Q: Requirement to enter passcode every 48 hours

I was hoping with the upgrade from my iPhone 5s this issue might go away, but with a new iPhone 6s it just happened again unfortunately this morning. Less than 7 days since I started using it...

I too have fallen victim to this now twice... but with a twist. The phone won't take my password either... and before anyone asks, YES, I do remember my password.

Details:

1. iPhone 6 Plus (not 6s)

2. iOS 9.1

3. Corporate Exchange account requiring a complex password

4. Used my phone the night before; put it on my nightstand (not on charger) and in the morning I was prompted for the password.

I had this happen about 10 days ago and had to wipe my phone using Find My iPhone. I didn't restore from backup so the issue couldn't have been 'brought back to life' from a backup. I haven't bothered loading many 3rd party apps... just Mint and Pandora.

Well, it happened again this morning. Phone still won't take my password. Looks like I'll have to wipe the phone again.

THANKS APPLE

Hi Travis,

If by not taking my password, you mean an unresponsive keyboard... You can try and not use the fingerprint button to switch the phone on. Rather use the power button and swipe to get the keyboard. I find this allows me to enter my passphrase when the keyboard is unresponsive after asking for my passphrase "after 48 hours".

My iPad does not have a fingerprint reader and I find that even its keyboard also just locks up when using the home button to switch it on. It might lock up immediately or sometimes allow me to enter a few keys before locking.

So this bug seem to have siblings.

Hope it helps.

PollieXmas,

The keyboard works... the phone just doesn't accept the password I put in.

iOS 9.x brought an update that requires you to TYPE IN your passcode every 48h.

They show you a message saying you are required to enter it if you didn't UNLOCK the device, but that's actually the wrong message. I noticed that my iPad, which uses complex passcode and is usually only unlocked by touch id, requires me to type the passcode in every 2 days, whereas my iPhone, which I often unlock by typing the code (I work in a lab and sometimes have to unlock my phone using gloves, so no touch id available) has never required me to type in the passcode unless I restart the device.

I don't think this is a bug, but rather an intended safety measure.

I hope this clarifies things.

No, it's a bug, an unwelcome "feature" inadvertently introduced in iOS 9.  I can't imagine anyone in their right mind working at Apple had intended for the user to have to re-enter their password every two days, when they've been unlocking their device continually with Touch ID, including numerous times within the previous 48 hours.  That makes no sense.  So, it is a bug, and Apple is demonstrating that they are still struggling in the Q/A department, likely due to Wall Street's insatiable demands that Apple release new stuff on an impossible schedule.

No, this is definitely a bug. I have an iPad Air & an iPhone 6. Both are kept up to date and have the very latest iOS updates. I've NEVER received the 48-hour  message on my iPad, but have received it numerous times, though very sporadically, on my phone. I'm always using my phone. The longest period of time I go without using it is overnight (6-8 hours). There's no telling when the 48-hour message will show up: it might show up tomorrow, then 2 days later, then not for 3 weeks. The only consistency is that whenever it does show up, my phone has not been idle for any longer than 8 hours. The message is not accurate for my circumstances, nor for many of the others who have posted here. While a device that has been idle for 48 hours DOES now require to have a password entered, a device that's been idle for any amount of time less than the 48 hours SHOULD permit the fingerprint login. I believe Apple may have even already acknowledged that this is a bug; there is no question that is the case.

IVe had this issue on my iPhone 6 every two or three weeks while my husband has not had this error yet!! He's got an iPhone 6 Plus same software.

HOwever, sometimes his finger doesn't work to answer his phone calls. Rather annoying!

There is no way I am going to read 11-pages of forum posts and try to sift through it all... so please pardon my asking: Has there been a definitive solution to this phenomenon or is it still an ongoing issue awaiting a fix from Cupertino...?

I have had this happen on my iPhone 6, my iPad, my iPad Pro... and as of 2 days ago, my WIFE had it happen on HER new iPad.

It's clearly a bug - and I am about to log a feedback message to Apple, but figured I'd look for a solution on here first. A quick glance at pages 10 & 11 seem to signal that there is no solution yet, but I may be mistaken. Thanks.

It happens randomly, with no discernible pattern. It has never happened on my iPhone 6, and has happened only 3 or 4 times on my iPad Air 2. With very long gaps between instances. It was reported by some users in iOS 8, so it isn't specifically an iOS 9 issue. So it is most likely a bug, but on the scale I use for bugs (Critical, Severe, Annoying and Interesting) it falls between Annoying and Interesting. It does no harm, and considering that prior to the iPhone 5S, ALL iOS devices required entering a passcode every time they were unlocked, would not be high on my list of bugs in triage. Surely the one that broke all POP email accounts would be way up on the list compared to this one, and it has gone unfixed for months.

NO solution. It's a random event and Apple has an open ticket on the issue. 3 times in two months isnt life altering so I'm not going to get upset. It would be nice to get an update though.

Well sure, no iOS bug is life altering. But for some of us, this occurs several times a week on numerous devices. Only an annoyance, but one worth inquiring about. Thanks for the summation.

UPDATED Nov 27,2015
No 48 hour request after doing complete (and inconveniently taking 3 hours) restore factory after using iTunes to backup.

Now up to date and free of needing pass code or updates.
Omitted using iCloud suggestion as it is more intrusive.
I lost a couple minor apps during re-installation as they are not currently available in app store.
It may be fixed for now or just the holiday's causing less frequent usage.

Here is the discussion from November 17, 2015
As per Apple Chat...

Seems to indicate restore only after ERASE DEVICE and add Setup Assistant.

I am trying the Backup then Restore with iTunes 12.3.1.23 on El Capitan 10.11.1

Wish me luck !

"Marcus:
I would suggest to attempt to restore the device. To restore using iTunes

Connect your device to the computer that you stored your backup on. Open iTunes. Click restore and wait for the process to finish. The only way to restore from an iCloud backup is through the Setup Assistant. To get to the Setup Assistant on a device you already set up, you'll need to erase all the content on your device and set it up again."

After the "48 hour bug" began hitting my iPhone 6 Plus more frequently, and noticing some UI irregularities in everyday use, I did a complete restore and setup as new iPhone yesterday.  I didn't use iTunes. It took hours to get the phone back where I wanted it, naturally, and due to the nature of this bug, I'll never be 100% certain if it's gone. I guess if it doesn't rear its head again prior to the next iOS update, that would be an indication. Got mah fangers crossed. Happy Holidays to all!

This just starting happening to me over the last week, twice now.  I've been running 9.1 since it was released on my iPhone 6.