Get a recovery code for a friend or family member as their Apple Account recovery contact

As a recovery contact, you can help a friend or family member regain access to their account if they’re locked out.

Help your contact regain access to their account

If your friend or family member is locked out of their account, they first have to verify some of their Apple Account information on their device. Then, they’ll reach out to you on the phone or in person. You can use your device to generate a six-digit recovery code that they can enter on their device.

Get started and create a recovery code

Before you help a friend or family member as a recovery contact

To become a recovery contact, a friend or family member first has to invite you.

When a friend or family member asks for a recovery code

You should only provide a code directly to your friend or family member. If anyone else contacts you requesting a code for them, don’t provide it.

You can generate a six-digit recovery code on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If both you and your contact are using the latest version of iOS, you can help a nearby contact without generating a code.

Your contact might also ask you for a code to help them access their encrypted iCloud data.

Get a recovery code on your iPhone or iPad

  1. Go to Settings, then tap [your name].

  2. Tap Sign-In & Security, then tap Recovery Contacts.

  3. Scroll to Account Recovery For and tap your contact’s name.

  4. Tap Get Recovery Code.

    An iPhone showing Settings for Recovery Contacts. A button to Get Recovery Code for a selected contact is on screen.

  5. When your friend is ready, tell them their recovery code. After they enter the code on their device, they can reset their password and regain access.

Help a nearby friend or family member using your iPhone

  1. If your friend or family member is nearby and has started the account recovery process, you might see a prompt on your iPhone that says ‘Your Help is Requested’.

  2. Tap Help [person’s name].

  3. Hold your iPhone over the animation on your friend’s or family member’s iPhone. If this doesn’t work, tap Can’t Scan on your iPhone to use a code from their device to verify.

    iPhone screen showing "Waiting For Your Recovery Contact" with a blue icon and animated particles.

  4. After your device automatically helps your friend or family member, it will display Thanks For Your Help.

Get a recovery code on your Mac

  1. From the Apple menu , choose System Settings, then click [your name].

  2. Click Sign-In & Security, then click Recovery Contacts.

  3. Scroll to Account Recovery For and click your contact’s name.

  4. Click Get Recovery Code.

    A Mac screen showing System Settings. The Recovery Contacts section is open, with a button to Get Recovery Code for a selected contact.

  5. When your friend is ready, tell them their recovery code. After they enter the code on their device, they can reset their password and regain access.

How to remove yourself as a recovery contact

Learn how to remove yourself as a recovery contact

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