How to change 6 digit passcode to 4 on iphone

(Pocket-lint) - Apple requires you to set a six-digit passcode as a back up to get into your iPhone, whether you have a Touch ID model or a Face ID model. This used to be a four-digit passcode, though this changed a few years ago. You can change it back to a four-digit code though - or opt for a custom or alphanumeric passcode, which we cover below too.

You'll sometimes be asked for your iPhone passcode if one of the other biometric methods isn't working properly or can't recognise your face or fingerprint, but it also keeps your device secure if it was to get into the wrong hands.

If you think someone might know your passcode and you want to know how to change your iPhone passcode, you're in the right place. We're assuming you know your current password so if you do, here's how to change it.

Follow the steps below to change your iPhone passcode.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone
2. Scroll down to 'Face ID & Passcode' or 'Touch ID & Passcode'
3. Type in your current Passcode
4. Scroll down to 'Change Passcode'
5. Type in your current passcode
6. Enter your new passcode
7. Re-enter your new passcode

That's it. Be sure to remember your new passcode or you won't be able to unlock your device.

How to change your iPhone passcode back to four-digits or custom code

It is possible to change your iPhone passcode to be four digits, like it was by default until the launch of iOS 13. You can also choose an Alphanumeric passcode or a custom numeric passcode. 

Here are the steps you need to follow:

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1. Open Settings on your iPhone
2. Scroll down to 'Face ID & Passcode' or 'Touch ID & Passcode'
3. Type in your current Passcode
4. Scroll down to 'Change Passcode'
5. Type in your current passcode
6. Tap on 'Passcode Options'
7. Select 'Alphanumeric Code', 'Custom Numeric Code' or '4-Digit Numeric Code'
8. Choose your new passcode
9. Verify your new passcode
10. Tap 'Done'

If you choose Alphanumeric, you can choose to have a written password as your iPhone passcode with letters rather than just numbers. It's also worth noting that if you choose to revert back to a four-digit passcode, your phone won't be as secure.

Writing by Britta O'Boyle.

When I updated iOS on my iPhone, I was forced to choose a six-digit passcode instead of a four-digit one. Is there any way to go back?

When Apple launched iOS 9, it also made iPhone and iPad passcodes six digits by default instead of four – but you can change it back to four digits really easily. It’s just that the option to do so isn’t particularly well signposted. In this brief tutorial we show you how. Read next: iOS tips

Why does my iPhone’s passcode have six digits now?

As part of its drive to increase security on Apple devices, the company now (and ever since the launch of iOS 9) by default requests a six- instead of a four-digit passcode when setting up a new or newly updated iPad or iPhone.

This is more secure, of course, with vastly more combinations to guess, and essentially prevents thieves from brute-forcing their way into your device. But it’s also slightly annoying.

In fact, some of the strategies we’ve heard people using to stretch their four-digit passcodes into six digits without having to memorise a new number (simply repeating the fourth digit two more times, for instance) suggest that security is not going to benefit a huge amount.

The option you’re looking for is in the Settings app.

Scroll down and tap ‘Touch ID & Passcode’, near the bottom of the third set of options. You’ll have to enter your current passcode to access this section.

Tap Change Passcode (in blue text in the third section down). You’ll have to enter your old passcode yet again.

Now iOS will ask for your new passcode, and by default this will contain six digits. But not so fast: instead, tap Passcode Options. (It’s above the numberpad, and quite easy to miss.)

From the menu that pops up, select 4-Digit Numeric Code, and the number of blanks in your new passcode will drop from six to four.

Enter a four-digit passcode, verify it, and you’re there: you’re back to the happy days of four-digit passcodes. Read next: How to remove or bypass a forgotten iPhone passcode

Note, incidentally, that there are additional options: Custom Numeric Code, and Custom Alphanumeric Code (which can contain letters, numbers and symbols). Both of these can be (as far as we can tell) as long as you like.

How to stop your passcode changing to six digits

Back in the day, we found that making sure we had a (four-digit) passcode switched on before installing iOS 9 meant that we still had it after the installation was complete. The problem only appeared to occur if you turned off your passcode before updating.

It’s probably simpler, however, to simply keep an eye out for Passcode Options and remember to switch back to four digits whenever you change your passcode.

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