What is a recovery contact?
An account recovery contact is someone who can verify your identity and help you regain access to your account and all of your data if you ever get locked out.
Setting up a recovery contact isn’t required to use account recovery, but it can make regaining access to your account and data easier.
Who should be your recovery contact?
Your recovery contact should be a person that you know and trust, like a family member or a close friend. You can choose one of your contacts, or if you're in a Family Sharing group, the members of the group will be recommended. You can select up to five recovery contacts for your account. To protect your privacy, Apple doesn't know who your recovery contacts are, so it’s important for you to remember them.
What does your recovery contact need?
Your contacts will need an iOS device with iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 or later, or Mac with macOS Monterey or later, and must meet the minimum requirements. Your recovery contacts won't have any access to your account, only the ability to give you a code if you need one.
Requirements for setting up a recovery contact
- All of your devices must be running iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8 or macOS Monterey or later. You may be prompted to update any devices not running the latest OS, or remove any devices that you aren't using.
- You must be over the age of 13.
- You need two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID.
How to set up an account recovery contact
Find out how to set up an account recovery contact on your iPhone or iPad with iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 or later, or on your Mac with macOS Monterey or later.
On your iPhone or iPad with iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 or later
- Go to Settings, then tap your name.
- Tap Sign-In & Security, then tap Account Recovery.
- Tap Add Recovery Contact, then tap again and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.
- If you're in a Family Sharing group, the members of the group are recommended. Or you can tap Choose Someone Else to choose one of your contacts.
- If you select a family member, they're added automatically. If you select a contact, they’ll need to accept the request. You'll also send them a message to let them know that you'd like to add them as your recovery contact.
- After they’ve accepted your request, you will see a message that they have been added as your account recovery contact.
If your friend or family member declines or removes themselves as your recovery contact, you will see a notification and will need to select a new account recovery contact.
On your Mac with macOS Sonoma
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click your name.
- Click Sign-In & Security.
- Select Account Recovery.
- Click the Add button
and click Add Recovery Contact, then authenticate with Touch ID or your Mac password.
- If you're in a Family Sharing group, the members of the group are recommended. Or you can click Choose Someone Else to choose one of your contacts. Then click Continue.
- If you select a family member, they're added automatically. If you select a contact, they’ll need to accept the request. You'll also send them a message to let them know that you'd like to add them as your recovery contact.
- After they’ve accepted your request, you will see a message that they have been added as your account recovery contact.
If your friend or family member declines or removes themselves as your recovery contact, you will see a notification and will need to select a new account recovery contact.
How to get a recovery code from your recovery contact
If you forget your Apple ID password or get locked out of your account, just follow the steps on your device to share the onscreen instructions with your recovery contact, either in person or on the phone. Your recovery contact then shares a six-digit code that you enter on your device. After your identity is confirmed, you can reset your Apple ID password.