Apple ID recovery website

A recovery key is a randomly generated 28-character code that you can use to help reset your password or regain access to your Apple ID. While its not required, using a recovery key improves the security of your account by putting you in control of resetting your password. Creating a recovery key turns off account recovery. Account recovery is a process that would otherwise help you get back into your Apple ID account when you dont have enough information to reset your password.Learn more about using account recovery instead of a recovery key.

Using a recovery key is more secure, but it means that youre 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. With that in mind, it's important to keep your recovery key in a safe place. You might want to give a copy of your recovery key to a family member, or keep copies in more than one place. That way you always have your recovery key when you need it.

You can generate a new recovery key from Settings or System Preferenceson a trusted device signed in with your Apple ID.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

On your Mac

If you forget your Apple ID password, you can try to regain access using your trusted device protected by a passcode. Or you can use your recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device to reset your password.Make sure the device is running iOS 11 or macOS High Sierra or later, and be sure to enter the complete recovery key including upper-case letters and hyphens.Learn more about what to do if you forget your Apple ID password.

If you decide to stop using a recovery key, follow the steps above on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and slide to turn off Recovery Key. On your Mac, click Turn Off in the Recovery Key section.

• When you generate a recovery key, you can't use account recovery. Account recovery is a process that would otherwise help you get back into your Apple ID account when you dont have enough information to reset your password.Learn more about account recovery.
• Learn more about two-factor authenticationand how to manage your trusted devices.
• Learn how to update your trusted phone numbers.