I forgotten my 28 character key and my Apple ID password

I forgotten my 28 recovery key and my Apple ID password plus my apple id is locked too


iPhone 12 Pro

Posted on Jul 26, 2023 02:55 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 26, 2023 04:38 PM

The information below is based on Apple's support article: How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support with quoted excerpts. Each section below outlines the different situations and the strategies that may require use of a recovery key. See this support article for the meaning of trusted devices and numbers —> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


- If you still have access to your Apple ID and password but have lost your recovery key:

"You can generate a new recovery key from Settings or System Preferences on a trusted device." Refer to the steps in How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support about how to do this on different types of equipment (Apple equipment only).


- If you have forgotten your Apple ID password, have lost your recovery key, but still have access to a trusted device.

"you can try to regain access using your trusted device protected by a passcode." The process is outlined in this support article: If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support This does not involve using a recovery key.


- If you have a forgotten password and you do not have access to a trusted device:

"you can use your recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device to reset your password."


- If you have lost your recovery key and have lost access to both your account and trusted items:

A recovery key is designed as an alternative to Account Recovery ( https://support.apple.com/kb/HT204921) which is where Apple helps you regain access to your account. However, "when you generate a recovery key, you can't use account recovery." You can try to contact Apple (see: Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support ), but to me the previous statement implies that setting up a recovery key excludes Apple from being able to do anything. Apple says: "Using a recovery key is more secure, but it means that you’re 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."



3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 26, 2023 04:38 PM in response to DylanFox9

The information below is based on Apple's support article: How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support with quoted excerpts. Each section below outlines the different situations and the strategies that may require use of a recovery key. See this support article for the meaning of trusted devices and numbers —> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


- If you still have access to your Apple ID and password but have lost your recovery key:

"You can generate a new recovery key from Settings or System Preferences on a trusted device." Refer to the steps in How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support about how to do this on different types of equipment (Apple equipment only).


- If you have forgotten your Apple ID password, have lost your recovery key, but still have access to a trusted device.

"you can try to regain access using your trusted device protected by a passcode." The process is outlined in this support article: If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support This does not involve using a recovery key.


- If you have a forgotten password and you do not have access to a trusted device:

"you can use your recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device to reset your password."


- If you have lost your recovery key and have lost access to both your account and trusted items:

A recovery key is designed as an alternative to Account Recovery ( https://support.apple.com/kb/HT204921) which is where Apple helps you regain access to your account. However, "when you generate a recovery key, you can't use account recovery." You can try to contact Apple (see: Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support ), but to me the previous statement implies that setting up a recovery key excludes Apple from being able to do anything. Apple says: "Using a recovery key is more secure, but it means that you’re 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."



Jul 26, 2023 03:02 PM in response to DylanFox9

If you are logged into any Apple device with your Apple ID and password you can change the recovery key by going to settings/ your name at the top/ password & security/ account recovery/ recovery key.


If you aren't logged into any Apple device then you won't be able to change it.


Once you turn on the recovery key it warns you that you must have this to change your password or make any changes such as log into a new device etc..


If you don't have an Apple device then you won't be able to continue using this Apple ID. You'll have to create a new one to use.



How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support


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I forgotten my 28 character key and my Apple ID password

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