IPHONE
How to add a recovery contact on an iPhone (iOS 27)
In short
Open Settings, tap your name, then Sign-In & Security and Recovery Contacts. Tap Add Recovery Contact, then Choose a Recovery Contact and pick someone you trust. They must be at least 13 and have an Apple device. If you forget your password or passcode, they can give you a code.
3 of 3 steps show a real screenshot from our iPhone 17e. Each step was checked against the maker's own instructions, linked at the end.
Steps
- 1
Tap Recovery Contacts
In Settings, tap your name, then Sign-In & Security. Recovery Contacts is under Recovery Methods, above Recovery Key; both said Set up on ours.
- 2
Tap Add Recovery Contact
The page says a recovery contact can help get your account and data back, and that if you forget your passcode you need a recovery contact or a recovery key.
- 3
Tap Choose a Recovery Contact
The note says the person must be at least 13 years old and have an Apple device.
If you do not see this option
- Asked to turn on two-factor authentication? Apple says to turn it on if prompted. On ours it was already on: Two-Factor Authentication sits under Security on the same Sign-In & Security page. Source: Set up a recovery contact for your Apple Account
- Asked to update or remove a device? Apple says all your Apple devices must run iOS 15, iPadOS 15 or macOS Monterey 12 or later, and you may be asked to remove older devices you no longer use. Source: Set up a recovery contact for your Apple Account
- Too young to add one? Apple says you and your contact must be over 13, and that the age varies by country or region. Our screen said at least 13. Source: Set up a recovery contact for your Apple Account
If this does not work
- The person you want is not offered? Apple says they need an Apple device on iOS 15, iPadOS 15 or macOS Monterey 12 or later, and both of you need iMessage turned on. Tap Choose Someone Else to pick a different person.
- They declined or removed themselves? Apple says you get a notification and can pick someone else.
- Not sure who your contacts are? Apple says it cannot identify your recovery contacts for you, so you need to remember who they are. Keep a note of their names somewhere other than the iPhone, together with how to reach them.
- Your contact asks what they must do? Apple says a recovery contact can help you in person or get a six-digit recovery code for you. You then enter that code on your own device. Let them know in advance that a request like this may come from you.
Good to know
Apple says people in your Family Sharing group are added straight away. Anyone else gets an invitation in Messages and must accept it. You can add up to five.
While you are there, keep your password strong: how to change your Apple Account password on an iPhone.
Adding a recovery contact changes nothing in your daily use: you sign in as before, and Apple says the contact gets no access to your account, only the ability to give you a code. If you later turn on Advanced Data Protection, Apple says you decide whether you want a recovery contact or a recovery key as your recovery method, so having one set up already helps.
About this guide
- Device
- iPhone
- Shown on
- iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 17e)
- App
- Settings
- Path
- Settings › Your name › Sign-In & Security › Recovery Contacts
- Real screenshots
- 3 of 3 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 2 official, linked below
Sources
Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.Spotted a mistake? Menus change with updates, and we want every step to match your screen. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.
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