A recovery key is an optional security feature that helps improve the security of your Apple ID account. If you lose access to your account, you can use your recovery key to reset your password and regain access.
Improve your Apple ID security with a recovery key
A recovery key is an randomly generated 28-character code that helps improve the security of your Apple ID account by giving you more control over resetting your password to regain access to your account.
When you set up a recovery key, you turn off Apple’s standard account recovery process.
Instead, access to a trusted device or your recovery key will be required to reset your Apple ID password and sign in to your account if you ever lose access.
This gives you more control of your account recovery methods and can help prevent an attacker from gaining access to and taking control of your account. However, if you lose your recovery key and can’t access one of your trusted devices, you’ll be locked out of your account permanently.
You can set up and use a recovery key in iOS 14 or later, iPadOS 14 or later, or macOS Big Sur or later.
Set up a recovery key for your Apple ID
You can generate a recovery key on a trusted device signed in with your Apple ID. After you generate a recovery key, you can also follow these steps to update your recovery key and generate a new one.
When you generate a recovery key, print a copy or write it down. Keep it in a safe place, so that you always have access to your Apple ID. You can give a copy of your recovery key to a family member, or keep copies in more than one place.
Before you set up a recovery key, update your device to the latest software version.
How to set up or update a recovery key on iPhone or iPad
In Settings, tap your name, then tap Sign-in and Security. You may need to enter your Apple ID password.
Tap Account Recovery.
Tap Recovery Key, turn on Recovery Key, then tap Use Recovery Key and enter your device passcode.
Write down your recovery key and keep it in a safe place.
To complete setup, confirm your recovery key by entering it or scanning it.
How to set up or update a recovery key on Mac
Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click your name.
Click Sign-in and Security.
Click Account Recovery.
Next to Recovery Key, click Manage, then enter your Apple ID password.
Click Turn On, click Use Recovery Key, then enter the password for your Mac.
Print or write down your recovery key and keep it in a safe place.
Click Continue.
To complete setup, confirm your recovery key.
Use a recovery key
To change your Apple ID password, you need a trusted device (with a passcode or password) or your recovery key.
If you don’t have access to a trusted device or you’re locked out of your Apple ID, you need to provide your recovery key to reset your password and regain access to your account.
When you change additional information about your Apple ID (for example, if you add a trusted phone number), you might be asked for your recovery key.
Turn off recovery key
If you decide to stop using a recovery key, follow the steps above on your device and turn off recovery key. When you do, you can use account recovery to regain access to your Apple ID.
Recovery key and Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
When you turn on Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, the majority of your iCloud data uses end-to-end encryption, which means that Apple doesn’t have the encryption keys needed to help you recover that data. Therefore, you need to set up at least one alternative recovery method – either a recovery key or a recovery contact.
If you use Advanced Data Protection and set up both a recovery key and a recovery contact, you can use either your recovery key or recovery contact to regain access to your account.
Learn more about Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
Learn more about recovery contacts
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