How to Add Recovery Contacts and Legacy Contacts to Your Apple ID
Apple IDs are deeply tied to photos, messages, files, and personal data — yet most people never prepare for what happens if they forget their password or something more serious occurs.
In this guide, we walk through how to add Recovery Contacts and Legacy Contacts to your Apple ID using both iPhone and Mac. These features are designed to protect you, your data, and the people who may need access one day. Setting them up now can prevent permanent lockouts and unnecessary stress later.
🎓 What You’ll Learn
What Recovery Contacts and Legacy Contacts are
How to add a Recovery Contact on iPhone and Mac
What happens if a Recovery Contact declines or removes themselves
How Recovery Contacts are actually used to reset an Apple ID
What a Recovery Key does and how it changes account recovery
How to add a Legacy Contact to your Apple ID
How Legacy Contacts request access after a death
How to remove Recovery or Legacy Contacts
🔐 Understanding Recovery Contacts vs Legacy Contacts
Recovery Contacts and Legacy Contacts serve very different purposes.
Recovery Contacts:
Help you regain access if you forget your Apple ID password
Can generate a recovery code for you
Prevent long Apple Account Recovery delays
Legacy Contacts:
Allow a trusted person to access your Apple ID data after death
Require both an access key and a death certificate
Are the only official way Apple allows posthumous access
Both should be set up before they are needed.
📱 Adding a Recovery Contact on iPhone or iPad
Recovery Contacts are added directly through Apple ID security settings.
Steps:
Open Settings
Tap your Apple ID
Select Sign-In & Security
Tap Account Recovery
Choose Add Recovery Contact
Select a trusted contact and send the invitation
The contact must:
Be at least 13 years old
Have an Apple ID
Use an Apple device
❌ What Happens If a Recovery Contact Declines
If the invited person declines:
You are notified immediately
They are not added as a recovery contact
You must invite someone else
Apple requires explicit acceptance to protect both parties.
🔁 How a Recovery Contact Is Used in Real Life
If you’re locked out:
Start password recovery at iforgot.apple.com
Choose Help Someone Else
When other methods fail, Apple will prompt for recovery contact help
The recovery contact:
Opens their Apple ID settings
Generates a recovery code
Shares the code with you securely
This allows you to reset your password without Apple Account Recovery delays.
🔑 What Is a Recovery Key and When to Use It
A Recovery Key is a 28-character code you control.
Key points:
It replaces Apple’s ability to help recover your account
Apple cannot help you if the key is lost
You must store it securely offline
When enabled:
Standard Apple Account Recovery options disappear
Only your recovery key or trusted devices can restore access
This option is powerful but risky if not managed carefully.
🖥 Adding a Recovery Contact on Mac
The Mac setup mirrors iPhone.
Steps:
Open System Settings
Click your Apple ID
Choose Sign-In & Security
Select Account Recovery
Add a Recovery Contact
You can manage or remove recovery contacts from either device.
🔄 What Happens If a Recovery Contact Removes Themselves
If a recovery contact removes themselves:
You receive a notification
Your Apple ID no longer has a recovery contact
You should add a replacement immediately
Apple does not automatically assign a new one.
🧾 Adding a Legacy Contact to Your Apple ID
Legacy Contacts are added in the same security area.
Steps:
Open Apple ID settings
Choose Sign-In & Security
Select Legacy Contact
Add a trusted contact
Share the access key
The access key must be saved by the legacy contact.
🧑⚖️ How Legacy Contacts Request Access
To request access:
Visit Apple’s Digital Legacy access page
Sign in with their Apple ID
Enter the access key
Upload a death certificate
Apple then:
Verifies documentation
Creates a special Apple ID for access
Grants access to eligible data
🗑 How to Remove a Legacy Contact
Legacy Contacts can be removed at any time:
From iPhone, iPad, or Mac Apple ID settings
Removal invalidates the previous access key
A new key is generated if re-added later
