Cannot add iMessage user and family sharing member as recovery contact on iPhone

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Level 1

12 points

Cannot add iMessage user and family sharing member as recovery contact on iPhone

My recovery contact stopped working overnight. The recovery contact is part of my family. I try to add that person and the iPhone prompts that I can only add a person who uses iMessage. The person is using iMessage. With all updates up to date and the proper phone type on both phones. Restarted both phones. Checked settings. We are even sharing our location with each other. How do I add this person?

iPhone 17 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Feb 22, 2026 6:36 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Lawrence Finch

Community+ 2026

Level 10

239,136 points

Feb 22, 2026 7:09 AM in response to -psyking-__

Perhaps a long shot:

Do you have a 3rd party VPN installed, even if you are not using it? If so, delete the VPN profile in Settings/General/VPN & Device Management/VPN, then restart your device. Don't just turn it off; delete the profile. Updates sometimes need to have VPN to be removed and reinstalled. If that fixes it, you can try reinstalling VPN, but probably shouldn't.

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Answer 2

Feb 22, 2026 7:40 AM in response to -psyking-__

Is either person the Family Sharing Group organizer? Is either person a minor or is using a managed device (iPhone supplied employer or school)?

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Answer 3

-psyking-__ Author

Level 1

12 points

Feb 22, 2026 7:25 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thank you. Yes long shot. I have never added my VPN to my iPhone. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even know I could do that. So although this wasn’t the solution, I learned something new.

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Cannot add iMessage user and family sharing member as recovery contact on iPhone

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