“Password” on an iPhone 13 usually means one of two things, and they’re changed in different places:
- iPhone passcode (the code that unlocks your phone): go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, enter your current passcode, tap Change Passcode, and enter a new one twice.
- Apple Account password (formerly Apple ID, used for iCloud and the App Store): go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password and follow the prompts.
Changing one doesn’t change the other. This guide covers both, step by step, for iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max on iOS 27. Steps follow Apple’s support pages, checked in October 2026, and they’re the same on iOS 17 and iOS 18 except where noted.
Contents
- Which password do you need to change?
- Change your iPhone 13 passcode
- Choose a stronger passcode type
- If you forget your new passcode
- Change your Apple Account password
- Why your iPhone makes you wait an hour
- Change a child’s Apple Account password
- Other passwords on your iPhone
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently asked questions
Which password do you need to change?
| What you want to change | What it protects | Where to change it |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone passcode | Unlocking the iPhone, and the backup when Face ID doesn’t work | Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Change Passcode |
| Apple Account password | iCloud, App Store purchases, Find My, and other Apple services | Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password |
The passcode is local to your iPhone. It also turns on data protection, which Apple says encrypts your iPhone data. The Apple Account password is for your online account, so changing it affects every device signed in with that account.
Change your iPhone 13 passcode
You need your current passcode for these steps. If you don’t know it, skip to the troubleshooting section.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Face ID & Passcode. iPhone 13 models use Face ID, so you won’t see Touch ID & Passcode.
- Enter your current passcode. The Face ID & Passcode screen opens.
- Scroll down and tap Change Passcode.
- Enter your current passcode again.
- Enter your new passcode. By default, iPhone asks for six digits. To use a different type, tap Passcode Options first (see the next section).
- Enter the new passcode a second time to confirm it.
The change takes effect right away. Use the new passcode the next time you unlock your iPhone. Face ID stays set up.
If you’re away from home or work, your iPhone may ask you to wait an hour before you can change the passcode. This is Stolen Device Protection, explained below.
Choose a stronger passcode type
On the screen where you enter a new passcode, tap Passcode Options. Apple lists these choices:
- Custom Alphanumeric Code: letters and numbers. Apple calls this one of the two most secure options.
- Custom Numeric Code: numbers only, in a length you choose. Also one of Apple’s two most secure options.
- 4-Digit Numeric Code: shorter and easier to guess.
The default is a six-digit code. A longer code takes more time to type, but with Face ID you’ll mostly type it after a restart or when Face ID fails. If you want to use letters, see our guide on using letters instead of numbers for an iPhone passcode.
When your iPhone still asks for the passcode. Even with Face ID set up, Apple says you must enter your passcode in some situations, including:
- After you turn on or restart your iPhone
- If you haven’t unlocked it for more than 48 hours
- After five failed Face ID attempts
- After you open the power-off or Emergency SOS screen
If you forget your new passcode
In iOS 17 and later, Apple’s Passcode Reset feature lets you use your old passcode for 72 hours after you change it.
- On the Lock Screen, after five wrong passcode attempts, the iPhone Unavailable screen appears.
- Tap Forgot Passcode? in the bottom corner.
- Tap Enter Previous Passcode.
- Enter your old passcode, then follow the prompts to set a new one.
Apple says this works only when the iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, signed in to your Apple Account, and has Find My turned on.
If you’re sure you’ll remember the new passcode and don’t want the old one to work anymore, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and tap Expire Previous Passcode Now. This is a good idea if someone else might know your old code.
After 72 hours, or if you’ve expired the old code, a forgotten passcode means erasing the iPhone. Apple’s options are to reset it from the iPhone Unavailable screen, or with a computer or recovery mode. You can then restore from an iCloud or computer backup if you have one.
Change your Apple Account password
Your Apple Account is the account you use for iCloud, the App Store, Messages, FaceTime, and Find My. Apple renamed Apple ID to Apple Account, and the same email or phone number and password still work.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your name at the top.
- Tap Sign-In & Security.
- Tap Change Password.
- Follow the onscreen instructions. You may be asked for your iPhone passcode. Then enter your new password twice.
- If other devices use the same Apple Account, choose Remove Other Devices (they’ll need to sign in again) or Keep All Devices Signed In.
