How to Turn Off Two-Factor Authentication?

See the following from Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

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.

sarahx7bell wrote:

how do i turn off the following feature: Two-Factor Authentication?

I don't want to use it. Its a headache..

In all likelihood, you will not be able to turn it off.

What problems are you having with it? If you explain, perhaps someone can help you figure out ways around the issues. 2FA should be relatively unobtrusive.

With all of the hacked sites out there (especially Equifax) there is enough personal information publicly available that anyone who wants to hack your Apple ID only needs to contact Apple's Security Team, claim to be you, prove it with information from the Equifax breach, and get your Apple ID password reset. They can then lock your phone and hold it for ransom, email all of your contacts claiming to be you, see your messages, view your photos (remember Jennifer Lawrence's nudies), track your phone (stalkers, anyone?) etc. Yes, all of this has happened, a lot more than once, and as recently as a week ago based on a post in this forum.

So if your ID has not been hacked it's only because no one has wanted to (so far). 2FA prevents this, because Apple's security team cannot reset your password or bypass 2FA.

When used as intended 2FA is unobtrusive. The only time I need it is if I log in to my Apple ID account.

Note also that it does not protect your device(s). It protects your Apple ID. And if you don't have it you can't use Apple Pay, Wallet, or get an Apple Card, can't sync messages or other content to iCloud, and, as time goes on you will lose out on other new features.

You don't always have to have a 2nd device for 2FA, be sure to add at least one trusted contact phone number to your Apple ID and you can choose to get a phone call for the authentication code. Do that now before you need this.

Log into your Apple ID (you'll need your iPhone or other authorized device for the 2FA code for this one time):

https://appleid.apple.com/#!&page=signin

Then under Security, add trusted phone number(s) for your ID, they can be any phone number, even a landline.