About trusted phone numbers and trusted devices for Apple Account
With two-factor authentication, a trusted phone number or trusted device helps verify your identity when you sign in to a new device or browser.
What is a trusted phone number?
To use two-factor authentication, you need at least one trusted phone number on file where you can receive verification codes. If you have multiple phone numbers, consider using one not associated with your iPhone as an additional trusted phone number. If your iPhone is your only trusted device and itβs the only device that has access to your trusted phone number, you wonβt be able to receive verification codes required to access your account if itβs missing or damaged.
Add or change your trusted phone numbers
On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Two-Factor Authentication. Below the list of devices and phone numbers, tap Add Trusted Phone Number.
On your Mac: Choose Apple menu ο£Ώ > System Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Two-Factor Authentication. In the Trusted Phone Number section, you can add and remove phone numbers.
On the web: Go to account.apple.com, then click Sign-In and Security > Account Security. In the Trusted Phone Number section, you can add and remove phone numbers.
What is a trusted device?
A trusted device is an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, or Mac on which youβve already signed in to your Apple Account using two-factor authentication. Itβs a device that we know is yours, so it can be used to verify your identity for things like:
Getting a verification code from Apple when you sign in on a different device or browser.
Making critical changes to your Apple Account, such as changing your password or other security settings.
When you add a new device to your account, there might be a short period of time before you can use it to change critical account information. You can use another trusted device to update your account information during this time.
Apple recommends that you protect your device with a passcode (or login password on Mac) and Face ID, Touch ID, or Optic ID β if your device supports it.
Learn how to see and manage your trusted devices
If you donβt have access to your trusted devices or trusted phone numbers
If you temporarily donβt have access to your trusted devices or trusted phone number, the fastest way to get access to your account is to wait until you have access in the next few days. Then sign in with two-factor authentication. After you do that, you can also add additional trusted phone numbers to your account for the future.
If you permanently donβt have access to either your trusted devices or your trusted phone number, you can still attempt to recover access to your account.
Try to sign in to your Apple Account.
Select βDidnβt Get a Code?β or βCanβt get to your devices?β on the verification code screen.
Choose βCanβt use [phone number]β.
If you donβt have access to any trusted phone number on file with your Apple Account, you can initiate the process to recover access to your account. Follow the onscreen steps.
Account recovery might take a few days or longer, depending on the specific account information you can provide to verify your identity. Contacting Apple canβt help speed up the process.