Turn off passcode that is suddenly active after update to iOS 18

Completely removing your Passcode from you iPad is ill-advised - as this will completely disable a number of advanced functions such as your Keychain (the contains all your saved passwords etc.). You can, however, disable the auto-lock function - while keeping the Passcode intact. With auto-lock disabled, you’ll only be prompted for your Passcode if you manually lock the iPad - or after a restart.

Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock - set to Never

If you really wish to completely disable the iPad Passcode (not recommended - as described above, you’ll disable key functionality), you can completely remove the Passcode:

Settings > TouchID|TouchID & Passcode > Turn Passcode Off

As documented by Apple in its Security Guide, for devices with TouchID or FaceID enabled, you device Passcode is reportedly required in the following circumstances…

A passcode or password is also required if the device is in any of the following states:

• The device has just been turned on or restarted

• The user has logged out of their Mac account (or hasn’t yet logged in).

• The user hasn’t unlocked their device for more than 48 hours.

• The user hasn’t used their passcode or password to unlock their device for 156 hours (six and a half days), and the user hasn’t used a biometric to unlock their device in

4 hours.

• The device has received a remote lock command

• The user exited power off / Emergency SOS by pressing and holding either volume button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously for 2 seconds and then pressing Cancel.

• There were five unsuccessful biometric match attempts (though for usability, the device might offer entering a passcode or password instead of using biometrics after a smaller number of failures).

When Face ID with a mask is enabled on an iPhone, it’s available for the next 6.5 hours after one of the following user actions:

• Successful Face ID match attempt (with or without a mask)

• Device passcode validation

• Device unlock with Apple Watch

Any of these actions extends the period by an additional 6.5 hours when performed.

Much of your iPad’s advanced functionality simply won’t work unless a Passcode has been initially set - such as TouchID/FaceID and Keychain stored passwords - and for this reason alone it is almost certain that a Passcode has been previously set, even if the auto-lock function was subsequently disabled.

I will take one guess based on what you’ve told us.

Have you set up two-factor authentication for your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID)? If not, it’s more than time to do so.

Two-factor authentication for Apple Account - Apple Support

infiniter wrote:

it would always ask for the passcode when unlocking

What are the exact words of this request?