If you change the passcode on your iPhone and promptly forget it, Apple will now give you a 72-hour grace period to replace it before locking you out of your device in iOS 17, which is scheduled to be released in September. This is how it goes.
It is now possible to use the old passcode you previously used to reset an iPhone or iPad’s new passcode for up to three days after the change is made in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. In other words, if you’re someone who tends to forget a newly formed passcode, Apple allows you to use your old passcode within 72 hours of setting a new one.
After making a change, just touch on the Forgot Passcode? option at the bottom of the screen to use the Try Passcode Reset option if you enter the wrong passcode on a device running iOS 17. You can use your previous passcode to generate a brand-new passcode by tapping it.
There is also a setting called “Expire Previous Passcode Now” that you may enable to protect yourself in case someone has figured out your passcode. (Note that if you choose this option, you won’t be able to access your smartphone using your old passcode in the event that you forget your new one.) These actions need be followed to use the new option in iOS 17:
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and select Face ID/Touch ID & Passcode.
- Tap Expire Previous Passcode Now under “Temporary Passcode Reset.”
- Select Expire Now to confirm.
Despite a Wall Street Journal article from February highlighting instances of thieves spying on iPhone users in public when they enter their passcode, and then stealing the device to gain unrestricted access to it, it is still possible to change an Apple ID account’s password with an iPhone’s passcode.
According to report, in June 2023 that the company has continued to “look at other ways to address this,” but no adjustments have been made yet. Apple advises consumers to convert from a four-digit passcode to an alphanumeric passcode, which would be more difficult for thieves to spy on, in order to make theft more difficult. Additionally, you may do this in Settings by selecting Face ID & Passcode -> Change Passcode.