HT205075: Availability of two-factor authentication in iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan

Learn about Availability of two-factor authentication in iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan
MattY78
Level 1 (15 points)

Q: Still unable to turn on two-factor authentication even when the Set-up button is present

The 'Setup Two-Factor Authentication' button is present on both my Macbook running OS X El Capitan and iPhone 6S running iOS 9.0.2, but when I click on it on either device I get the message 'Two-factor authentication is not available for your Apple ID at this time'. Anyone else getting this. I thought the setup button only appears once it's available for you to set it up.

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.0.2

Posted on Oct 15, 2015 3:23 AM

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MattY78

Q: Still unable to turn on two-factor authentication even when the Set-up button is present

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  • by ThatWolfgang,

    ThatWolfgang ThatWolfgang Oct 17, 2015 5:00 PM in response to MattY78
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 17, 2015 5:00 PM in response to MattY78

    Same for me and I thought so, too.

  • by MattY78,

    MattY78 MattY78 Oct 18, 2015 6:30 AM in response to ThatWolfgang
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 18, 2015 6:30 AM in response to ThatWolfgang

    Tried my mum's on her iPad too and got the same. Perhaps this is just how it is during th transition period while they're making it available to everyone.

  • by Cremo Cremo,

    Cremo Cremo Cremo Cremo Oct 18, 2015 6:48 AM in response to MattY78
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 18, 2015 6:48 AM in response to MattY78

    Yes, same issue here. I get the same message on my iPad, iPhone and MBPr and all are running the required software.  Articles, that I have read, indicated that the 2FA option would be available if your iCloud account was enabled for 2FA.  This is also from Apple's own Support Article, "If two-factor authentication is available for your Apple ID, the button will be present and you can continue with enrollment. If you don't see a button, two-factor authentication isn't available yet for your Apple ID."  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205075


    If I go to MyAppleID, only the option to turn on Two-Step Verification is there. So, issue or incomplete roll-out is definitely on Apple's end.

  • by Cremo Cremo,

    Cremo Cremo Cremo Cremo Oct 20, 2015 6:57 AM in response to MattY78
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 6:57 AM in response to MattY78

    Are you running any iOS and/or OS X betas?

  • by MattY78,

    MattY78 MattY78 Oct 20, 2015 6:59 AM in response to Cremo Cremo
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 6:59 AM in response to Cremo Cremo

    No, just full public releases of OS X 10.11 and iOS 9.0.2

  • by Cremo Cremo,

    Cremo Cremo Cremo Cremo Oct 20, 2015 7:23 AM in response to MattY78
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 7:23 AM in response to MattY78

    Thank you for the quick reply.  I was on the phone with an Apple Support Senior Advisor when I asked you the question.  Their position is that the issue is due to the fact that I am running iOS 9.1 beta.  That is entirely possible.  However, I then stated that others on the forum are having the exact same issue and they are not running any beta software.  They did not know what to say to that other than to please let those people know to contact Apple Support and that they will try to resolve the issue.  They said that no one has called about this, but, that may be entirely due to not many people trying to enable 2FA.  So, please call.

  • by MattY78,

    MattY78 MattY78 Oct 20, 2015 7:26 AM in response to Cremo Cremo
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 7:26 AM in response to Cremo Cremo

    Ah, ok, thanks. I didn't want to go to them straight away because I know what they're like and they will probably want me to try everything I've already tried, and I wanted to check with other users first, but sounds like it'll be worth doing. Thanks

  • by MattY78,

    MattY78 MattY78 Oct 20, 2015 7:43 AM in response to Cremo Cremo
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 7:43 AM in response to Cremo Cremo

    Something I have noticed, actually, when I look at the devices associated with my Apple ID, it says for both of them (my 12 inch MacBook and my iPhone 6S) that "This device cannot be used to receive Apple ID verification codes", which I'm guessing may have something to do with it. Whether it's some setting that needs to be changed or something that needs to be done at Apple's end I'll have to find out when I call them, but it might be worth others checking.

  • by Cremo Cremo,

    Cremo Cremo Cremo Cremo Oct 20, 2015 8:05 AM in response to MattY78
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 8:05 AM in response to MattY78

    I will check again but I did not notice that. Please let us know the fix if you get it resolved.

  • by Cremo Cremo,

    Cremo Cremo Cremo Cremo Oct 20, 2015 8:10 AM in response to MattY78
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 8:10 AM in response to MattY78

    Yes. I checked. All my devices show that I cannot receive verification codes. I think you are in to something.

  • by MattY78,

    MattY78 MattY78 Oct 21, 2015 4:06 AM in response to Cremo Cremo
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 21, 2015 4:06 AM in response to Cremo Cremo

    Ok. I've spoken to support who referred it to the accounts team and came back to me and confirmed that it's just to do with the roll-out. Apparently they've just added the button to the iCloud settings despite what they initially said, so you just have to keep trying till it works.

     

    And the reason for the "This device cannot be used to receive Apple ID verification codes" is because devices can only receive codes once they become trusted devices i.e. once you've turned 2FA on and selected them.

     

    So just the usual confusion!

  • by Cremo Cremo,

    Cremo Cremo Cremo Cremo Oct 21, 2015 7:20 AM in response to MattY78
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 21, 2015 7:20 AM in response to MattY78

    Thank you. I suspected the eligibility of devices to receive verification codes might be tied to what you determined. I guess we'll wait.

  • by alanplum,

    alanplum alanplum Oct 29, 2015 3:27 AM in response to Cremo Cremo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 29, 2015 3:27 AM in response to Cremo Cremo

    My friend in the UK has just enabled "Two Factor Authentication" on his iPhone.

     

    So, I disabled "Two Step Verification" on mine, thinking yay, I'll turn on 2 factor.

     

    Nope, not available for your apple id

  • by Cremo Cremo,

    Cremo Cremo Cremo Cremo Oct 29, 2015 5:46 AM in response to alanplum
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Oct 29, 2015 5:46 AM in response to alanplum

    Yes. Still the same for me. I'm no longer running beta version on any of my devices either. So, Apple Support's suggestion the issue was due to iOS 9.1 beta was incorrect. MattY78's response is the best explanation so far. The wait continues.

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