Random issue of the day: Passcodes
Option 1: New corporate email account or Google Access?
First double check that you didn’t install a Google Device Policy for gaining access to Google-email or Google Drive or another secure email per IT requirements.
Certain corporate email accounts require a certain level of security (complex passcode) and require ability to auto-lock phone and/or erase data if someone is attempting to compromise your device. Makes sense, but it limits all your options on your phone for general security when doing so. Some security options will grey out everything.
This caused the restrictions on my passcodes requiring a long crazy password and drove me nuts. Couldn’t get back to a 4-digit or 6-digit passcode without dismantling that and REMOVING (aka uninstalling) it resolves 100%
FYI, if you want this it’s great, but comes with limitations for daily personal use.
Features include Locked screen access, Remote Wipe, Cloud access.
https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/6098065
How to remove google device policy iphone?
- Tap Google Device Policy .
- Tap Menu .
- Select your username and tap Manage Accounts.
- Tap Manage.
- Tap Remove for the account you want to remove.
- Tap Remove to confirm.
https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/3521320?hl=en
Remove the device policy profile
The profile helps your administrator protect and manage your device. If you remove the profile, you might not be able to access your work account on your device.
- On your iOS device, tap Settings
General
Device Management.
- Tap Google Apps Device Policy Payload Profile.
- Tap Remove Management.
- To confirm, tap Remove.
Option 2: Purgatory
Could be that you are stuck in purgatory and will need to enter the passcode created in order to reach the area where you can turn it off officially.
Settings > General > Passcode
or
Settings > Face ID & Passcode
- Press Settings.
- Press Face ID & Passcode.
- Press Turn Passcode On and key in a phone lock code of your own choice twice.
- Press the indicator next to “Erase Data” to turn the function on or off.
- If you turn on the function, press Enable.
- Press Turn Passcode Off and key in the phone lock code.
Want to use a passcode? Great: Read this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204060
Set up a passcode
- On iPhone X and later, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. On earlier iPhone models, go to Touch ID & Passcode. On devices without Touch ID, go to Settings > Passcode.
- Tap Turn Passcode On.
- Enter a six-digit passcode. Or tap Passcode Options to switch to a four-digit numeric code, a custom numeric code, or a custom alphanumeric code.
- Enter your passcode again to confirm it and activate it.
Change your passcode or passcode settings
On iPhone X and later, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. On earlier iPhone models, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode. On devices without Touch ID, go to Settings > Passcode.
You’ll find several settings and options:
- Turn Passcode Off: Tap this option to turn off your passcode.
- Change Passcode: Enter a new six-digit passcode. Or tap Passcode Options to switch to a four-digit numeric code, a custom numeric code, or a custom alphanumeric code.
- Require Passcode: As soon as you lock your screen, the default for this setting will ask you to enter your passcode to unlock. If you don’t want an immediate passcode requirement, change this setting. (For your own security, if you use Touch ID or Apple Pay, you can’t change the immediate passcode requirement).
- Allow Access When Locked: Use this option to allow access to some features when your device is locked, including Today View, Notification Center, Siri, Reply with Message, Control Center, Wallet, and USB accessories.
- Erase Data: Choose whether to erase your device automatically after ten failed passcode attempts. If you don’t enable this option, your device will need to be restored in iTunes after ten failed attempts.
Get help
Follow the steps in this section for help with things like passcode settings, alerts, and forgotten passwords.
If an alert says to change your passcode or you can’t adjust your passcode settings
Configuration profiles and email accounts based on Microsoft Exchange (common with business or education devices) sometimes have passcode policies that cause issues like this:
- You can’t turn off your passcode.
- You can’t change passcode settings because they’re unavailable, gray, or dimmed.
- You see an alert about a Passcode Requirement. For example, you might see a message that says you must change your iPhone unlock passcode within 60 minutes.
Contact your IT administrator for help. If you don’t use a configuration profile or Microsoft Exchange account, or if your device is personally owned, make sure you update your device to the latest version of iOS.
If you forgot your passcode
If you or someone else enters the wrong passcode too many times, your device will disable itself temporarily. If so, get help with a forgotten passcode or disabled device. Or, if you forgot your Restrictions passcode, learn what to do.