ipad passcode can you use letters also? Forgotten passcode

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ipad passcode can you use letters also? Forgotten passcode

I am helping a friend out, whom I set the ipad up 4 months ago. I did not set up a passcode or fingerprint or anything. For some "unknown" reason now it wants one. She says she has "no idea" why it would ask for one. I am attempting to put in possible passcodes. Can ipad's also use letters? It is not backed up, for the simple fact I never use them for this simple reason. If I can not find it, then my understanding it will have to be reset back to factory settings? I understand this is not apple's fault, nor mine. It seems they would have a better way of getting it, and having to sit down every 15 mins or so to try again. Thanks for any assistance, Bruce

Posted on Mar 11, 2020 5:13 PM

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Answer 1

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Skydiver119

Level 9

53,453 points

Mar 11, 2020 6:11 PM in response to brucefl

It can have letters.

Settings

touch ID and passcode (or only passcode if you do not have Touch ID), change passcode, enter the current passcode, then you can see options for passcode, and one of those is an alphanumeric passcode.

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

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Answer 2

Mar 11, 2020 6:28 PM in response to brucefl

I use an strong 12 alphanumeric password on all my Apple mobile devices with touchID or faceID since I am not entering it often (use the biometrics normally). So yes it can be any password, with letters, numbers and special characters, if that option to use such was set up.

And yes, Apple has very deliberately designed iOS and iPadOS such that the only way to reset a forgotten screen lock passcode/password is to erase the device. This is their mechanism to ensure no one, nobody at all, can gain access to a device’s data without the passcode/password.

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