A recovery contact or recovery option gives you another path back into an important account if you lose a phone, forget a password, or cannot use the usual two-factor method.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Apple ID, Google Accounts, and Microsoft accounts when you want a trusted backup beyond one phone number or one recovery email.
Set up an Apple ID recovery contact
Apple’s version lets a trusted person generate a recovery code without seeing your data.
- On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > your name > Sign-In & Security > Recovery Contact.
- On Mac, open System Settings > your name > Sign-In & Security > Recovery Contact.
- Choose Add Recovery Contact.
- Select someone you trust who uses an Apple device signed into their own Apple ID.
- Send the request and wait for them to accept.
- If you ever need help, they generate a recovery code from their device; they do not see your password, photos, messages, or account data.
- Add more than one recovery contact if you want extra resilience.
Set up Google and Microsoft recovery options
Google and Microsoft rely heavily on recovery info and trusted sign-in methods.
- For Google, go to myaccount.google.com > Security and add or confirm recovery phone and recovery email.
- If Google recovery contacts are available on your account, add trusted people under Security.
- For Microsoft, go to account.microsoft.com > Security and update security info, including phone, email, Microsoft Authenticator, and passkeys.
- Use a recovery email that is truly separate from the account it protects.
- Keep recovery phone numbers current when you switch carriers or numbers.
- Review recovery information once or twice a year.
More control
Recovery contacts do not replace normal security
Keep strong passwords and two-factor authentication on. Recovery contacts are for lockout recovery, not daily sign-in.
Choose people carefully
The best recovery contact is someone you speak with regularly and who is unlikely to lose access at the same time as you.
Avoid circular recovery
Do not use a recovery email that can only be accessed from the same phone or account you might lose.
Sources
- Apple Support – Add a recovery contact for your Apple ID (2025)
- Google Account Help – Add a recovery phone or email (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Add or update your account security info (2025)