Choose Remove Other Devices if you think someone else knows your old password. Otherwise, keeping them signed in avoids having to sign in on every Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch again.
Apple says this is the easiest and most secure way to change the password, because your iPhone is a trusted device: one where you’ve already signed in with two-factor authentication.
Other ways to change it. On a Mac, go to Apple menu > System Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password. Without a trusted device, Apple says you might be able to change it on the web at account.apple.com under Sign-In and Security > Password.
Why your iPhone makes you wait an hour
Stolen Device Protection is an iPhone security feature (iOS 17.3 and later) that adds extra checks when your iPhone isn’t at a familiar location, such as home or work. Apple says it may be turned on by default.
When it’s active and you’re away from a familiar place, Apple says changing your Apple Account password or your passcode requires a Security Delay:
- Authenticate with Face ID.
- Wait one hour.
- Authenticate with Face ID again, then make the change.
Your iPhone may end the delay early if it detects that you’ve arrived at a familiar location. You can’t skip it by using your passcode instead of Face ID. This is intentional: it stops a thief who learned your passcode from locking you out of your account.
To check the setting, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection.
Change a child’s Apple Account password
If you’re a parent or guardian in a Family Sharing group, Apple lets you change a Child Account’s password from your iPhone:
- Open Settings and tap Family.
- Tap your child’s name.
- Tap Change [child’s name] Password. If the child has Screen Time on, you may need to tap Personal Information first.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
You can also change it in Settings on the child’s own device.
Other passwords on your iPhone
A few other codes are sometimes called “passwords.” They’re separate from both the passcode and the Apple Account password:
- Website and app passwords: These are stored in the Passwords app (iOS 18 and later). To change one, change it on the website or in the app, then update the saved entry.
- Email account passwords: Change these with your email provider, then enter the new password on your iPhone. See how to change an email password on iPhone 13.
- Screen Time passcode: A separate four-digit code that protects Screen Time settings. See how to set a passcode for Screen Time.
- Voicemail password: Set by your carrier, where offered.
Troubleshooting
You don’t know the current passcode. You can’t use Change Passcode without it. Try Passcode Reset if you changed it in the last 72 hours. Otherwise, Apple’s only options erase the iPhone; see how to unlock an iPhone without a passcode or Face ID.
Change Passcode is grayed out. A work or school configuration profile can enforce passcode rules. Check Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, or ask your organization’s IT team.
You’re asked to wait an hour. That’s the Stolen Device Protection security delay. Wait, or make the change once you’re home.
You forgot your Apple Account password. On your iPhone you’re already signed in, so use Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password. If you’re signed out everywhere, Apple has an account recovery process.
Your other devices keep asking for the password. If you chose Remove Other Devices, sign in on each device with the new Apple Account password.
Frequently asked questions
Is the iPhone passcode the same as my Apple Account password?
No. The passcode unlocks your iPhone and stays on the device. The Apple Account password signs you in to Apple services. Changing one doesn’t change the other.
Do I need my old passcode to change it?
Yes. The Change Passcode steps ask for your current passcode. If you don’t know it and didn’t change it in the last 72 hours, you’ll need to erase the iPhone.
Will changing my passcode delete anything?
No. Changing the passcode doesn’t erase data or settings. Only erasing the iPhone (for example, after a forgotten passcode) removes your data.
How long can my iPhone passcode be?
The default is six digits. With Custom Numeric Code or Custom Alphanumeric Code under Passcode Options, you can use a longer code.
Will I be signed out of my apps after changing my Apple Account password?
Your iPhone stays signed in. Other devices stay signed in only if you choose Keep All Devices Signed In.
Can I turn the passcode off instead?
Yes, in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Turn Passcode Off, but it’s less secure, and features that need a passcode, such as Face ID unlocking and Apple Pay, stop working. Our guide to turning off the passcode explains the trade-offs.
Next step
After you change your passcode, unlock your iPhone a few times with it so you remember it, and tap Expire Previous Passcode Now once you’re confident. For Apple’s reference, see Set a passcode on iPhone and Change your Apple Account password.
Matthew Simpson has been creating online tutorial for computers and smartphones since 2010. His work has been read millions of times and helped people to solve a number of various tech problems. His specialties include Windows, iPhones, and Google apps.