How to Change the Lock Screen Passcode on Your iPhone
Much like every modern-day mobile device, your iPhone offers you a convenient and relatively simple way to protect your device from unauthorized access. While you may be used to calling this your lock screen password, the official Apple support documentation refers to it as the "passcode".
Your passcode is important because it doesn't simply work to keep strangers from accessing your phone, it does that in a twofold way. As soon as you set your passcode for the first time, this also enables data encryption on your device.
This means that all your personal data and files will, from this point on, be encrypted using 256-bit AES encryption, which adds a significant layer of security.
If you have already set your lock screen passcode on your iPhone already, but at some point, you figure out a different passcode you find more convenient and more memorable, you can change it. In order to do this, follow these steps:
-
Go to your iPhone Settings, then depending on your phone's features, do one of the following:
Tap Face ID & Passcode, on devices with Face ID
Tap Touch ID & Passcode, on devices that have a Home button
-
Tap on Change Passcode and follow the onscreen instructions to set your new passcode.
Once you have your new passcode in place, you can also add a further layer of protection to your phone.
Your iPhone allows you to set it to completely wipe your data and settings after someone fails to input the correct passcode 10 times in a row. This is a feature that comes on top of the AES encryption.
Additionally, be aware that there are certain situations that will require you to enter your passcode under certain conditions. Those include restarting the phone, not using the phone for two days or five unsuccessful attempts to unlock the phone using Face ID or Touch ID.
