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Recovery Key

I accidentally made a Recovery Key, and now when I go into the settings and try to change it I can't, it asks for the original code.

Posted on Aug 19, 2023 9:56 AM

Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 19, 2023 5:31 PM

The information below is based on Apple's support article: How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support with quoted excerpts. Each section outlines the different situations and the strategies that may relate to use of a recovery key. If you are not familiar with trusted devices and numbers, see this support article —> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


- If you still have access to your Apple ID and password but have lost your recovery key:

"You can generate a new recovery key from Settings or System Preferences on a trusted device." Refer to the steps in How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support about how to do this on different types of equipment (Apple equipment only).


- If you have forgotten your Apple ID password, have lost your recovery key, but still have access to a trusted device.

"you can try to regain access using your trusted device protected by a passcode." The process is outlined in this support article: If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support This does not involve using a recovery key.


- If you have a forgotten password and you do not have access to a trusted device:

"you can use your recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device to reset your password."


- If you have lost your recovery key and have lost access to both your account and trusted items:

A recovery key is designed as an alternative to Account Recovery ( How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support ) which is where Apple helps you regain access to your account. However, "when you generate a recovery key, you can't use account recovery." You can try to contact Apple (see: Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support ), but to me the previous statement implies that setting up a recovery key excludes Apple from being able to do anything. Apple says: "Using a recovery key is more secure, but it means that you’re responsible for maintaining access to your trusted devices and your recovery key. If you lose both of these items, you could be locked out of your account permanently."


7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 19, 2023 5:31 PM in response to Community User

The information below is based on Apple's support article: How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support with quoted excerpts. Each section outlines the different situations and the strategies that may relate to use of a recovery key. If you are not familiar with trusted devices and numbers, see this support article —> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


- If you still have access to your Apple ID and password but have lost your recovery key:

"You can generate a new recovery key from Settings or System Preferences on a trusted device." Refer to the steps in How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support about how to do this on different types of equipment (Apple equipment only).


- If you have forgotten your Apple ID password, have lost your recovery key, but still have access to a trusted device.

"you can try to regain access using your trusted device protected by a passcode." The process is outlined in this support article: If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support This does not involve using a recovery key.


- If you have a forgotten password and you do not have access to a trusted device:

"you can use your recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device to reset your password."


- If you have lost your recovery key and have lost access to both your account and trusted items:

A recovery key is designed as an alternative to Account Recovery ( How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support ) which is where Apple helps you regain access to your account. However, "when you generate a recovery key, you can't use account recovery." You can try to contact Apple (see: Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support ), but to me the previous statement implies that setting up a recovery key excludes Apple from being able to do anything. Apple says: "Using a recovery key is more secure, but it means that you’re responsible for maintaining access to your trusted devices and your recovery key. If you lose both of these items, you could be locked out of your account permanently."


Aug 19, 2023 12:41 PM in response to Community User

The information below is based on Apple's support article: How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support with quoted excerpts. Each section outlines the different situations and the strategies that may relate to use of a recovery key. If you are not familiar with trusted devices and numbers, see this support article —> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


- If you still have access to your Apple ID and password but have lost your recovery key:

"You can generate a new recovery key from Settings or System Preferences on a trusted device." Refer to the steps in How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support about how to do this on different types of equipment (Apple equipment only).


- If you have a forgotten password and you do not have access to a trusted device:

"you can use your recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device to reset your password."


- If you have lost your recovery key and have lost access to both your account and trusted items:

A recovery key is designed as an alternative to Account Recovery ( How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support ) which is where Apple helps you regain access to your account. However, "when you generate a recovery key, you can't use account recovery." You can try to contact Apple (see: Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support ), but to me the previous statement implies that setting up a recovery key excludes Apple from being able to do anything. Apple says: "Using a recovery key is more secure, but it means that you’re responsible for maintaining access to your trusted devices and your recovery key. If you lose both of these items, you could be locked out of your account permanently."


Aug 19, 2023 1:00 PM in response to Community User

Are you sure it is asking for a recovery key and not a two factor authentication code?


From: Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support


A code is sent first to your trusted devices automatically:

"If you have a trusted device running iOS 9 and later, OS X El Capitan and later, iPadOS 13 and later, or watchOS 6 and later, the verification code is displayed automatically on your trusted devices."


If you don’t have a trusted device handy, you can choose to have a verification code sent to your trusted phone number as a text message or phone call.

1. Click "Didn't get a verification code" on the sign in screen.

2. Choose to have the code sent to your trusted phone number.

3. You'll get a text message or phone call from Apple with your verification code. This text message might include an additional domain validation line. This line includes the @ symbol, the website name, and your code (for example: @icloud.com #123456 %apple.com).

4. Enter the code on your other device to complete sign in.


"If you can’t receive a verification code on your trusted devices automatically, you can get one from Settings, even if your device is offline."

On a mobile device go to Settings > [your name] > Tap Password & Security > Get Verification Code.

On a Mac: Go to Apple menu  > System Preferences [System Settings], then click Apple ID. Click Password & Security > Get Verification Code.



Recovery Key

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