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 that 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 is 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.
If you don't know your account password and have lost or otherwise don't have a trusted device, you need your recovery key to regain access to your Apple Account. If you can't provide your recovery key, you’ll be locked out of your account permanently.
Print a copy of your recovery key or write it down. Keep your key in a safe place, and consider storing a copy in more than one place. You can also give a copy of your recovery key to a trusted family member.
Don’t store your recovery key in your Apple Passwords app, iCloud Photos, Notes, or iCloud Drive. If you lose access to your Apple Account, you won’t be able to open these apps to find it.
What you need
Before you set up a recovery key:
Update your device to the latest software version. To set up and use a recovery key, you need iOS 14 or later, iPadOS 14 or later, or macOS Big Sur or later.
Set up two-factor authentication, if you haven’t already.
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 or turn it off.
If you turn off your recovery key, you can again use Apple's standard account recovery process to regain access to your account.
How to set up or update a recovery key on iPhone or iPad
In Settings, tap your name, then tap Sign-in & Security. You might need to enter your Apple Account password.
Tap Recovery Key, then tap Continue and follow the onscreen steps to create a recovery key.
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 Recovery Key. You might need to 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
Reset your password: To regain access to your Apple Account if you don’t have a trusted device or you’re locked out, you need to provide your recovery key and a verification code sent to your trusted phone number.
Update account information: When you change some information about your Apple Account (for example, if you add a trusted phone number), you might be asked for your recovery key.
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