Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iOS 15: How to Set a Recovery Contact for Your Apple ID Account

Apple won't let a friend of mine recover a very old Apple ID because they can't remember the original password, long before 2FA was available. There are iTunes associated with the account. The Apple ID is an email address consisting of the person's first name and last name, at a domain they control (so clearly theirs), yet Apple won't provide any way at all to recover the account, even after repeated requests. Ugh!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Boyyai
So annoying that ALL your devices have to be updated to iOS 15. Why? Why can’t you leave some behind. What if you need to keep some held back to access 32 bit apps? Very very sneaky Apple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ackmondual and Boyyai
B4U said:
This is a useful feature.
Just a friendly reminder to anyone thinking about assigning significant other as the recovery ID. Make sure that the significant other does not become an ex...:eek:
Click to expand...
There's no way to revoke someone's recovery ID status?

Apple doesn't mention one here:

Help a friend or family member as their account recovery contact - Apple Support

As a recovery contact, you can help a trusted friend or family member regain access to their account if they're ever locked out. Learn what to do if they need your help and how to accept or decline the request.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

It's kind of absurd. What if your recovery contact becomes your stalker?

Also, there's apparently no way to have more than one recovery contact. What if your recovery contact is abducted by their stalker the very day you need them?
 
Last edited:
XioTD said:
Sound like planned obsolescence is using a side door here...
Click to expand...

MadeTheSwitch said:
So annoying that ALL your devices have to be updated to iOS 15. Why? Why can’t you leave some behind. What if you need to keep some held back to access 32 bit apps? Very very sneaky Apple.
Click to expand...
Planned obsolescence? Sneaky moves to force upgrades? This is hardly a necessary feature which will ‘force’ anyone to do anything in any sneaky manner whatsoever.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacNeb and KeithBN
cupcakes2000 said:
Planned obsolescence? Sneaky moves to force upgrades? This is hardly a necessary feature which will ‘force’ anyone to do anything in any sneaky manner whatsoever.
Click to expand...
Says you. For some having an account recovery in this manner WOULD be a necessary feature. If it wasn’t necessary for some, Apple wouldn’t have spent time on it and just kept the ways they had.
 
If you want to "circumvent" the iOS 15 requirement, just turn on the recovery key option (at the bottom of the screen where you can add recovery contacts) and share that with your trusted individuals. If you want, they can store it in a locked note or something of the sort.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacNeb
Super helpful Macrumours. Never heard of this tip before which should be a must!👍
 
MadeTheSwitch said:
Says you. For some having an account recovery in this manner WOULD be a necessary feature. If it wasn’t necessary for some, Apple wouldn’t have spent time on it and just kept the ways they had.
Click to expand...
Not denying that - but announcing ‘planned obsolescence’ due to this particular feature being incompatible with older OS’ is absurd.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacNeb
Rafagon said:
There's no way to revoke someone's recovery ID status?

Apple doesn't mention one here:

Help a friend or family member as their account recovery contact - Apple Support

As a recovery contact, you can help a trusted friend or family member regain access to their account if they're ever locked out. Learn what to do if they need your help and how to accept or decline the request.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

It's kind of absurd. What if your recovery contact becomes your stalker?

Also, there's apparently no way to have more than one recovery contact. What if your recovery contact is abducted by their stalker the very day you need them?
Click to expand...
The very reason why I said that. :eek:
Don't let that significant other become an ex...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rafagon
Rafagon said:
There's no way to revoke someone's recovery ID status?

Apple doesn't mention one here:

Help a friend or family member as their account recovery contact - Apple Support

As a recovery contact, you can help a trusted friend or family member regain access to their account if they're ever locked out. Learn what to do if they need your help and how to accept or decline the request.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

It's kind of absurd. What if your recovery contact becomes your stalker?

Also, there's apparently no way to have more than one recovery contact. What if your recovery contact is abducted by their stalker the very day you need them?
Click to expand...
If you click on one of your recovery contacts, you are given the option to remove them. Source: I am looking at that on my phone right now and it's in big red letters: "Remove Contact."

