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Unable to turn OFF two-factor authentication

I recently bought a new Mac Book and however it happened, I set up the two-factor authentication and now on both my devices (Mac Book and iPhone), I can NOT turn OFF this horrible two-factor authentication!! I've tried for hours. APPLE you need to fix this problem. I read where I could go to the original email and 'unenroll' but that doesn't work .. .. .. there's nowhere to actually unenroll. It always makes me change my Apple ID and frankly, I'm getting tired of the restrictions that APPLE has such control over my own desires. PLEASE HELP AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE APPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

iPhone 5c, iOS 9

Posted on Mar 7, 2019 11:31 PM

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Posted on Mar 7, 2019 11:34 PM

You can use the comfirmation email within two weeks after enabled two factor

Can I turn off two-factor authentication after I’ve turned it on?

If you already use two-factor authentication, you can no longer turn it off. Certain features in the latest versions of iOS and macOS require this extra level of security, which is designed to protect your information. If you recently updated your account, you can unenroll for two weeks. Just open your enrollment confirmation email and click the link to return to your previous security settings. Keep in mind, this makes your account less secure and means that you can't use features that require higher security.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 7, 2019 11:34 PM in response to jeaninedaisy

You can use the comfirmation email within two weeks after enabled two factor

Can I turn off two-factor authentication after I’ve turned it on?

If you already use two-factor authentication, you can no longer turn it off. Certain features in the latest versions of iOS and macOS require this extra level of security, which is designed to protect your information. If you recently updated your account, you can unenroll for two weeks. Just open your enrollment confirmation email and click the link to return to your previous security settings. Keep in mind, this makes your account less secure and means that you can't use features that require higher security.

Mar 8, 2019 3:11 AM in response to andreafromadelaide

That no longer applies, Apple aren’t allowing downgrading any longer.

Apple's page on this is less helpful than it might be. It says, 'If you recently updated your account, you can unenroll for two weeks.'


This is ambiguous and could mean either:

  1. Within two weeks of enabling it you can disable it permanently
  2. You can disable it but only for a period of two weeks after which it will be re-enabled.

I would think that number 1 is the more likely reading, and this has generally been accepted as the case. That's not to say, of course, that Apple haven't changed the policy but so far not updated their help page (something which is not entirely unknown). Of course if it's been enabled for more than two weeks you are stuck with it anyway, like it or not. In theory it's a good security protection and should kick in only the first time for any one device or browser. In theory.

Unable to turn OFF two-factor authentication

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