How to Set Up a Recovery Contact So You Never Get Locked Out

What this helps with: If you ever forget your password or lose your phone, getting back into your account can take days. A recovery contact is a family member or friend you trust who can help you get back in faster. This guide shows how to set one up for an Apple Account (iPhone, iPad, Mac) and a Google Account (Gmail, Android).

The short answer: Pick someone you trust. On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then Sign-In & Security, then Recovery Contacts. For Google, open your Google Account, tap Security & sign-in, then Recovery contacts. Do it now, while you can still sign in.

What a recovery contact can and can’t do

• They can help you prove it’s you. If you’re locked out, they can get a code for you. You type that code in, then make a new password.
• They can’t see your account. Apple says a recovery contact has no access to your account. Google says they don’t get your security alerts.
• You must set this up ahead of time. Google says you can’t add recovery info once you’re locked out.

Who to pick: Someone you know well and trust, like a grown child, a sibling, or a close friend. Pick someone who is easy to reach by phone.

Step 1: Add a recovery contact on iPhone or iPad

Before you start: Apple says you and your contact both need an Apple device with iOS 15 or newer, and both of you need iMessage turned on. You can add up to five people.

1. Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
2. Tap Sign-In & Security, then tap Recovery Contacts.
3. Tap Add Recovery Contact and follow the steps on screen.
4. Pick someone from the list, or tap Choose Someone Else.
   • What you’ll see: If the person is in your Family Sharing group, they’re added right away. If not, they get an invitation in the Messages app and must tap to accept it.
5. When they accept, you’ll get a message that they’ve been added.

On a Mac: Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, click your name, then Sign-In & Security, then Recovery Contacts.

Good to know: Apple doesn’t keep a list of who your recovery contacts are. Write their names down somewhere safe at home so you remember who to call.

Step 2: Set up recovery for a Google Account

A Google Account has three kinds of recovery help. Add as many as you can.

Recovery phone number:

1. Go to your Google Account. On an Android phone, open Settings, then tap Google, then Manage your Google Account. On a computer, go to myaccount.google.com.
2. Tap Security & sign-in.
3. Under “How you sign in to Google,” tap Recovery phone and follow the steps.

Use a cell phone number that gets texts, belongs only to you, and that you keep with you. Google says not to use a Google Voice number. A new or changed number can take up to 7 days to start working.

Recovery email: In the same place, tap Recovery email. Use a different email address than your Gmail, one you check often.

Recovery contact:

1. In Security & sign-in, under “How you sign in to Google,” tap Recovery contacts.
2. Tap Add recovery contact and type their email address.
3. Tap Send request. They get an email with your name, email address, and profile photo.

Good to know: They have 7 days to accept. After they accept, there’s another 7-day wait before they can help you. Not every account or country has this option yet.

Step 3: If you ever get locked out

Apple Account:

1. Start account recovery on your device and answer the questions on screen.
2. Call your recovery contact, or see them in person.
3. They open Settings, tap their name, then Sign-In & Security, Recovery Contacts, your name, and Get Recovery Code. They read you the six-digit code.
4. Type the code on your device, then make a new password.

If you’re standing next to them, their iPhone may show “Your Help is Requested” and help you without a code.

Google Account: Go to Google’s account recovery page and answer the questions as best you can. Google may offer your recovery contact, phone, or email as a way to prove it’s you.

For more help making a new password, see How to Reset a Forgotten Password Safely.

If someone asks YOU for a recovery code

Maybe a family member picked you as their recovery contact. That’s a kind thing to do for them. Keep one rule in mind:

Only give the code to that person, directly. Apple says that if anyone else contacts you asking for a code for them, don’t give it. That includes a caller who says they’re from Apple, Google, the bank, or “tech support.” If you’re not sure, hang up and call your family member at the number you already have.

Watch out for scams: Apple and Google don’t call you to ask for codes. Google says it doesn’t work with any account recovery service. See How to Spot a Scam Call, Text, or Email.

Related guides

• How to Reset a Forgotten Password Safely
• How to Turn On Two-Step Login
• How to Use a Password Manager

Official sources

• Apple: Set up a recovery contact for your Apple Account
• Apple: Get a recovery code for a friend or family member as their Apple Account recovery contact
• Google: Set up recovery options

Last checked: Oct 23, 2026

This is general help, not personalized tech support. Menus vary by phone model and software version. We don’t favor any company.