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10.3 forces you to change passcode

M

macTW

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Original poster
Oct 17, 2016
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As the title says, for multiple people I know, iOS 10.3 forced us all to change unlock passcodes, even those of us who recently changed it. On top of that, there is now a minimum length for passcodes - 4 characters.

Just an FYI for anybody who didn't see this in the update notes (I didn't).
 
Just updated from a restored iPhone 5 running 10.2.1 to 10.3. I had no passcode at all on 10.2.1.

After updating to 10.3, at the Hello screen, I simply pressed "Passcode Options" and then "Do Not Use Passcode".

Currently running 10.3 without any passcode at all.
 
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Never saw that either, nor did I have to or was forced to change my passcode on my phone when upgrading from 10.2.1 to 10.3. My passcode is alphanumeric, plus am using TouchID. That's on my iPhone 6s.

My wife didn't have to do anything either, upgrading her 6s+ from 10.0.2 -> 10.3, and hers is a 6 digit passcode.

Finally, no passcode on her iPad 4 WiFi running 10.0.2. No forcing of changing the passcode there either. It will prompt you to set a passcode if you want to set one, but does not force you to change an existing passcode to something else.

There's nothing in the notes for that, because that isn't something that is or should happen.

BL.
 
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I can see where it would be confusing to someone who doesn't go through the setup screens very often though. The list only shows 'Do Not Use Passcode' when you press on Passcode Options.

Apple maybe can be accused of being somewhat opaque on the matter since they don't present the option to not use a passcode in the initial screen for it.
 
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Hasn't it always been a minimum of 4? Or, if you choose 'more complex' passcode, does it let you do less? (don't have device with me to test at the moment)
 
I noticed this as well. Set up a 4 digit passcode before I remembered I don't use a passcode. Lol.
 
My passcode stayed the same on my 7+ and I chose no passcode on my wife's 7 and 6+.
 
macTW said:
As the title says, for multiple people I know, iOS 10.3 forced us all to change unlock passcodes, even those of us who recently changed it. On top of that, there is now a minimum length for passcodes - 4 characters.

Just an FYI for anybody who didn't see this in the update notes (I didn't).
Click to expand...
Upgraded and didn't need to do anything in relation to the passcode (aside from having to enter it to start the update and after the phone turned back on).
 
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Here's the sequence of events:

Downloaded iOS update.
Begun install.
Install complete - type in passcode to unlock after shutdown
Hello screen.
Enter Apple ID password.
Choose to send analytics to Apple.
Got to home screen.

A few seconds later... a pop up saying I have to change my passcode.

This wasn't in the white-screen introduction portion. This was after all that, hence why I think something in 10.3 changed that required a minimum length of a passcode to 4 characters and anything shorter wouldn't be allowed.
 
macTW said:
Here's the sequence of events:

Downloaded iOS update.
Begun install.
Install complete - type in passcode to unlock after shutdown
Hello screen.
Enter Apple ID password.
Choose to send analytics to Apple.
Got to home screen.

A few seconds later... a pop up saying I have to change my passcode.

This wasn't in the white-screen introduction portion. This was after all that, hence why I think something in 10.3 changed that required a minimum length of a passcode to 4 characters and anything shorter wouldn't be allowed.
Click to expand...
Do you have any sort of business email accounts on your device? Or perhaps an Outlook mail server sort of thing? These (and possibly other similar things) can result in the requirement for a passcode change.
 
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4 numbers was the minimum then it changed to 6 numbers.

Are you using the non-number password option using letters and numbers? I don't use that so not familiar enough. Also, this could be a point of confusion for many reading this.
 
Nermal said:
6 is now the default, but isn't the minimum; you can still use 4 if you prefer.
Click to expand...

Interesting - you appear to be correct! Kinda have to jump through hoops to get there though. Once you choose it, and you go to change your passcode, it does try to make you go to 6 characters.
 
OriginalAppleGuy said:
Interesting - you appear to be correct! Kinda have to jump through hoops to get there though. Once you choose it, and you go to change your passcode, it does try to make you go to 6 characters.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I believe since iOS 10 came out, if not sometime before that, they've tried to push 6-digit passcode as the default basically, but there's still a way generally to select a different type of passcode (or no passcode at all).
[doublepost=1490837587][/doublepost]
OriginalAppleGuy said:
4 numbers was the minimum then it changed to 6 numbers.

Are you using the non-number password option using letters and numbers? I don't use that so not familiar enough. Also, this could be a point of confusion for many reading this.
Click to expand...
It was more of a default rather that the minimum, as in 6 is basically the default that is suggested/offered now, but 4 can still be selected. That might be different for actual alphanumeric passwords/passcodes (vs. the number PIN ones).
 
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