How to set up iCloud Data Recovery Service.
Losing access to your iCloud data is a nightmare scenario. However, in iOS 15, Apple added a new feature called the iCloud Data Recovery Service that can get (some) of your data back when the worst happens. It’s easy to set up on iOS or macOS and if you take the time, you’ll thank yourself one day.
Read:how to backup iphone to icloud
What Is the iCloud Data Recovery Service?
iCloud Data Recovery Service is an iCloud security feature that allows you to restore access to photos, notes, documents, device backups, and most other types of encrypted data.
Please note that there are restrictions. First, it must be data synchronized with the cloud. Therefore, if your device was lost or damaged before sync was possible, the data cannot be recovered.
Secondly, any data that uses end-to-end encryption cannot be recovered. The purpose of end-to-end encryption is to hide data from everyone else, even from Apple. Without your password (decryption key), your keychain, messages, and health data cannot be recovered. To access this data, you need a working device that is signed in to iCloud.
How the iCloud Data Recovery Service Works
The idea behind iCloud Data Recovery Service is that you designate a trusted friend or family member as a backup when you forget your device password and Apple ID password.
After you assign an “Account Recovery Contact”. This can be anyone over the age of 13 with their own Apple ID and an Apple device running the latest operating system.
iCloud Recovery and iTunes Backup are Different
Starting with macOS Catalina, the iTunes app has been replaced by Apple Music, Podcasts, and Apple TV. The iTunes app acted as a central hub where you could sync content to your iOS device and back it up to local storage.
iTunes still exists as a Windows application and Windows users can use iTunes to create a local backup of their device. If you’re using Catalina or later, you can still take a local backup of your iOS device using your Mac, but this feature is now available in the Finder.
Whichever local backup method you choose, it’s different from iCloud Data Recovery because you’ll have to manually create a local backup on your Mac or PC
Who Needs To Set Up the iCloud Data Recovery Service?
If you don’t have absolutely anyone you can trust, it’s probably best for each iCloud user to set up data recovery with a recovery contact. Even if you don’t feel like you need it personally, you can act as a recovery contact for someone else. If you have friends or family who tend to forget their credentials, it’s a good idea to convince them to set it up. Remember that this is not something you can activate after the fact.
The steps to activate the service are slightly different depending on the device you are using. The steps below apply to iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey.
Setting Up the iCloud Data Recovery Service on iOS
The following screenshots are taken on an iPhone 11 Pro running iOS 15, but should be similar to any iOS device running iOS 15 or later. To set up iOS Data Recovery on your iPhone, do the following:
Open the Settings app.Select your name.
Select Password & Security.
Select Account Recovery.
On this screen, you can do several things. To set up iCloud data recovery, select “Add Recovery Contact” and select a trusted person from your contact list.
After you complete the process, they will receive a message that you can edit first, and if they accept, they can help you get your data back from your iCloud account to iCloud.com if your phone is lost, stolen, or you forgot your password.
Another option is to create a recovery key, which allows you to recover your account and access your iCloud data without the help of another person. However, this option has some features that will be discussed later in this article.
Setting Up the iCloud Data Recovery Service on iPadOS
The steps to activate iCloud Data Recovery on iPad are very similar to iOS. Here’s what you need to do:
Open the Settings app.Select your name.
Select Password & Security.
Select Account Recovery.
As with the iPhone above, you can now add a recovery contact you trust.
Don’t choose a recovery key until you read our important notes about it below.
Setting Up the iCloud Data Recovery Service on macOS
If you have a MacBook or Mac, the process is slightly different for iOS devices. The following screenshots were taken on a MacBook Air M1 running macOS Monterey. Here’s how to set up iCloud Data Recovery on macOS:
1 – Select the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen. Choose System Preferences.
2 – Select your Apple ID.
3 – Select Password & Security.
4 – Select Account Recovery.
Next to Account Recovery, select Manage.
In the Recovery Help section, select the + icon to add a recovery contact.
You can also add a recovery key here, or enable or disable two-factor authentication, but before doing so, read the next section.
Should You Use a Recovery Key?
If you choose to use a recovery key and lose it, you will not be able to restore your account using the standard Apple account recovery process. This is a safer way to protect your account because hackers cannot use your information to abuse the standard account recovery process. However, you’ll need a recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device running at least iOS11 or macOS High Sierra. Because the recovery key is so secure, you need to store a copy of it in a location that you won’t lose access to but that is also inaccessible to unwanted individuals.
It is important to note that you should not configure the recovery key option at this time if you are already using two-factor authentication (2FA). The recovery key and 2FA recovery method seem to interfere with each other. As mentioned above, using a recovery key blocks the standard recovery method enabled by two-factor authentication. It is better to choose only one of these two recovery options. If you do not have high security requirements, it is better to use two-factor authentication, which is more than enough for most users.
Don’t Just Use One Backup Solution
While it’s good to have backup access to iCloud backups, it’s never a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket. The good news is that you can easily back up your data to multiple cloud services.
For example, you can install Microsoft OneDrive or Google Photos to have these apps automatically upload your information to their data centers. So even if you lose access to your iCloud backup, there are other places you can go to get your data back. With so many ways to protect your information, there is no reason to fall victim to lost data again.
How to set up iCloud Data Recovery Service
How to set up iCloud Data Recovery Service.