Fix Unable to add Recovery Account says “You can only add people who are using an Apple device” :iPhone 13?

Apple and its devices are concerned about its user security and often restrict users from doing man activities which might make their device and data vulnerable. But many iPhone 13/12 Pro max, iPhone XS,8  users are facing issue while adding other iPhone user as recovery account. While adding recovery account iPhone gives error and says Error adding another iPhone user as account recovery contact - "You can only add people who are using an Apple device"

iPhone error "You can only add people who are using an Apple device"

It seems like Apple is not able to detect iPhone as Apple device and rejecting to set it as a recovery device. The issue is faced across different iPhone models like iPhone 13 Pro max, iPhone XR, 7 Plus and also on iPad Pro etc. No matter how many times you try to set an iPhone as recovery account it keeps on showing error “You can only add people who are using an Apple device”

How to fix Apple says “You can only add people who are using an Apple device ” while adding Recovery account: iPhone 13/12/11/XR/XS Max, iPad Pro: iOS 15

Fix :Check settings to add recovery setting

Make sure you follow below setting for updating recovery account on the iPhone/iPad.

1. Go to iPhone Settings
2. Tap on Apple ID->Password & Security
3. Account Recovery
4. + Add Recovery Contact
5. Add Recovery Contact
6. You'll see your family member added as an option to choose. Don't click it. Click "Choose someone else." End.

Fix : Enable iMessage

Please ensure that the iMessage is enable on the recovery account that you adding as recovery. Go to iPhone settings->Message and turn on iMessage on both devices . 

Fix : Ensure to iPhone connected to network

Make sure that the iPhone connected to other account is not in 'Airplane' mode at the time and should be on internet while adding as recovery. 

Fix : Logout from iCloud 

 If you are unable to add recovery account to iPhone , then on the iPhone -> logout from iCloud and reboot the iPhone. Login again onto your iCloud account and check again. 

Fix : Reset iPhones

If none of the above fix helped to fix the issue please reset the iPhone to default settings. This will fix any software glitch in the iPhone. Go to settings->General->reset or Transfer iPhone->reset iPhone settings. 

Fix : Update both devices to latest iOS version

If one of the device / iPhone is running on the older version of iOS then this issue might occur to add recovery account. To fix that please ensure to keep both Apple devices on the latest iOS version available. 

Source: Shudtech