What Is Contact Key Verification in iMessage and How to Use It

There is no need to worry about whether your messages are reaching the right person. Apple has introduced yet another security feature that makes the iMessage on your iPhone more secure than ever, i.e., Contact Key Verification.

This is yet another time Apple delivers its bold promise of “Privacy. That’s iPhone.” from its ad. Let’s dive in and learn more about what Contact Key Verification is, how it works, how to use it, and much more.

What Is Contact Key Verification

Apple already has a list of advanced security features like end-to-end encryption for iMessage, Advanced Data Protection, and Lockdown Mode up its sleeve. However, Contact Key Verification for iMessage is a new security feature that ensures your iMessages are reaching the intended person only. Hence, it provides an additional layer of security while messaging a VIP contact.

You can verify the keys manually in person or over a phone call (or FaceTime) to ensure they are the only person receiving your messages. Not only that, if you or the other person adds a new device to your (or their) Apple IDs, the other person is notified about the same.

Hence, you can easily know whether someone else is trying to eavesdrop on your conversation. If yes, you can remove the device from your Apple ID; if not, you can re-verify the keys to ensure the utmost privacy of the chat.

How Does iMessage Contact Key Verification Work

When you send an iMessage, it is already end-to-end encrypted. However, if you still fear that the privacy of the chat is compromised as someone has gained access to your (or the other person’s) Apple ID credentials and added a new device, Contact Key Verification ensures that you are chatting with the right person, but how?

Here’s how the CKV works in a timeline form:

1. You (and the other person) turn on Contact Key Verification. And a Public Verification Code is generated (for both).
2. You verify those Public Verification Codes in person or over a secure call and mark the other person’s contact as verified. (we’ve mentioned the steps below in this article)
3. Contact shows a verified badge, and you can now continue chatting.
4. If there’s any issue with you or the other person, you (or the other person) will get notified in the iMessage and might need to re-verify the contacts again.

Also Read: The ultimate tips to make your iPhone more secure

Some Prerequisites for CKV

Before we show you how to use the Contact Key Verification feature in iMessage, here are the prerequisites that you should keep in mind:

1. Ensure that your Apple devices are running on iOS 17.2, watchOS 9.2, and macOS 14.2 and later if you are using iMessage on that device.
2. iPhone is signed in with Apple ID.
3. iMessage is turned on on iPhone.
4. iCloud keychain and Contacts must be turned on on all devices.
5. You must use a passcode or password on iPhone.
6. Two-factor authentication is turned on for Apple ID.

How to Use Contact Key Verification

Using the Contact Key Verification in iMessage on your iPhone is simple. To use the Contact Key Verification feature, you must enable it from Settings. For better convenience, we will break this process into two parts, i.e., turning on CKV and verifying a contact after turning it on. Let’s look at the steps.

Part 1: Turn CKV On

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on name/Apple ID.

Step 2: Scroll down in the Apple ID settings and tap Contact Key Verification.

Step 3: Turn on the toggle for Verification in iMessage.

Step 4: Tap Continue.

Step 5: The CKV will now turn on. To ensure, tap ‘Show Public Verification Code’ to view or share your verification code.

Step 6: Tap Copy Verification Code and paste it in a chat or share it on your social media to share your verification code with others.

Part 2: Verify a Contact

Once you’ve turned on CKV, it won’t verify chats automatically in the iMessage. The process is manual because you need to pick which contact you want to verify from the iMessage app on your iPhone. Let’s take a look at the simple steps to do so.

Tip: You can also verify a contact by pasting their Public Verification Code in their contact from the Contacts app.

Step 1: Open the iMessage chat of the contact you wish to verify and tap on his/her profile picture.

Step 2: Scroll down the chat options page to the bottom.

Step 3: Tap Verify Contact.

Note: Ensure the other person is also on the same page and taps the Verify Contact option on their iPhone, or the Contact Verification Codes won’t appear.

Step 4: Once the Contact Verification Codes match, tap Mark as Verified.

Step 5: The contacts editing page will open; tap Update.

Note: Apple saves the other person’s Public Verification Code in the same person’s contact during the process. Hence, the contacts updating page is a must step.

Step 6: Tap Done.

Once you’ve verified the contact, you should see a verified check mark next to the contact name you are chatting with.

Also Read: Best iPhone privacy settings to secure your data

FAQs Related to Contact Key Verification

Keep Your Chats Safe and Sound

In brevity, if you are a journalist, human rights activist, diplomat, or are involved with one, this feature can help you be more private on the iMessage. By using Contact Key Verification, you can ensure that you are chatting with the right person.