Use a passcode with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Learn how to set, use, and change a passcode on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

  • Turn on or restart your device
  • Press the Home button or swipe up to unlock your device (you can change this)
  • Update your software
  • Erase your device
  • View or change passcode settings
  • Install iOS or iPadOS Configuration profiles

  • Set up a passcode

  • Change your settings

  • Get help with passcode

Set up a passcode

  1. On iPhone X and later, or iPad with Face ID, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. On earlier iPhone models, go to Touch ID & Passcode. On devices without Touch ID, go to Settings > Passcode.
  2. Tap Turn Passcode On.
  3. Enter a six-digit passcode. Or tap Passcode Options to switch to a four-digit numeric code, a custom numeric code, or a custom alphanumeric code.
  4. Enter your passcode again to confirm it and activate it.

Change your passcode or passcode settings

On iPhone X and later, or iPad with Face ID, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. On earlier iPhone models, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode. On devices without Touch ID, go to Settings > Passcode.

You'll find several settings and options:

  • Turn Passcode Off: Tap this option to turn off your passcode.
  • Change Passcode: Enter a new six-digit passcode. Or tap Passcode Options to switch to a four-digit numeric code, a custom numeric code, or a custom alphanumeric code.
  • Require Passcode: As soon as you lock your screen, the default for this setting will ask you to enter your passcode to unlock. If you don't want an immediate passcode requirement, change this setting. (For your own security, if you use Touch ID or Apple Pay, you can't change the immediate passcode requirement).
  • Allow Access When Locked: Use this option to allow access to some features when your device is locked, including Today View, Notification Center, Control Center on iPhone and iPod touch or iPad, Siri, Reply with Message, Home Control, Wallet, Return Missed Calls,  and USB accessories.
  • Erase Data: Choose whether to erase your device automatically after ten failed passcode attempts. If you don't enable this option, your device will need to be restored on a computer after ten failed attempts.

Get help

Follow the steps in this section for help with things like passcode settings, alerts, and forgotten passwords.

If an alert says to change your passcode or you can't adjust your passcode settings

Configuration profiles and email accounts based on Microsoft Exchange (common with business or education devices) sometimes have passcode policies that cause issues like this:

  • You can't turn off your passcode.
  • You can't change passcode settings because they're unavailable, gray, or dimmed.
  • You see an alert about a Passcode Requirement. For example, you might see a message that says you must change your iPhone unlock passcode within 60 minutes.

Contact your IT administrator for help. If you don't use a configuration profile or Microsoft Exchange account, or if your device is personally owned, make sure you update your device to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.

If you forgot your passcode

Published Date: