Filevault Recovery Key vs. iCloud Recovery Key

Question

Level 1

8 points

Filevault Recovery Key vs. iCloud Recovery Key

I have two step verification set up for my iCloud account meaning I already have been provided a recovery key in case I cannot login otherwise. I have recently turned on FileVault and selected the option to have my iCloud account decrypt the disk, not through a recovery key. However, now the FileVault setting in System Preferences says that "A recovery key has been set." Is this recovery key the same as that made initially when I set up two-step verification through iCloud or is it some other recovery key, which I never received.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Dec 14, 2014 4:27 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 28, 2016 7:15 AM in response to Evanisamused

Hi, i had the same question, didn't find an answer on the support pages and when i called they advised me that the recovery key for iCloud and the key for file vault are not the same, despite the similar names. when i get around to turning FV on it'll be a whole new separate code and the iCloud one will still exist. Just fyi in case anybody finds this post in the future 🙂

Reply

Answer 2

Evanisamused Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 16, 2014 8:48 AM in response to Jason L

Hi Jason,

Thank you for your assistance. Unfortunately, those articles didn't tell me if my FileVault recovery key is the same as that of my iCloud account.

The FileVault article states that, "When you turn on FileVault, it creates a recovery key that you can use to reset your login password." However, when I turned FileVault on, it did not show me any recovery key whatsoever as I opted to connect the encryption to my iCloud account. Still, the FileVault window in System Preferences says a recovery key is set. Is this the same recovery key as that created for my iCloud account. If so, that is completely fine I just would rather not be unsure until one day when I may need to use the recovery key.

Evan

Reply

Answer 3

Jason L

Community Specialist

Dec 16, 2014 8:40 AM in response to Evanisamused

Hey there Evan,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities.

It sounds like you’ve setup both FileVault and two-step verification for your Apple ID, and you want to know if the two-step verification code for your Apple ID is the same code that’s used for the FileVault recovery key. The articles linked below provide details about each feature and also include information that’ll assist you in finding the FileVault recovery key.

OS X Yosemite: FileVault recovery key

Frequently asked questions about two-step verification for Apple ID - Apple Support

So long,

-Jason

Reply

Answer 4

Jason L

Community Specialist

Dec 16, 2014 11:06 AM in response to Evanisamused

Thank you for using the Apple Support Community. Due to the nature of your issue or question you may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources - https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action.

Reply

Answer 5

Dec 16, 2014 11:43 PM in response to Jason L

unlouc find my phone. iforgot my apple id in icloud

Reply