Recovery key. How do I find out what my 28 character recovery key is or where can I find it on the phone? I cannot get the phone to work.

Your recovery key will be wherever you keep your most important documents. You printed it or wrote it down when you elected to use a recovery key to restore your account. See more at Set up a recovery key for your Apple Account - Apple Support

When you set up a Recovery Key, it is not saved on your device as that defeats the purpose of enabling one for increased security. Some important points about setting up a Recovery Key is seen here:

• If you set up a recovery key and can’t provide it when you lose access to your account, you’ll be locked out of your account permanently.
• When you set up a recovery key, you turn off Apple’s standard account recovery process.
• You should print a copy of your recovery key or write it down. If you lose it, Apple can’t provide you with your recovery key.
• Keep a copy of your key in a safe place, and consider storing it in more than one place. Don’t store your recovery key in your Apple Passwords app, iCloud Photos, Notes, or iCloud Drive. If you lose access to your Apple Account, you won’t be able to open these apps to find it.
• Decide on a safe place where you’ll keep a printed copy of your recovery key. You can also give a copy of your recovery key to a trusted family member.
• You can generate a recovery key on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac signed in to your Apple Account.

Set up a recovery key for your Apple Account - Apple Support

The information below is mostly based on Apple's support article: Set up a recovery key for your Apple Account - Apple Support Each section outlines different situations and some strategies that may involve recovery keys. If you are not familiar with trusted devices and numbers, see this support article —> Two-factor authentication for Apple Account - Apple Support

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

You can “update” your recovery key from Settings or System Preferences on a trusted device. Refer to the steps in Set up a recovery key for your Apple Account - 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.

This does not involve using a recovery key. Refer to this support article: https://support.apple.com102656

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

“you need to provide your recovery key and a verification code sent to your trusted phone number.”

[Older wording —> you can use your recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device to reset your password.”]

- ”If you use Advanced Data Protection [for iCloud] and set up both a recovery key and a recovery contact, you can use either your recovery key or recovery contact to regain access to your account”

- 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 ( If you forgot your password and can’t sign in to your Apple Account - Apple Support ) which is where Apple helps you regain access to your account. However, "When you set up a recovery key, you turn off Apple’s standard account recovery process." You can try to contact Apple (see: Contact Apple Support - Apple Support ), but to me the previous statement implies that setting up a recovery key excludes Apple from being able to do anything. 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 don't know your account password and have lost or otherwise don't have a trusted device, you need your recovery key to regain access to your Apple Account. If you can't provide your recovery key, you’ll be locked out of your account permanently.”

Recovery Key