How to Set a Passcode on the iPad

Setting a passcode on an iPad is the easiest way to protect your sensitive information, such as email accounts and credit card numbers, from unauthorized access. You can create a simple numerical passcode or an advanced multi-character passcode through the "Settings" menu. You can also create a touch ID on supported iPads.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Setting a Simple Passcode

  1. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 1
    1
    Swipe right on your iPad's screen to unlock it. Once you enable your passcode, this is the screen on which you'll enter it.
  2. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 2
    2
    Open your "Settings" app. This is the grey gear app on your home screen.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 3
    3
    Scroll until you find the "Passcode" option, then tap it. If this is your first time enabling a passcode, "Turn Passcode On" will be the only selectable option.
    • If your iPad supports Touch ID, this option will be called "Touch ID & Passcode".
  4. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 4
    4
    Tap "Turn Passcode On". Your iPad will prompt you for your desired 6-digit passcode.[1]
  5. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 5
    5
    Enter a passcode of your choosing. You'll need to enter it again exactly the same way on the next screen to verify.
  6. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 6
    6
    Confirm your passcode by typing it in again. If both your new passcodes match each other, you'll be taken back to the "Passcode Lock" screen.
  7. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 7
    7
    Press your lock button to lock your iPad. You still need to confirm that your passcode is active.
  8. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 8
    8
    Swipe right on your iPad's screen, then enter your passcode. Your iPad is now passcode-protected!
    • You can change or remove your passcode at any time in the "Passcode" menu.
    9. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Setting a Touch ID Passcode

  1. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 9
    1
    Swipe right on your iPad's screen. You'll need to have a passcode set in order to create a Touch ID passcode.[2]
  2. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 10
    2
    Enter your passcode.
  3. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 11
    3
    Open your "Settings" app. This is the grey gear app on your home screen.
  4. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 12
    4
    Find the "Touch ID & Passcode" tab and tap it. The "Touch ID" section will only appear for iPads with a Touch ID-enabled home button.
  5. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 13
    5
    Enter your passcode again. This will open the Passcode settings, from which you can set a new Touch ID.
  6. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 14
    6
    Tap "Add a Fingerprint".
  7. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 15
    7
    Touch the center portion of your chosen finger to the home button. Make sure you aren't pressing the home button--you only need to lightly touch it.
  8. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 16
    8
    When your iPad vibrates, lift your finger off of the home button. Your iPad may also prompt you to remove your finger with on-screen text.[3]
  9. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 17
    9
    Repeat steps 7 and 8 until your iPad moves to the next screen. You will have to scan your finger eight times.[4]
  10. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 18
    10
    When the "Adjust Your Grip" screen comes up, hold your iPad as you normally would while unlocking it. You'll need to scan different parts of your finger in order to complete the Touch ID process.
  11. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 19
    11
    Touch the edge of your finger to the home button. The edge you use will vary depending on how you normally tap your home button.
    • For example, if you normally use the outside of your right thumb to tap the home button, you would repeatedly touch that edge to the home button here.
  12. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 20
    12
    When your iPad vibrates, lift your finger off of the home button.
  13. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 21
    13
    Repeat steps 11 and 12 until your iPad tells you your fingerprint has been accepted. Your Touch ID is now active!
  14. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 22
    14
    Lock your iPad. You'll need to verify that your Touch ID works.
  15. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 23
    15
    Tap the home button once to turn on the screen.
  16. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 24
    16
    Touch your scanned finger to the home button. This should unlock your iPad after a second or so.
    • If your chosen finger doesn't work, try using a different finger.
    • You can save up to five fingerprints.
    • You can also use your Touch ID to make purchases or verify downloads from the app store.
    17. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Setting an Advanced Passcode

