I have set up an account recovery key. When i type it in the verification I get an error message saying VERIFICATION FAILED. YOUR RECOVERY KEY IS INCORRECT.

The most likely cause appears to be that one or more of the devices associated with your AppleID (phones, watches, computers, appleTVs, etc.) are not running the most current iOS version.

You can confirm this as the root cause of the issue by trying to set up Advanced Data Protection on an Apple computer associated with your account. Instead of the usual "verification failed" message, you should get a list of devices that need to be updated before ADP can be enabled.

Hope this helps!

I don't think this is a bug. I posted a response in the main thread below, but responding here as well in case some people don't read down to the end of the thread:

*****

The most likely cause appears to be that one or more of the devices associated with your AppleID (phones, watches, computers, appleTVs, etc.) are not running the most current iOS version.

You can confirm this as the root cause of the issue by trying to set up Advanced Data Protection on an Apple computer associated with your account. Instead of the usual "verification failed" message, you should get a list of devices that need to be updated before ADP can be enabled.

Hope this helps!

*****

See the end of the post for the big surprise. Apple at it's best!!!

Sep 10, 2021 5:40 AM in response to herr_Ziegelstein

Thank you for those screenshots herr_Ziegelstein. 

We do see that two-factor authentication is enabled. As this security type is enabled you wouldn’t be able to turn on or utilize two-step verification which is the security type that the Recovery Key is associated with. If you have additional questions about these features you can reference the links that were previously provided, or reach out to Apple via the Get Support website linked in the prior response as well.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Note: Once, you have activated the two-factor authentication in your iPhone, you can’t turn it off post two weeks from the day of activation.

Thanks for posting in the Apple Support Communities LynEl2,

The following section that covers how to use your recovery key may be helpful:

Use a recovery key

If you forget your Apple ID password, you can try to regain access using your trusted device protected by a passcode. Or you can use your recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device to reset your password. Make sure the device is running iOS 11 or macOS High Sierra or later, and be sure to enter the complete recovery key including upper-case letters and hyphens. Learn more about what to do if you forget your Apple ID password. 

If you decide to stop using a recovery key, follow the steps above on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and slide to turn off Recovery Key. On your Mac, click Turn Off in the Recovery Key section.

You can find this section, as well as other information that may be helpful, here: How to generate a recovery key

If you need further assistance, we recommend that you contact Apple Support.

Cheers!

I was repeatedly getting the same thing, on my iPad Pro. I saw some comments relating to time/timezone, checked and it was all setup correctly. I also saw some comments that the servers might be “busy” and this got me to thinking it could be latency over my WiFi connection.

I had a go using my iPhone 14 Pro, after turning off WiFi and so relying on just cellular and it worked first time.

I’m not sure exactly if it was a problem with the iPad vs iPhone or WiFi vs cellular but I’m now setup.

I do also have two factor authentication setup and have had for years, so it wasn’t that.

For folks having this issue, try signing out and back in to iCloud on the device. I know it’s a pain, but it seems to be fixing it for a lot of folks on Reddit. Apple Support is going to ask you to do it anyway. Just make sure you know your password before you do it :p

I have the same exact problem; there are other threads showing a step-by-step where the _EXACT_ recovery key is entered, and it says that the recovery key is incorrect. This is a software bug, not something a "how to" guide will fix. This is NOT user error.

Same issue... I enabled Advanced Data Protection on my iPhone (SE 2020), and selected to generate a recovery key. Copied the key and when I got the the verify screen, entered the key and got the Verification Failed message. Tried retyping it several times and same result. Tried to create a new key and again, the verification failed. Seems like a bug where the key can't be verified.

Ok, so I had the same problem.

A few days later I tried again - and it worked.

(???)

Two factor auth has been on for years, by now...

However, I can't turn on "Advanced Data Protection" as it's not available in my region (Switzerland).

My guess:

a) Apple's servers are overloaded? unlikely though

b) bug. Would definitely not be the only one, the public release of the latest iOS feels like an early developer beta to me - plenty of bugs.

c) not actually available in all countries yet, and all the help & documentation is outdated or wrong

Very strange that the *verification* fails - and that it doesn't just tell the user in the first place why it's not possible to activate the key

Same here. Seems like a bug to me, tried multiple times.

Me too. Set up ADP, turned recovery key on, continued, pasted copied key when requires, got key not verified. Tried repeatedly, including just typing it in. Tried generating new key. Same. Another new key, same.

Another glitch: couldn't add apple family member as recovery contact because "must be using imessage" which she does. Added her using "other," which operates via imessage, and it worked.

So what’s the deal here? Is it just impossible to verify a recovery code? I have the same repeated experience as others here—fails every time. And I do have two-factor verification turned on, which one post obliquely suggests is the problem—???

Yes, as I understand it, Advanced Data Protection is available only in the US. But setting a recovery key is, I think, a separate issue altogether?

Also of note is that Wirecutter in the New York Times just (re-)ran an article recommending turning on Advanced Data Protection, so presumably traffic to the servers is heavy right now. But then this thread suggests the issue is not new, so…?

Frustrating.

Thanks, but while that would indeed be an issue, it is not the operant condition here, for me at least.

I can't create a recovery key because of this too. This is ifing annoying!