{"id":81760,"date":"2022-04-12T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-12T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=81760"},"modified":"2022-04-04T16:50:37","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T21:50:37","slug":"how-to-set-up-an-account-recovery-contact-in-macos-monterey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/81760-how-to-set-up-an-account-recovery-contact-in-macos-monterey\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Up an Account Recovery Contact in macOS Monterey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With macOS Monterey, you can select some folks you trust to become an Account Recovery Contact<\/a> (or Contacts) to help you reset your password and regain access to your account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have<\/em> to set up an Account Recovery Contact, but it can be helpful to have someone who can verify your identity and help you regain access to your account and all of your data if you ever get locked out. I have three: my wife and two (grown) kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Apple notes, your recovery contact \u201cshould be a person that you know and trust, like a family member or a close friend.\u201d So you can choose one of your contacts, or if you’re in a Family Sharing group, macOS Monterey will recommend the members of that group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can select up to five recovery contacts for your account.\u00a0To protect your privacy, Apple says it doesn’t know who your recovery contacts are. Also, note that your recovery contacts won’t have any access to your account, but they will have the ability to give you a code if you need one.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does your recovery contact need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To become Account Recovery Contacts, your contacts must be using an iOS device with iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 or later, or Mac with macOS Monterey or later. Also, they must be over the age of 13<\/a>. And you need two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID. (Learn how to do that by going here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to set up an Account Recovery Contact on your Mac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To enable an Account Recovery Contact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Choose Apple menu \uf8ff > System Preferences, then click Apple ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"System
System Prefs>Apple ID<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Under your name, click Password & Security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Password
Password & Security<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Next to Account Recovery, click Manage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Account
Account Recovery > Manage<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Click the Add button and click Add Recovery Contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Click
Click the Add Button.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Authenticate with Touch ID or your Mac password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. If you’re in a Family Sharing group, macOS Monterey will recommend the members of the group. Or you can choose one of your contacts. To choose another contact, Click Choose Someone Else, then click Continue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Add
Add Recovery Contact<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you choose a family member, macOS Monterey will add them automatically. But if you select another contact, they\u2019ll have to accept your request. If they accept, you\u2019ll see a message that they\u2019ve been added as your Account Recovery Contact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if someone declines your request\u2014or accepts, then asks later to be removed\u2014you\u2019ll get a message and a reminder to select a new Account Recovery Contact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get a recovery code from your recovery contact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you forget your Apple ID password<\/a> or get locked out of your account, follow the steps on your device to share the onscreen instructions with your recovery contact in person. Then your recovery contact shares a six-digit code that you enter on your device. After your identity is confirmed, you can reset your Apple ID password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n