Apple Account and iCloud
Account Recovery Contact
Most people call this someone who can help you back into your account.
A trusted person can generate a code that helps you regain access to your Apple Account if you forget your password.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 16 and later
- Settings
- Apple Account
- Sign-In & Security
- Account Recovery
What it does
The recovery contact cannot see your data and cannot access your account. They can only supply a code when you ask. A recovery key is the alternative, and it is a string you keep yourself.
What changes
When it is on
That person can help you recover access.
When it is off
Recovery relies on Apple's own process, which can take days.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Recovery becomes quick rather than a multi day process.
- Required before Advanced Data Protection can be enabled.
- The contact sees none of your data.
Good reasons to turn it off
- You have to trust the person to be reachable and to keep the arrangement.
- A recovery key may suit you better if you prefer not to involve anyone.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: None set.
Worth reading first
What your iPhone needs
- Needs iOS 15 or later
Questions people actually ask
- Can my recovery contact see my data?
- No. They can only generate a code that helps you prove it is you.
If it is not working
- The contact needs their own Apple device on a recent release.
- A recovery key is the alternative. Write it down and store it away from the phone.
- Set this up before you need it, not after.