  1. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 25
    1
    Swipe right on your iPad's screen to unlock it. Once you enable your passcode, this is the screen on which you'll enter it.
  2. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 26
    2
    Open your "Settings" app. This is the grey gear app on your home screen.
  3. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 27
    3
    Scroll until you find the "Passcode" option, then tap it.
    • If your iPad supports Touch ID, this option will be called "Touch ID & Passcode".
  4. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 28
    4
    Tap "Turn Passcode On". This will take you to the passcode entry screen.
  5. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 29
    5
    Tap "Passcode Options" at the bottom of the screen. This gives you three different passcode choices in addition to the standard 6-digit passcode.
    • The "Custom Alphanumeric Code" option allows numbers, letters, and symbols, with no character limit.
    • The "Custom Numeric Code" option allows numbers with no character limit.
    • The "4-Digit Numeric Code" option allows a traditional 4-digit passcode.
  6. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 30
    6
    Select your preferred option, then enter a passcode of your choosing. You'll need to enter it again exactly the same way on the next screen to verify.
  7. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 31
    7
    Confirm your passcode by typing it in again. If both your new passcodes match each other, you'll be taken back to the "Passcode Lock" screen.
  8. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 32
    8
    Press your lock button to lock your iPad. You still need to confirm that your passcode is active.
  9. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 33
    9
    Swipe right on your iPad's screen, then enter your passcode. Your iPad is now passcode-protected!
    • You can change or remove your passcode at any time in the "Passcode" menu.
    10. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Changing an Existing Passcode

  1. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 34
    1
    Swipe right on your iPad's screen. This will take you to the "Enter Passcode" screen.
  2. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 35
    2
    Enter your passcode.
  3. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 36
    3
    Open your "Settings" app. This is the grey gear app on your home screen.
  4. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 37
    4
    Scroll until you find the "Passcode" option, then tap it. Your iPad will prompt you for your current passcode.
    • If your iPad supports Touch ID, this option will be called "Touch ID & Passcode".
  5. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 38
    5
    Enter your passcode. This is the same passcode you use to unlock your iPad.
  6. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 39
    6
    Tap "Change Passcode". Your iPad will prompt you for your current passcode one more time.[5]
  7. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 40
    7
    Enter your current passcode. This will take you to the "Enter your new passcode" page.
  8. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 41
    8
    Enter a new passcode of your choosing. You'll need to enter it again exactly the same way on the next screen to verify.
  9. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 42
    9
    Confirm your passcode by typing it in again. If both your new passcodes match each other, you'll be taken back to the "Passcode Lock" screen.
  10. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 43
    10
    Press your lock button to lock your iPad. You still need to confirm that your passcode was updated.
  11. Image titled Set a Passcode on the iPad Step 44
    11
    Swipe right on your iPad's screen, then enter your passcode. Your passcode is now updated!
    • You can change or remove your passcode at any time in the "Passcode" menu.
    12. Advertisement

Community Q&A

  • Question
    What types of passcode locks are there?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can either set a numerical passcode (simple passcode) or use an alphanumeric passcode (letters and numbers).
  • Question
    What if I don't set a passcode?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Then your device is accessible by anyone.
  • Question
    How do I set up a Touch ID passcode?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Make sure Touch ID is enabled. Enter your passcode, and press "add fingerprints." Follow the steps listed.
Advertisement

Warnings

Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • iPad

You Might Also Like

Buy an iPad
How to
Buy an iPad
Put an eBook on an iPad
How to
Put an eBook on an iPad
Obtain the Identifier Number (UDID) for an iPhone, iPod or iPad
How to
Obtain the Identifier Number (UDID) for an iPhone, iPod or iPad
Take a Screenshot With an iPadHow to Take a Screenshot on an iPad: Pro, Mini, Air, & More
Set up Email on an iPad
How to
Set up Email on an iPad
Undisable an iPad
How to
Undisable an iPad
Update iOS
How to
Update iOS
Is Your iPad Too Old to UpdateHow to Tell if Your iPad Is Too Old to Update
Jailbreak an iPad
How to
Jailbreak an iPad
See if Someone Read Your Text on iPhone or iPadHow to See if Someone Read Your Text on iPhone & iPad
Use Smart View on iPhone or iPad
How to
Use Smart View on iPhone or iPad
Turn Off AirPlayComplete Guide for Turning Off AirPlay
Transfer Files to iPad from a Computer
How to
Transfer Files to iPad from a Computer
Reset an iPad Without the Password
How to
Reset an iPad Without the Password
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-bn/HT204060
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201371
  3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201371
  4. ↑ http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/iphone/how-use-touch-id-finger-scanning-passcode-3579832/
  5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-bn/HT204060

About This Article

Jack Lloyd
Co-authored by:
Jack Lloyd
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 392,777 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 29
Updated: March 17, 2022
Views: 392,777
Categories: Featured Articles | Ipad
Article SummaryX

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode.
3. Tap Turn Passcode On.
4. Enter a passcode.
5. Confirm the code.

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement