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manojdesilva Author

Level 1

40 points

What's the software update password

What the software update password?

iPad, iOS 7.1.1, What the software update password

Posted on May 11, 2014 4:21 AM

Best reply

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,144 points

Posted on Sep 2, 2014 1:16 AM

If you aren't using a passcode to unlock the phone, and you no longer have a Restrictions passcode, then it shouldn't ask you for one to update iOS - Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If your device is passcode enabled, it will ask you to enter the passcode before installing the update.

Try closing Settings via the phone's taskbar : double-click the home button to open the taskbar, and if on iOS 7 swipe/drag the Settings app up and off the top of the screen to close it ; if on iOS 6 or below then press and hold an app on the taskbar for a second or two until they shake and then tap the 'x' on Settings to close it ; press the home button to close the taskbar.

And then do a soft-reset : press and hold both the sleep and home buttons for about 10 to 15 seconds (ignore the red slider), after which the Apple logo should appear - you won't lose any content, it's the equivalent of a reboot.

The see if you are still asked for a code to update when the phone has restarted.

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30 replies

QQAL

Level 1

4 points

Aug 20, 2015 2:49 AM in response to j. michael

Thanks I.Michael - I had the exact same problem and it wasn't till I got to your reply that I found the solution. I have never recalled putting that password in for an update, I thought it was always my Apple I.D (only had Ipad and laptop in the past), but good to learn that it is the phone passcode that does the trick. I was beginning to doubt my sanity :-) I totally agree with your comment for Apple to make it clearer what passcode is required.

Jul 25, 2016 8:22 AM in response to manojdesilva

I just went through two frustrating days and an umpteen number of icloud password resets. The issue was when I was trying to update to the latest version of IOS (9.3.3) the password I was submitting (icloud) was not being accepted. The message was "x# Failed Passcode Attempts". I reset my icloud password several times with no luck. King_Penguin on this board suggested it may be your device password. So I decided to plug the password to unlock my phone and voila! it worked. Thank you King_Penguin.

Kostik S

Level 1

12 points

Aug 25, 2016 9:30 PM in response to j. michael

Wasted 30 minutes figuring out that it is your iPads passphrase.

Nov 1, 2016 2:28 AM in response to manojdesilva

Hi,

i was also facing same problem, but i tried with my screen unlock password and which is working.

use your screen unlock passcode which is numeric.

best luck.

Nov 3, 2016 4:34 PM in response to j. michael

Yes! I'm fairly experienced by now, but this threw me for a loop. J.michael's comment about the clarity of just "passcode" vs, "iOS device passcode" is on target, especially since the fingerprint/numerical passcode has come in as of late iOS 9 and 10.