I cannot add a recovery contact, does someone have any idea what's wrong?

[Aigoo]

Some information to begin with I have the latest model of the iMac which runs Monterey 12.2.1 and an iPad of the 6th generation which runs on iPadOS 15.3.1. I also have a 2009 iMac but that is not listed as my device anymore after I migrated TM backup to my new iMac.
My parents own an iPad 2, iPad Mini (both too old and cannot be updated) and an iPad Air 3 which also runs on iPadOS 15.3.1.

Now I wanted to add my parents as a recovery contact but everytime I try to add them I get the error recovery contacts need to have an Apple Device. So I thought maybe I used the wrong apple ID, my parents both have their own, but the ID's of both my parents give the same error. I did read this can happen when you have Family Sharing on and one of the devices in that group is not updated. So I left the Family Sharing group thinking it would solve the issue. But no it still gives me the error that contacts need an apple device and they have.

Does anyone have any idea what's going on here? My parents meet the requirements needed, I double checked that.

Maybe also handy to know, I have added my parents phone numbers listed as trusted phone numbers as well just i case I loose my phone or don't have access to it but I don't think that is the issue? Or is it?

If that all doesn't work I have to ask someone else.

 

[BigBlur]

You said you tried both of their Apple IDs, but it looks like they only have one device that is supported - the iPad Air 3. The iPad 2 and iPad mini are too old to be supported since they cannot run iOS 15. Are you using the Apple ID that is signed into their iPad Air 3? Does the iPad Air 3 show up in the list of devices associated to that Apple ID?

Also, does that Apple ID and iPad Air 3 meet the requirements to be a recovery contact, particularly the last two points:

• They need two-factor authentication turned on for their Apple ID.
• They need a passcode set up on their device.

If all else fails, perhaps try having them temporarily sign out of the iPad 2 and iPad mini and remove them from their account just to make sure they aren't causing the "need to have an Apple device" error. I really don't think this would the be cause, but might be good to rule it out just to be sure.

 

[Aigoo]

Yes I checked everything and did everything apple said to do and it still won't work.