Cannot Approve new iPhone after restoring from iCloud backup as I don't have any other Apple devices!

Question

DonC1955 Author

Level 1

8 points

Cannot Approve new iPhone after restoring from iCloud backup as I don't have any other Apple devices!

I had my iPhone 6S stolen. It had 2-factor authentication enabled. After restoring my iCloud backup to a new iPhone 6, I am being asked to "Approve" it on another device, but I only have an Apple TV and Windows devices logged onto my iCloud account, none of which can apparently be used for approval, even the Apple TV.

Until I approve it, I will not be able to restore my messages and other encrypted data to my new phone. My wife's iPhone is a trusted number for my two-factor verification of my Apple ID but does not display any approval prompts. I have consulted the forums and every other resource I could find and cannot see a way around it.

Am I doomed to have lost all my encrypted data forever as I only have one Apple device? If so this is ridiculous.

Have I missed something?

iPhone 6s

Posted on Mar 6, 2020 6:18 AM

Reply

Answer 1

SravanKrA

Level 10

432,846 points

Mar 6, 2020 7:34 AM in response to DonC1955

Is you keychain enabled? See the pic below, is this your situation?

Try these steps in order:

Turn off iCloud Keychain on both the devices
On your iPhone, go to Keychain and tap Approve with Security Code
When prompted for the 4-digit iCloud Security code tap Forgot Code
Simply follow the prompts and steps to reset the code
Now this device will have iCloud Keychain enabled and working
Now on your second device, enable iCloud Keychain
You should get a notification on the first device about this activity. Enter your iCloud / Apple ID password when asked
iCloud Keychain should now be enabled

This is almost certainly a keychain issue. Try these steps:

Turn off iCloud Keychain on both the MacBook and iPhone.
From your iPhone, go to Keychain and tap Approve with Security Code.
When prompted for the 4-digit iCloud Security code tap Forgot Code.
Follow the prompts to reset the code.
Now this device should have iCloud Keychain enabled and working.
Now from your MacBook, enable iCloud Keychain.
You should get a notification on the iPhone about this. Enter your iCloud password in the prompt.
iCloud Keychain should now be enabled.

Most likely the process will stop "Approve your device" notifications!

Reply

Answer 2

DonC1955 Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 6, 2020 10:00 AM in response to SravanKrA

This does not work as there is no option in the Keychain setting of my partially restored iPhone to "Approve with Security Code." I did not have Keychain enabled on my lost iPhone. Only 2-factor authentication via two other trusted iPhone's one of which is my wife's.

Hence, Keychain is OFF on my restored device by default. There is only an option to turn it ON. When I attempt to turn it on, it asks for my 6-digit device security code and Apple ID password. I enter these and they are accepted, but I am then back to the "Approve This iPhone" as per your screen shot. I do not have any other Apple devices other than my Apple TV. The telephone number of my wife's iPhone was a trusted number before I lost my iPhone and is listed as a trusted device in iCloud. It does not display any Approve iPhone messages.

Reply

Cannot Approve new iPhone after restoring from iCloud backup as I don't have any other Apple devices!

Similar questions