Hello, this image has an indigo blue background, with lime green writing across the top which says ‘One simple tip to save you from this!’ In the bottom left hand corner is a bright yellow padlock which is unlocked to symbolise being able to unlock your Apple account with the help of a ‘Recovery Contact’. Next to the padlock is a screenshot of what your phone screen would look like if you were to be locked out of the Apple ID. In the bottom right is the Simpatico Logo. Thanks for reading.

Set this up to avoid being permanently locked out!

If you own an iPhone and are prone to forgetting login details and passwords, then perhaps you should consider setting up a Recovery Contact.  They can assist you with accessing your Apple account if you are in the unfortunate position of being locked out.

A recovery contact is someone who can verify your identity and help you regain access to your account if you have forgotten your Apple ID password or have been locked out.  They should be a person you know and trust, such as a family member or close friend.  You can select up to five recovery contacts, and if you’re in a Family Sharing group, the members of this group will be automatically recommended.

To set up a recovery contact, your device must be running iOS 15 or later and you need to have two-factor authentication turned on for your iCloud account.  Your recovery contact must also have a compatible device running at iOS 15 or later, and they must be over the age of 13.  They won’t have access to your account, only the ability to give you a code if you need one.

How to set up an Account Recovery Contact

On your iPhone:

Go to Settings >  Tap your name > Sign-In & Security > Account Recovery > Add Recovery Contact > Tap Add Recovery Contact again (on the pop up)

Be aware that if any of your connected devices are not on iOS 15 or above (or not capable of being because they are old models) these will be flagged up.

If you’re in a family sharing group, the members of the group will be recommended on the Add Recovery Contact screen, so you can select someone from that list, or you can tap ‘Choose Someone Else’  If you select a family member they’ll be added automatically, however if you choose a contact, they will have to accept the request.  You will be notified once they have accepted the request, and likewise if they decline the request, then you’ll have to select someone else.

How to get a recovery code from your recovery contact

If you forget your Apple ID password and are locked out, you will have to identify some of your Apple ID account information before contacting your Recovery Contact.

Your Recovery Contact will need to follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Tap Name > Password & Security > Account Recovery

Then they will need to select your name from the list (if they are the Recovery Contact for more than one person), and then tap Get Recovery Code, which should give them a six-digit code, which they can then pass on to you.  You can enter it into your device and you should be able to reset your password and regain access.

It is a really good idea to check that you know what your Apple ID is and save it in a safe secure place.  You can test logging in at www.icloud.com