

Key Takeaways

  • You need your current passcode to change to a new one — Settings will ask for it twice before letting you set a new one.
  • A strong passcode is at least six digits long, and mixing numbers with letters makes it harder to guess, though numbers alone work if you choose them carefully.
  • If you forget your new passcode after changing it, you will have to erase your phone through recovery mode and restore from a backup, so write it down or store it somewhere you can find it.
  • Changing your passcode does not affect your Apple ID password, two-factor authentication, or any of your other security settings — those stay the same.

Why you might want to change your passcode

You should change your passcode if someone has seen you enter it, if you've used the same passcode on multiple devices, or if you straightforward want a fresh one. You might also change it if you've shared it temporarily with someone and want to lock them out again.

Changing your passcode does not erase anything or log you out of apps. Your phone stays exactly as it is — only the code you use to unlock it changes. This is different from resetting your phone, which would wipe everything.

The difference between a four-digit and six-digit passcode

When you change your passcode, iOS will ask whether you want a six-digit numeric code, a four-digit numeric code, or a custom alphanumeric code (letters and numbers mixed). Six digits is the default because it's harder to guess than four digits — there are 1 million possible four-digit combinations but 1 billion possible six-digit ones.

A four-digit passcode is faster to enter every day, which matters if you unlock your phone dozens of times. A six-digit or alphanumeric passcode is more find, which matters if someone might try to guess your way in. The choice depends on your own risk tolerance: if your phone holds sensitive information, six digits or alphanumeric is worth the extra two seconds per unlock. If your phone is mostly for calls and maps, four digits is reasonable.

Avoid passcodes that are straightforward to guess: not your birth year, not 1234, not your address, not a pattern that repeats. A random string of numbers is harder to crack than a meaningful one, even if it's shorter.

What happens if you forget your new passcode

If you change your passcode and then forget it, you cannot straightforward reset it through Settings — you'll be locked out. Your only option is to erase your phone using recovery mode, which wipes everything, then restore from a backup if you have one.

To avoid this, write your new passcode down and store it somewhere safe — a notebook in a drawer, a password manager, or a note in your email. Do not store it in your phone's Notes app, because you won't be able to access Notes if you're locked out. Do not text it to yourself or email it to yourself in a way that leaves a record someone else might find.

How to recover access if you're locked out

If you've entered the wrong passcode too many times, your iPhone will lock you out temporarily — first for one minute, then five minutes, then 15 minutes, then an hour. This is intentional: it slows down anyone trying to guess your way in. Wait out the timer and try again.

If you've forgotten your passcode entirely and the timer keeps resetting, you'll need to erase your phone. Connect it to a computer with iTunes or Finder, put it in recovery mode, and choose Restore. This erases everything. After the erase completes, you can restore from a backup you made before you forgot the passcode — if you have one. If you don't have a backup, your data is gone.

This is why changing your passcode through Settings (when you remember the old one) is so much simpler than waiting until you're locked out. Change it while you still have access.

Passcodes versus Face ID and Touch ID

Your passcode is your backup unlock method. Face ID and Touch ID are faster — you just look at your phone or touch the sensor — but they can fail if your face is covered, your hands are wet, or the sensor is dirty. Your passcode always works, which is why Apple requires you to have one.

Changing your passcode does not change your Face ID or Touch ID settings. Both will continue to work the same way. If you want to turn off Face ID or Touch ID entirely, that's a separate setting in the same Face ID & Passcode menu, but most people keep both enabled for convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know my old passcode to change it?

Yes. Settings will ask you to enter your current passcode before you can set a new one. If you don't remember it, you'll have to erase your phone through recovery mode first.

Will changing my passcode log me out of apps or iCloud?

No. Your passcode only unlocks your phone. Your Apple ID password, app logins, and iCloud account stay the same. You won't have to sign back into anything.

Can I use letters and numbers in my passcode?

Yes. When you tap Change Passcode, you'll see an option for "Custom Alphanumeric Code." This lets you mix letters and numbers, which is harder to guess than numbers alone, but also slower to type every day.

What if I change my passcode and then forget it when ready?

You'll be locked out and will have to erase your phone through recovery mode. There's no way to reset a forgotten passcode without erasing. Write down your new passcode before you close Settings, or use a password manager to store it.

Does changing my passcode affect my backup?

No. Your backups to iCloud or a computer are not affected by passcode changes. If you ever need to restore from a backup, you'll set a new passcode during the restore process.