Advanced Data Protection stuck on "review recovery methods"

I am able to set up a recovery key but after clicking "turn on" ADP, then click "review recovery methods" on the next page, nothing happens. This happens on both my iPhone and Mac.


Separately, I can't add a recovery contact because the setup process doesn't recognize their phone number or email address as connected to iMessage, despite the fact that I use iMessage with this person every day and those are the only contact methods I have for them.

Posted on Dec 14, 2022 6:00 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 25, 2023 2:11 PM

I realized what was causing my issue yesterday. The recovery contact I selected had not updated their phone to the most current version of iOS. Make sure ALL of your contacts that are listed in that window are on the most current version of iOS or else it will not let you proceed.


Earlier in the process I was alerted that my AppleTV needed to be updated for me to continue.


I had to remove my contact and use a new one because my old contact wasn't willing to update their phone!


So make sure that all of your devices and your contact's iOS phone is on the most current versions of the operating systems before you proceed.


Apple really should present users with a dialog explaining why they can't go forward. Maybe it's a privacy thing, I don't know. But I know how I solved the problem, and updating everything was the solution.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 25, 2023 2:11 PM in response to Tim_McManus

I realized what was causing my issue yesterday. The recovery contact I selected had not updated their phone to the most current version of iOS. Make sure ALL of your contacts that are listed in that window are on the most current version of iOS or else it will not let you proceed.


Earlier in the process I was alerted that my AppleTV needed to be updated for me to continue.


I had to remove my contact and use a new one because my old contact wasn't willing to update their phone!


So make sure that all of your devices and your contact's iOS phone is on the most current versions of the operating systems before you proceed.


Apple really should present users with a dialog explaining why they can't go forward. Maybe it's a privacy thing, I don't know. But I know how I solved the problem, and updating everything was the solution.

Dec 14, 2022 6:37 PM in response to markgr

Was in the same boat. Ended up adding another recovery contact (same person, but phone number instead of e-mail address - there are now 2 contact listed, which is annoying but not terrible) and then everything went smoothly on my MacBook.


Update: looks like that success carried over to my phone as well.

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Advanced Data Protection stuck on "review recovery methods"

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