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I don’t remember setting up a security key and I have no idea what it is. It keeps asking me for it every time I try to put my passwords on an keychain I really need to get into. My account is very important.
iPhone 12, iOS 16
A security key is a special piece of hardware, so I too suspect you would definitely remember setting one up because you would have to intentionally buy a special piece of electronics, etc.. You may be confusing this with a recovery key which is a 28 digit number. That is wherever you keep such things. You may have unintentionally elected to set one up, not realizing how it fundamentally changes security on your account.
The information below is based on Apple's support article: How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support with quoted excerpts. Each section outlines the different situations and the strategies that may relate to use of a recovery key. If you are not familiar with trusted devices and numbers, see this support article —> 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 ( How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support ) 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."
A security key is a special piece of hardware, so I too suspect you would definitely remember setting one up because you would have to intentionally buy a special piece of electronics, etc.. You may be confusing this with a recovery key which is a 28 digit number. That is wherever you keep such things. You may have unintentionally elected to set one up, not realizing how it fundamentally changes security on your account.
The information below is based on Apple's support article: How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support with quoted excerpts. Each section outlines the different situations and the strategies that may relate to use of a recovery key. If you are not familiar with trusted devices and numbers, see this support article —> 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 ( How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support ) 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."
If you’d setup AppleID Hardware Security Keys you WOULD definitely have remembered.
What precisely are you doing, and what is the EXACT message you’re receiving? (an image / screenshot is always helpful)
What if I list my security key