Edit: Also, according to Apple, "you can choose up to 5 recovery contacts for you account."

Maybe next time do even the bare minimum amount of research before you ask such silly questions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bkaus and MacNeb
seinman said:
If you click on one of your recovery contacts, you are given the option to remove them. Source: I am looking at that on my phone right now and it's in big red letters: "Remove Contact."

Edit: Also, according to Apple, "you can choose up to 5 recovery contacts for you account."

Maybe next time do even the bare minimum amount of research before you ask such silly questions.
Click to expand...
I don't have a recovery contact on my phone, so I can't do the "research" you suggest I do. So I don't have access to the information in the big red letters that you have.

Also, you said "according to Apple," but where? Share a link perhaps?

I cited the source I used, which is the link to the support document I used.

That support document said nothing about having multiple recovery IDs or removed an established recovery ID.

If Apple allows removing a recovery ID, the customer should be aware that that is possible before setting one up. Apple should've mentioned that in the support document.

Maybe next time don't be so quick to judge before getting your facts straight.
 
Rafagon said:
I don't have a recovery contact on my phone, so I can't do the "research" you suggest I do. So I don't have access to the information in the big red letters that you have.

Also, you said "according to Apple," but where? Share a link perhaps?

I cited the source I used, which is the link to the support document I used.

That support document said nothing about having multiple recovery IDs or removed an established recovery ID.

If Apple allows removing a recovery ID, the customer should be aware that that is possible before setting one up. Apple should've mentioned that in the support document.

Maybe next time don't be so quick to judge before getting your facts straight.
Click to expand...
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212513 I found this link by clicking "Learn more" on the Account Recovery screen on my iPhone. It explains the option to have up to five contacts.

I'll give you the one about removal, though. I mean to me it seemed fairly obvious that there would be a way to remove them, as Apple is so concerned about privacy, so I went ahead and added someone without worrying about it. They don't clearly communicate that until after you've added someone, though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rafagon
J.C said:
Anyone I try to invite as a Recovery Contact (Family Group member or otherwise) receives an iMessage saying "You're added as my Account Recovery contact" ("You are..." not 'Will you accept?') with a link like https://setup.icloud.com/private/trustedcontact?flow=custodian&id=######## that just redirects to apple.com. In iCloud I see 'Request sent' and that they haven't accepted my request yet.
Click to expand...
I’m getting the same thing. I was able to add my wife to my account but when I try the opposite, the link either doesn’t arrive or it is not clickable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: J.C
Rafagon said:
The Recovery Key method looks like a good alternative to Recovery ID.

Set up a recovery key for your Apple Account - Apple Support

A recovery key is an optional security feature that helps improve the security of your Apple Account. If you lose access to your account, you can use your recovery key to reset your password and regain access.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
Click to expand...

Notable that generating a Recovery Key disables Account Recovery process. The trade-off appears to be that you can instantly regain access to the account (instead of waiting hours/days/weeks), with the caveat that if you lose the Recovery Key you are completely SOL.
 
binaryfuneral said:
I’m getting the same thing. I was able to add my wife to my account but when I try the opposite, the link either doesn’t arrive or it is not clickable.
Click to expand...
I spoke to Apple Support. As soon as they found out I was on the public beta (iOS 15.1 B4), they were sure that was the only issue. Can I ask what version of iOS you're on? Thanks.
 
I love this but really wish you could choose to make more than one person verify. Ideally something like: one person from family, one person from friend group A, one person from friend group B. It might seem like a lot but it’s really not when we’re talking about security…
 
Neonash7777 said:
I love this but really wish you could choose to make more than one person verify. Ideally something like: one person from family, one person from friend group A, one person from friend group B. It might seem like a lot but it’s really not when we’re talking about security…
Click to expand...

The + Add Recovery Contact button is still available after you've added a contact. What makes you think you can't add another person?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back