Passcode - How Do You Reset the Erase Data Count?

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Level 1

6 points

Passcode - How Do You Reset the Erase Data Count?

Hello,

I turned on require passcode, along with the option to erase data after 10 failed passcode attempts. I just noticed that the warning now says 8 failed passcode attempts. Since I remember accidentally entering the wrong passcode twice, I assume that the iPod is counting TOTAL failed attempts rather than CONSECUTIVE failed attempts.

If correct, one of these days, my iPod Touch is going to erase itself, probably when I need it the most.

Does anyone know of a way to reset the count to 10 to avoid this situation?

Thanks,
Ken

iPod Touch, Mac OS X (10.5.3)

Posted on Oct 29, 2008 7:43 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Oct 29, 2008 9:46 PM in response to Ken Dobyns

I thought it was only consecutive number of incorrect passcodes.

You could Restore it to reset it.

If it does erase the data, be aware that it takes a LONG time to do this (at least an hour) and you cannot stop it and simply restore it. It needs to finish.

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Answer 2

Oct 29, 2008 10:54 PM in response to Chris CA

Where is this information displayed? I have made some wrong password entries myself and I just did two more (deliberately) but I can see no change anywhere. All I see is the text beneath the Erase Data On/Off slide button that explains about the 10 failed attempts.

I also thought (and still believe) that it would be 10 consecutive wrong entries.

Message was edited by: Graham K. Rogers

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Answer 3

Oct 30, 2008 12:17 AM in response to Ken Dobyns

I found an Apple Knowledgebase article detailing the Passcode operation ( http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1212), and it confirms that erasing the data is after 10 CONSECUTIVE failed attempts.

It also states that to reset the Passcode, you must restore the Touch from the same computer you used to sync it originally. It's not clear that this will reset the failed attempt count, but I imagine it does, since you are doing a full restore from backup.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

Regards,
Rob

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Answer 4

Oct 30, 2008 8:53 AM in response to Rob Crestani

Well, Rob, I for one am grateful for that confirmation.

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Answer 5

Ken Dobyns Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 30, 2008 6:29 PM in response to Graham K. Rogers

On My iPod Touch, v2.1.1 SW:

Settings -> General -> Passcode Lock: Message below Erase Data control says:

Erase all data on this iPod
after 8 failed passcode attempts.

As in my original post, I assumed that this indicated that the iPod was counting down TOTAL failed attempts. I just ran an experiment, however, and intentionally failed the passcode a couple of times. The count did not change - it still says 8.

Very strange.

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Answer 6

Ken Dobyns Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 30, 2008 6:37 PM in response to Ken Dobyns

First, thanks to the folks who responded - what a great forum!

Second, as per my previous post, I don't understand why the count is 8 instead of 10 on my iPod, but it does not seem to be "accumulating" failures. I'll mark this question as resolved, because my concern seems inappropriate at this point in time.

Finally, just in case it matters to someone researching this in the future, I sync with an Exchange Server. Apparently, this causes passcode security to be turned on by default (addressed in other threads). Perhaps this "backdoor" control of my iPod has changed the passcode failure count as well.

Cheers,
Ken

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Answer 7

Oct 30, 2008 7:22 PM in response to Ken Dobyns

I just turned all that off, and then reset password and the "delete" setting and mine still says 10. I cannot find this in the iTunes information when the touch is connected, nor anywhere on the touch (even when resetting, the figure "10" comes up as part of the information, not as a number one can select). Curiouser and curiouser. . . .

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