Use Contact Key Verification on Mac
Your messages are end-to-end encrypted so that nobody other than you and the person that you’re exchanging messages with—not even Apple—can read them while they’re in transit between devices. With macOS 14.2 or later, you can use Contact Key Verification to further verify that you’re only exchanging messages with the people you intend. For requirements, troubleshooting, and other details, see About iMessage Contact Key Verification.
Note: Contact Key Verification is designed to detect sophisticated attacks against iMessage servers; it isn’t designed to prevent fraud such as phishing or other text-based scams.
Turn on Contact Key Verification
When you turn on Contact Key Verification on one of your Apple devices, it’s turned on for all devices where you’re signed in with your Apple ID.
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
If you don’t see your name, click “Sign in with your Apple ID,” enter your Apple ID (or another email address or phone number on file), then enter your password. If you don’t have an Apple ID, you can create one.
Click Contact Key Verification (you may need to scroll down), then turn on Verification in iMessage.
Note: You may be prompted to update all of your devices to macOS 14.2, iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, watchOS 9.2, or later. If you have a device that can’t be updated, you need to sign out of iMessage on that device or remove it from your Apple ID.
Compare verification codes in person or over the phone
For a higher level of security, you can compare verification codes with someone simultaneously in person or over the phone. Both of you need to generate a code on your devices at the same time.
In the Messages app
on your Mac, select a conversation with the person you want to verify.Click the Info button
, scroll down, then click Verify Contact.After you both click Verify Contact, a code appears.
Note: If Verify Contact is dimmed, make sure the person you’re trying to verify is saved in your contacts. See Create and manage contacts in Messages.
Compare the code in person or over FaceTime, then do one of the following:
If the codes match: Click Mark as Verified. When the other person’s contact card appears, click Done.
A checkmark icon
is shown in their contact card in Contacts and next to their name in conversations in Messages.If the codes don’t match: You might not be communicating with the person you intend. You should stop sending messages to that person until you can verify their identity.
If you click Mark as Verified by mistake, you can delete the verification code in the contact card. See Update contact information in Contacts.
Share your Public Verification Code
You can share your Public Verification Code so that the people you’re sending messages to can verify your identity.
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
If you don’t see your name, click “Sign in with your Apple ID,” enter your Apple ID (or another email address or phone number on file), then enter your password. If you don’t have an Apple ID, you can create one.
Click Contact Key Verification (you may need to scroll down).
Click Copy Verification Code, then share it with the people you’re exchanging messages with.
Verify a contact using their Public Verification Code
You use other people’s Public Verification Codes to verify them.
In the Contacts app
on your Mac, select a contact, then click Edit at the bottom of the window.Click the Add button
at the bottom of the window, click More Fields, then click Verification Code.In the “verification code” field, type or paste the public verification code that your contact shared, then click Done.
If the codes match: A checkmark icon
is shown in their contact card and next to their name in conversations in Messages.If the codes don’t match: A checkmark icon
is not shown in their contact card. Make sure you copied or pasted the code correctly.If the code seems correct, you might not be communicating with the person you intend. You should stop sending messages to that person until you can verify their identity.