As a recovery contact, you can help a trusted friend or family member regain access to their account if they're ever locked out. Find out what to do if they need your help and how to accept or decline the request.
What a recovery contact does
As a recovery contact, you can help a friend or family member regain access to their account if they ever forget their Apple ID password or get locked out. If this happens, they can contact you on the phone or in person with simple instructions for how to generate and share a 6-digit recovery code with them. This code, along with other information they verify, can allow them to reset their password and regain access to their account and their data.
How to become an account recovery contact
To become an account recovery contact, a friend or family member first has to invite you. When they send the invitation, you will see a notification in the Messages app on your device. If you're part of their Family Sharing group, you'll be added as their recovery contact automatically. If not, you'll be asked to accept or decline this request.
You can remove yourself as a recovery contact at any time in Settings on your device.
Things to remember
As someone's account recovery contact, you won't have access to their account – you'll only have the ability to provide them with a code if they need one. You should only provide a code directly to your friend or family member. If anyone else contacts you requesting a code, do not provide it.
Requirements to be a recovery contact
Your device must be running iOS 15, iPadOS 15 or macOS Monterey or later.
You must be over the age of 13.
You need two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID.
You need a passcode set up on your device.
How to help your contact regain access to their account
If your friend or family member is locked out of their account, they'll first have to verify some of their Apple ID account information. Then they'll need to get in touch with you on the phone or in person. You can follow the steps below to generate and share a recovery code that they can enter on their device.
On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 or later
Go to Settings, then tap your name.
Tap Password & Security > Account Recovery.
Tap your contact's name.
Tap Get Recovery Code.
When your friend is ready, read them their recovery code. After they've entered it on their device, they'll be able to reset their password and regain access.
On your Mac with macOS Monterey or later
Choose Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click your name (or Apple ID).
Click Password & Security.
Next to Account Recovery, click Manage.
In the Account Recovery For section, find your contact's name, then click Details.
Click Get Recovery Code.
When your friend is ready, read them their recovery code. After they've entered it on their device, they'll be able to reset their password and regain access.
How to remove yourself as a recovery contact
If you don't want to be someone's recovery contact, follow these steps on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac.
On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 or later
Go to Settings, then tap your name.
Tap Password & Security, and then tap Account Recovery.
Under Account Recovery For, tap the person's name.
Tap Remove Contact.
The contact will see a message that you're no longer their account recovery contact.
On your Mac with macOS Monterey or later
Choose Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click your name (or Apple ID).
Click Password & Security.
Next to Account Recovery, click Manage.
In the Account Recovery For section, find your contact's name, then click Details.
Click Remove Contact.
The contact will see a message that you're no longer their account recovery contact.
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