If you've upgraded to iOS 9, you may or may not have noticed, depending on how you upgraded, that your iPhone now requires a six-digit passcode to unlock your device. . This is two digits more than the previous four required. From the moment I upgraded to the iOS 9 beta months before the public release, people watching me enter a six-digit passcode into my phone would shudder in disgust.
For the record, a six-digit passcode is more secure than a four-digit passcode simply because it allows for a much wider combination of possible numbers. However, it also lengthens the time it takes to unlock your iPhone. So if you're looking to get back to the four-figure lifestyle, there's an easy way to do it. As a bonus, iOS 9 also offers a few other password options.
The following steps should serve as a template for changing your password before selecting the desired format. In other words, these are needed before getting rid of those two extra digits.
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Scroll down and select Touch ID &Passcode . You will be prompted to enter your current password before continuing. Yes, I'm sorry, that means re-entering the dreaded six digits. Once there, scroll down to choose Change Password . One last time, enter your current password.
Now you're ready to upgrade to a four-digit passcode or perhaps an entirely different format.
To change back to four digits, press Password Options above the number pad and select 4-digit number code from the menu. You will notice that the number of missing digits to be filled in will be reduced to four. You can now enter four digits. Tap your favorite combination then again to check and you're set.
However, if you want to switch things up, you can try choosing one of the other two passcode options. the Personalized numeric code will allow you to enter any number of digits, even a single digit, although this is not recommended for security reasons, even with Touch ID. the Custom alphanumeric code lets you combine letters and numbers to form a real password to unlock your iOS device. This is the most secure passcode type for iOS.
Tip: If you're trying to avoid long or tedious passcodes, avoid these last two options. Although they are more secure, they are faster to enter whenever you want to unlock your device. This is especially true if you choose an alphanumeric passcode, which uses the standard iOS keyboard instead of the numeric keypad.
Feel relieved? A four-digit password strikes the perfect balance between security and efficiency when unlocking your device. Remember that if you forget this password you will need to restore your device, so make it something to remember.
