How to Turn Off or Change Your iPad Passcode Safely

To turn off or change your iPad passcode, open the correct passcode page in Settings, enter the current passcode, and choose `Turn Passcode Off` or `Change Passcode`. On an iPad with Face ID, use `Settings > Face ID & Passcode`; on one with Touch ID, use `Settings > Touch ID & Passcode`; on other models, use `Settings > Passcode`. Turning off the passcode weakens protection for personal data, Apple Pay, and saved accounts. If you forgot the current passcode, you cannot reveal or safely bypass it: erase the iPad, then restore it from a backup when one is available.

Before you change anything, make sure you know the current passcode

Have these ready before you open Settings:

• The iPad’s current device passcode. Face ID or Touch ID cannot authorize changing or removing the passcode by itself.
• Your Apple Account password, especially if you might need to erase the iPad or turn off Find My.
• A recent backup if you may need to restore the iPad later.
• Permission to change security settings if the iPad belongs to a school or employer.

iPadOS requires the existing passcode before it allows you to change or remove it. Face ID and Touch ID make everyday unlocking faster, but they do not replace the current passcode for this setting. The iPad can also require the passcode after a restart, after certain security events, or when biometric authentication has not been accepted for a period of time.

How to turn off or change the passcode in Settings

Use the Settings path that matches your iPad’s hardware. The wording can vary slightly by iPadOS version, but these controls are in the same passcode settings area.

1. Open Settings.
2. Open the passcode settings for your iPad.

Face ID iPad: Settings > Face ID & Passcode
Touch ID iPad: Settings > Touch ID & Passcode
Other iPad models: Settings > Passcode

3. Enter the current iPad passcode. The passcode settings page opens.
4. To remove the passcode, tap Turn Passcode Off.
5. Read the security warning and enter the current passcode again. The iPad no longer requires a device passcode to unlock.

To replace the passcode instead:

1. Tap Change Passcode.
2. Enter the current passcode.
3. Enter the new passcode, then enter it again to confirm it.

To choose a different code type, tap Passcode Options on the screen where you enter the new passcode. The available choices include:

• 4-Digit Numeric Code
• Custom Numeric Code
• Custom Alphanumeric Code

A custom numeric code can contain more than four digits. An alphanumeric code can use letters, numbers, and other permitted characters. Select the code type, enter the new code, and confirm it when iPadOS asks.

If Turn Passcode Off or Change Passcode is missing, dimmed, or rejected, the iPad may be managed by a school or employer. An administrator can require a passcode, set minimum length or complexity rules, prevent simple codes, or block removal entirely. You cannot override that policy from the iPad’s normal Settings app. Contact the organization’s administrator instead of trying to remove its management profile; doing so may be prohibited and can cause access or enrollment problems.

What changes when you turn your iPad passcode off

Turning off the passcode makes unlocking easier, but it removes the main barrier protecting the iPad if someone else picks it up. Anyone with physical access may be able to open email, messages, photos, documents, browser sessions, and apps that do not have their own lock.

The passcode also helps protect data stored on the device and credentials saved in apps or password managers. Without a device passcode, those protections are weaker. Apple Pay also requires device security. Turning off the passcode can disable Apple Pay cards or require you to add them again after setting a passcode later.

If you want faster access, change to a memorable passcode instead of removing it. Passcode Options lets you choose a custom numeric code or an alphanumeric code rather than a short four-digit code.

A school- or work-managed iPad may not allow you to turn off the passcode. Its management profile can enforce a passcode policy, so changing or removing the code may be blocked even when you know the current one. Contact the organization’s administrator rather than trying to remove the management profile.

How to confirm the new setting works

Verify the result before you put the iPad away.

1. Press the top button, or use the configured method, to lock the iPad.
2. Wake the screen and try to unlock it. If you changed the passcode, enter the new code. If you turned the passcode off, the iPad should open without asking for a device passcode.
3. If your iPad uses Face ID or Touch ID, test that feature after the new passcode has been accepted once. Confirm that it unlocks the iPad as expected.
4. Open the passcode settings again and confirm that the page shows the setting you intended. After changing the passcode, the page should still show Turn Passcode Off. After removing it, the page should offer Turn Passcode On.
5. Keep your existing backup until you have confirmed that the iPad works normally and that important data is present. Changing the passcode does not normally erase your data, but a backup gives you a recovery option if a later problem requires an erase.

What if you forgot the iPad passcode?

There is no safe way to reveal or bypass a forgotten iPad passcode. Apple’s supported recovery process erases the iPad, including its current contents and settings. Stop guessing if the device is applying longer lockout delays.

If you have a backup, restore your data after the erase. The backup must contain the information you want to recover, and some items may sync separately through iCloud or another service.

One supported route is recovery mode:

1. Back up anything that is still accessible through iCloud or another available service, if possible.
2. Turn off the iPad. The button sequence depends on the model.
3. Connect the iPad to a Mac or Windows PC while putting it into recovery mode. On the computer, open Finder on a Mac with a recent macOS version, or use the Apple Devices app on Windows when available.
4. When the computer offers Update or Restore, choose Restore. This erases the iPad and reinstalls iPadOS.

You can also erase the iPad remotely with Find My if Find My iPad was enabled and the iPad can connect to the internet. Use the Find My app on another Apple device or the Find My service through your Apple Account, select the iPad, and choose the erase option. The exact controls can vary by device and service version.

After erasing, set up the iPad and choose the option to restore from an available backup. You will need the Apple Account associated with the iPad if Activation Lock is enabled. Erasing the device does not remove Activation Lock, and a secondhand iPad may remain unusable until its previous owner removes it from their account.

Conclusion

If you know the current passcode, open the matching Face ID, Touch ID, or Passcode page in Settings and choose `Turn Passcode Off` or `Change Passcode`. Keep a passcode when the iPad stores private information, payment cards, or saved account access. If you forgot the code, stop guessing, erase the iPad through recovery mode or Find My, and restore from a backup if one exists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the iPad passcode with Face ID or Touch ID instead of the old code?

No. Face ID and Touch ID can unlock the iPad during normal use, but iPadOS requires the current device passcode before you can change or remove it.

Will changing my iPad passcode delete anything?

Changing the passcode normally leaves your data and apps in place. Turning the passcode off changes the iPad’s security protections but does not erase it. Keep a current backup in case you later need to recover the device.

Can Apple Support bypass a forgotten iPad passcode without erasing it?

No. A forgotten passcode cannot be revealed or bypassed while preserving the device’s contents. The supported solution is to erase the iPad and restore it from a backup when possible.