It’s possible for some users’ iPhone passcodes to have changed on their own. Although being in this situation is undoubtedly not ideal, there is a way out. This can happen in a very limited number of specific circumstances, and you would really need to have received a poor hand, but it is possible. Basically, a glitch or malfunction that occurred during the installation of an iOS update is the most likely cause of this problem. In any case, a user will need to discover a remedy, and fortunately, one isn’t too hard to come by.
With this information in hand, I’ll explain the most likely cause of a user’s passcode changing itself as well as offer possible options. Users should adhere to the instructions in accordance with how severe this issue can be. Hopefully, the user’s solution will be fairly straightforward. Let’s examine the potential problem and the procedures that can be taken to solve it.
Why Did My iPhone Passcode Change Itself to Six Digits?
Some users might have noticed that their four-digit passcode has now become a six-digit passcode. This is most likely a result of a change in iOS 9 that changed the password requirement from four to six digits. A passcode could previously only consist of four digits on iOS 8.
There are now more types of passcodes available to help with security. The passcode can have changed from four to six without your entering a new passcode, though, due to an update issue. or even the opposite. Additionally, external factors like someone else altering your passcode could be to blame. However, if you shared or gave away your passcode, someone else could only change it.
In essence, something probably happened when switching to a new version of iOS. Fortunately, a solution exists.
It’s also crucial to understand that Apple does not possess your password. Users may also want to keep in mind that they may only have a limited number of attempts before their iPhone locks them out. Additionally, an iPhone’s default passcode is never used.
Passcodes like 123456 and 000000 can be tried, but it’s unlikely that they’ll work unless the device was configured that way. As previously said, Apple Support won’t have your code, therefore you’ll need to find another way to access your iPhone.
Can Someone Change My Passcode On My iPhone?
No. Unless you are disclosing personal information, that is. If you haven’t upgraded from an earlier version of the software to iOS 9, you must have the original passcode in order to update a passcode. No one else can change your password unless you provide it to them, yet there is a potential that someone else may have your passcode since they saw it. Additionally, it emphasizes how crucial it is to keep your iPhone updated.
Let’s look at several remedies now if your iPhone is requesting a six-digit passcode with that in mind.
Force restarting your iPhone is one of the first things you can do. As the iPhone will completely shut down and then reload the iOS firmware, this is a little more involved than just restarting your device.
To use an iPhone 8 or later, take these actions:
- Press the Volume Up button and then quickly release it.
- Then, press the Volume Down button and quickly release it.
- Press and hold the Power button until the Shut Down menu appears. Drag the slider to the right.
- Give it a few moments, and then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
To use an iPhone 7 or earlier, take these actions:
- Press and hold the Side and/or Power button alongside the Home button. For the iPhone 7, it will be the Volume Down and Power buttons.
- Keep holding both buttons until the Power Off Slider appears. Slide it to the right.
- Continue holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears, restarting the device.
- Restore iPhone Using iTunes or Finder
While following these instructions will enable you to force restart your device, you’ll probably also need to restore it.
iPhone Passcode Changed Automatically: Restore Your Device Using iTunes or Finder
You could also attempt to restore your device using iTunes. If you need to switch your four to six-digit password, this may give you another opportunity to do so. You should have a backup of your data because doing a restoration will wipe your device.
Keep in mind that you will be utilizing Finder to complete this if you are using a Mac with macOS Catalina or later. Any computer running Windows or a version of macOS earlier than Catalina will continue to use iTunes. Ensure that iTunes is current.
The Restore iPhone option should be the first thing you see when you look at your iPhone in iTunes or Finder after connecting it. It will be in the area where the program provides you with device-specific information.
You might need to put your device in recovery mode if you can’t find it at all in iTunes or Finder.
- For iPhone 8 or newer: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then press and hold the Side/Power button until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
- For iPhone 7: Press and hold the Volume Down and Side buttons. Continue to hold until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
- For iPhone 6 or older: Press and the Home and Side buttons simultaneously. Hold until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
A pop-up urging you to update or restore your device should show if you start your iPhone in recovery mode while it’s linked to a PC or Mac. Keep in mind that your iPhone will display a message letting you know it is in recovery mode. ChooseRestore.
Erase Your iPhone Via iCloud
Using iCloud, you can also remotely erase your iPhone. Another approach to make sure you can get a passcode reset if something went wrong during the update is by doing this. This might be a fix if you noticed that your passcode increased from four to six numbers. However, as this will completely wipe your device, I would advise trying the earlier solutions first.
2 minutes are required.
Follow these instructions to wipe your iPhone using iCloud:
- Go to iCloud.com from an internet browser.
- Log into your account.
- After logging in, go to Find My. This will list all of your devices in a dropdown menu at the top.
- Choose your device from the dropdown menu, and then select Erase iPhone. You may need to confirm this on your iPhone.
How to Change Your Passcode to a 4-Digit Passcode
For users of iOS 14.5 or later, changing your passcode from six to four digits or vice versa may be done in the Settings app. You can also click here at any time to change your password by following these steps.
- From your iPhone, go to Settings
- Scroll down and select Face ID & Passcode. You may need to pick Touch ID & Passcode.
- Enter your current password.
- Scroll down and select Change Passcode.
- Enter your password again.
- You will receive a prompt to enter a new password. Just above the keyboard, select Passcode Options.
- You can then choose 4-Digit Numeric Code.
- Enter your new four-digit passcode.
- Re-enter the code.
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Making the Change
The shift from a four-digit code to a six-digit code is most likely to blame if you discover that the passcode on your iPhone changed itself. However, be aware that it’s possible for someone else to have altered your password. It’s still a possibility even though it’s doubtful.
It can be pretty annoying to be locked out of your iPhone, but executing a Force Restart and a Restore on your device should bring you back to the right place. Since having access to your device is essential, having a broken password can have disastrous results.
There isn’t much you can do if you discover that someone else changed your password and it wasn’t you unless a software update caused it. Hopefully, these solutions can offer some direction for regaining access to a user’s device. Of course, there is also the question of what to do if your iPhone 14 won’t switch back on, which offers a lot of assistance for other models as well. Always keep in mind that there is usually a solution for every difficulty.