nakatauren
Level 1 (2 points)

Q: iPhone asking for a 4-digit passcode but I'm using a 6-digit passcode

Hello,

 

I set up a 6-digit passcode when I upgraded to iOS 9 back in September. When I woke up this morning and tried to unlock my phone using Touch ID, my phone (iPhone 6) asked for a passcode, but it is asking for a 4-digit passcode. My old 4-digit passcode did not work and I cannot enter a 6-digit one. Iõm fairly certain that I haven't touched a single setting related to the passcode since September. Right now my phone is pretty useless, as i tried if a restart might solve the problem and now my SIM card is also locked.

 

Is there any way to unlock the phone or do I need to restore it using iTunes?

 

Thank You!

iPhone 6, iOS 9.2

Posted on Jan 8, 2016 12:09 AM

by pedro d,Solvedanswer
pedro d pedro d
Community Specialists
A:

Hello there, nakatauren.

 

It seems your iPhone is requesting a 4-digit passcode instead of the 6-digit passcode you had it set to and now you are unable to enter the necessary password to unlock it. The following Knowledge Base article offers up the options you have available for restoring your device:

 

If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled

 

If you enter the wrong passcode in to an iOS device six times in a row, you'll be locked out and a message will say that your device is disabled.

Pick a way to erase your device

Unless you made a backup before you forgot your passcode, there isn't a way to save your device's data. You'll need to erase your device, which deletes all of your data and settings. Choose a way to erase:

  • If you've synced with iTunes, use iTunes.
  • If you're signed in to iCloud and Find My iPhone is enabled, use iCloud.
  • If you don't use iCloud and you can't sync or connect with iTunes, use recovery mode.

 

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.

 

Kind Regards.

Posted on Jan 10, 2016 1:31 PM

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nakatauren

Q: iPhone asking for a 4-digit passcode but I'm using a 6-digit passcode

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by pedro d,Solvedanswer

    pedro d pedro d Jan 10, 2016 1:31 PM in response to nakatauren
    Community Specialists
    Jan 10, 2016 1:31 PM in response to nakatauren

    Hello there, nakatauren.

     

    It seems your iPhone is requesting a 4-digit passcode instead of the 6-digit passcode you had it set to and now you are unable to enter the necessary password to unlock it. The following Knowledge Base article offers up the options you have available for restoring your device:

     

    If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled

     

    If you enter the wrong passcode in to an iOS device six times in a row, you'll be locked out and a message will say that your device is disabled.

    Pick a way to erase your device

    Unless you made a backup before you forgot your passcode, there isn't a way to save your device's data. You'll need to erase your device, which deletes all of your data and settings. Choose a way to erase:

    • If you've synced with iTunes, use iTunes.
    • If you're signed in to iCloud and Find My iPhone is enabled, use iCloud.
    • If you don't use iCloud and you can't sync or connect with iTunes, use recovery mode.

     

    Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.

     

    Kind Regards.

  • by Stmigarcia2016,

    Stmigarcia2016 Stmigarcia2016 Feb 12, 2016 6:45 AM in response to nakatauren
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 12, 2016 6:45 AM in response to nakatauren

    While the solution provided resolved the fact that devices are inaccessible, what is the root cause? Why, if we the users, are not making changes to our devices do we need to restore devices? There has to be a reason the iOS is changing from a 4 digit passcode to a 6 digit passcode and 6 to 4.  There has to be a better solution then taking the hour or so, to wipe the devise and download a new iOS to a computer and the 30 minutes to an hour to install the new iOS. The hour or so to restore all my data, when it only took seemingly minutes for the device to change my passcode length from 4 digits to 6.

  • by nbhatia911,

    nbhatia911 nbhatia911 Jul 2, 2016 3:09 AM in response to Stmigarcia2016
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Jul 2, 2016 3:09 AM in response to Stmigarcia2016

    I am having a similar issue. I restarted my iphone and it is asking me 6 digit passcode instead of 4 digit passcode. Also I use macbook air for backup and that itunes also cannot detect iphone5. I dont understand this is a bug from Apple. I have always sync my iphone with macbook and now first iphone is showing me 6 digit passcode screen instead of 4 digit and itunes also I cannot use to restore my iphone ?

     

    My itunes cannot be used to restore my phone when I have backup on my macbook

  • by jarrrgh,

    jarrrgh jarrrgh Sep 15, 2016 12:47 AM in response to pedro d
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 15, 2016 12:47 AM in response to pedro d

    I made a backup to iCloud of my old device iPhone 4S (iOS 9.3.5). Then battery died on my iPhone 6 (iOS 9.3.?). Once the iPhone 6 rebooted, it started asking for a 4 digit passcode, although my passcode is 6 digits. Way back it was 4 digits, later 5 and now 6. I remember all of those, but none of them works. I'm guessing it still would require the 6 digit code, but allows typing only four.

  • by Njofrekk,

    Njofrekk Njofrekk Sep 15, 2016 12:57 AM in response to jarrrgh
    Level 1 (36 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 15, 2016 12:57 AM in response to jarrrgh

    Is it possibly a SIM card 4-digit pass code it is asking for and not an iPhone passcode?

  • by jarrrgh,

    jarrrgh jarrrgh Sep 15, 2016 1:33 AM in response to Njofrekk
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 15, 2016 1:33 AM in response to Njofrekk

    Nope, it's asking for passcode and the SIM pin does not work either.