How To Set Up a Passcode For Your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

It goes without saying that having a Passcode on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch does increase the chances of not having your personal information stolen. And this is even more important since we have the most critical data stored in these devices. Think of the pictures we like to keep private, the personal data stored in the countless emails we’ve sent in the past, the financial information, etc.

But having a passcode enabled in your Apple devices adds an extra security surface, and it allows you to activate other security features, such as Touch ID and Face ID.

In a Nutshell

To set a passcode on your iPhone, you need to:

1. Open your Settings app on your Home screen. 
2. Then tap on your Touch ID & Passcode. If you have an iPhone X or newer, then you should tap on Face ID & Passcode.
3. If you already have a passcode setup, then you need to enter your old Passcode before going further.
4. Scroll down and tap on Change password.
5. Tap on Change Passcode (In Blue).
6. In case you already have a passcode, then enter your old Passcode before entering your new Passcode.
7. Enter now your (new) Passcode twice.
8. In some cases, the software asks you to log in with your Apple ID. If that’s the case, then just enter your Apple ID & Password to proceed further.

How To Set Up a (New) Passcode For iPhone, iPad, Or iPod Touch

Nowadays, we primarily use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock our iPhones. But even to use these features, you need to have a passcode set up on your iPhone. The process to set up one is easy and straightforward.

To set a passcode on your iPhone, you need to:

1. Open your Settings app on your Home screen. 
2. Then tap on your Touch ID & Passcode. If you have an iPhone X or newer, then you should tap on Face ID & Passcode.
3. If you already have a passcode setup, then you need to enter your old Passcode before going further.
4. Scroll down and tap on Change password.
5. Tap on Change Passcode (In Blue).
6. In case you already have a passcode, then enter your old Passcode before entering your new Passcode.
7. Enter now your (new) Passcode twice.
8. In some cases, the software asks you to log in with your Apple ID. If that’s the case, then just enter your Apple ID & Password to proceed further.

How To Go Back To a 4 Digit Passcode on Your iPhone

Changing the number of digits your Passcode needs to contain is as easy as setting up a whole new passcode. In addition, you have control over the length of this Passcode. You can even set up an Alphanumeric code as a Passcode, which means that your Passcode can also be a combination of both letters and numbers.

To change the number of digits of your Passcode, you need to:

1. Head to your Setting app on your Home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on Touch ID and Passcode (Or Face ID and Passcode if you have an iPhone X or newer).
3. Fill in your current Passcode.
4. Scroll down and tap on Change Password. Enter your old Passcode one more time.
5. Just above the digits, you will see Passcode Options in blue. Tap on it.
6. You now can choose between three options:
   1. Having a Custom Alphanumeric Code
   2. having a Custom Numeric Code
   3. Having a 4-Digit Numeric Code (Or 6-Digit Numeric Code)
7. If you set up a Custom Alphanumeric code, you can create a Passcode consisting of numbers and letters.

Read Also: Did You Forgot Apple ID Password? This is How You Reset It.

Can I Use My iPhone Without Having a passcode?

The short answer is Yes. You can use your iPhone without having a passcode set up. Due to security reasons, it’s not ideal, though. If you don’t like the idea of entering your Passcode every time you pick up your iPhone, then you may consider turning on Face ID or Touch ID.

Also, you can adjust the passcode options iOS devices offer to use a more secure device without being overwhelmed by the amount of time you have to enter your Passcode.

Adjusting passcode options to:

• Check your Today View on the Notification Center, such as your calendar, push-up notifications, etc.
• Have access to The Control Center to have control over various options such as your iPhone’s torch, timer, camera, etc.
• Use Siri
• Return Missed Phone Calls. You can then easily rethis from the lock screen.h
• Erase Data. Be careful with this one! If you turn this option, your data will be erased after entering 10 times your passcode incorrect.
• Do a Voice Dial. This feature can be convenient to call friends and family just with your voice. Being able to call someone by just talking to your iPhone can be very handy, especially when you don’t have to fill in your Passcode.
• Check you recent Notifications. Sometimes you just want to know who is texting you without replying to that person. I still recommend to DO use a passcode for this one since all your text messages will be visible to anyone.

To adjust your passcode option for any of these features, you can go to your Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode) > Enter your current Passcode> Scroll down to Allow Access When Locked:

Here you will find the options we just talked about. You can turn them on or off by tapping on the toggle next to each option.

Read Also