If you’re locked into the Apple ecosystem, your Apple ID is every bit as important as your social security number or driver’s license would be in the real world. You use your Apple ID to manage your devices, access anything you have stored in iCloud, buy things from Apple’s various stores and handle subscriptions to apps and services. Get locked out of that account — usually because you’ve lost your password and have no way of resetting it — and you can feel cast adrift.
Apple has a way to recover your Apple ID account, but it’s fairly complex, involving sending an email or filling a request at iforgot.apple.com, and waiting for the company to reset everything. Fortunately, iOS 15 streamlines things a bit, by letting you designate an emergency contact that can help you get back into your account more quickly.
Apple ID account recovery contacts must be over 13 years old and have their own Apple ID. Once they’ve been established as your contact, should you lose access to your account, you’ll be able to call them for help. According to Apple, your contact won’t have access to your data — just the ability to help you get your access back.
Designating an Apple ID account recovery contact in iOS 15 is a fairly straightforward task, but you do need to know where to look for the new feature. We can help you find your way.
Should you ever need to get back into your Apple ID account, you would call your account recovery contact, who will be able to get a code for you that unlocks your account. When you’re able to sign back in, you’ll need to set a new password.