Recovery contact and instructions

KEY POINT: Recovery Contact is to help you regain access into your AppleID ACCOUNT.

It does NOT regain access to a “device.” The ONLY access to a device remains a correctly-entered Passcode. Period.

See if this helps w/ how regaining account access can work w/ a Recovery Contact.

First:

This is written “to you” for BEFORE you need to use your contact:

Set up an account recovery contact - Apple Support

This next article is written “to the Account Recovery Contact.” (your assisting friend who can access their own devices)

Help a friend or family member as their account recovery contact - Apple Support

The BEST method to ensure continued access to your AppleID are your “Trusted Numbers”

Think of these as “Disaster Recovery” numbers to which you can receive your AppleID 2FA codes when you have NONE of your trusted devices. (e.g. due to Theft, Fire, Man-Made or Natural Disaster)

Trusted Numbers can be ANY voice or SMS-capable line wordwide.

Putting a bit of prior-thought into which numbers to use can help a IMMENSELY when you NEED to use them. (Which almost by definition will be a “bad day”)

Readily-reachable relatives or close friends - in a dispersed geographic areas - are prime candidates.

Thanks for the clarification!