Set up a recovery key for your Apple Account
A recovery key is an optional security feature that helps improve the security of your Apple Account. If you lose access to your account, you can use your recovery key to reset your password and regain access.
Improve your Apple Account security with a recovery key
A recovery key is a secret 28-character code you can use, along with a trusted phone number and an Apple device, to recover your account and data.
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 Account 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 Account
You can generate a recovery key on a trusted device signed in to your Apple Account. 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 Account. 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. You’ll also need to set up two-factor authentication, if you haven’t already.
How to set up or update a recovery key on iPhone or iPad
In Settings, tap your name, then tap Sign-in & Security. You may need to enter your Apple Account 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 & Security.
Click Account Recovery.
Next to Recovery Key, click Manage, then enter your Apple Account 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 Account 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 Account, you need to provide your recovery key to reset your password and regain access to your account. You’ll also need to enter the verification code sent to your trusted phone number through two-factor authentication. Didn’t get a verification code?
When you change additional information about your Apple Account (for example, if you add a trusted phone number), you may 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 instead use account recovery to regain access to your Apple Account.
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.
Find out more about Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
Find out more about recovery contacts
