How do I access the verification code for my new phone if my old phone is dead? Trying to setup my new iPhone 8 because my old iPhone 7 died. Apple wants to verify it's me by sending verification to my dead iPhone 7. Is there no other way to do this?
iPhone 7, iOS 13
Okay fellow Apple-Addicts, I finally found the solution! - on my own. If you're determined to find a solution to a problem, click on stuff - do this for a few hours. Can't find the solution? No worries - just go ahead and click on the same stuff again for a couple more hours. Eventually, the answer finds you.
Here's the solution, in case anyone else goes through this same ****:
1) You get your new iPhone and it first goes through all the usual set up (What country? What language?, etc)
2) You come to a window that asks "Do you want to transfer all your apps and stuff from your old phone to new?" You figure this is a no-brainer, the only answer to this - of course - is "YES!"... right?
****LoUd-BuZzeR!!**** NOPE! WRONG answer!!!
You are now required to retrieve the verification number off your old busted, non-working phone. Ooops, you say...that won't work, so you try to go back and change your answer to "no" but now Apple thinks your screwing with them and their security kicks in. Now you no longer have the option to change your answer. Grrrr...
3) SOLUTION!: Go back to the first, "start setup" window and start going through the setup steps, only this time, somewhere along the way, you'll find the choice: "Go Back to Factory Settings". I don't recall exactly where this is because I clicked on so many things, but you'll find it if you just click on stuff. Since it's only a couple pages into the setup process, it won't be hard to find. So I clicked "Go Back to Factory Settings" and it wiped the phone clean and gave me a fresh start.
4) Now, when I get to the window that asks "Do you want to transfer all your apps and stuff from your old phone to new?" I was able to answer "NO!...**** NO!" So it then opened up the home screen where I was able to access phone, texts, etc.
5) Now that I had access to the home screen, I was able to have my carrier service switch over my service plan from old to new phone. Now, when Apple texted me my verification code, it came to my new phone. Done!
There is nothing on Apple Support FAQ's that tells you how to do this. You'd really think this would be a common problem among users. You drop your phone in the lake, it gets run over by a car, or the battery no longer charges so it's dead. So now, how do you get all your stuff onto a new phone without the old phone working? If you're old phone is not working, DON'T say "Yes - transfer my stuff please!" Just SAY NO! ...or else it will bind up the process. Don't bother calling Apple either, just do the super-secretive hack described above.
Again, thanks to all who responded.
Okay fellow Apple-Addicts, I finally found the solution! - on my own. If you're determined to find a solution to a problem, click on stuff - do this for a few hours. Can't find the solution? No worries - just go ahead and click on the same stuff again for a couple more hours. Eventually, the answer finds you.
Here's the solution, in case anyone else goes through this same ****:
1) You get your new iPhone and it first goes through all the usual set up (What country? What language?, etc)
2) You come to a window that asks "Do you want to transfer all your apps and stuff from your old phone to new?" You figure this is a no-brainer, the only answer to this - of course - is "YES!"... right?
****LoUd-BuZzeR!!**** NOPE! WRONG answer!!!
You are now required to retrieve the verification number off your old busted, non-working phone. Ooops, you say...that won't work, so you try to go back and change your answer to "no" but now Apple thinks your screwing with them and their security kicks in. Now you no longer have the option to change your answer. Grrrr...
3) SOLUTION!: Go back to the first, "start setup" window and start going through the setup steps, only this time, somewhere along the way, you'll find the choice: "Go Back to Factory Settings". I don't recall exactly where this is because I clicked on so many things, but you'll find it if you just click on stuff. Since it's only a couple pages into the setup process, it won't be hard to find. So I clicked "Go Back to Factory Settings" and it wiped the phone clean and gave me a fresh start.
4) Now, when I get to the window that asks "Do you want to transfer all your apps and stuff from your old phone to new?" I was able to answer "NO!...**** NO!" So it then opened up the home screen where I was able to access phone, texts, etc.
5) Now that I had access to the home screen, I was able to have my carrier service switch over my service plan from old to new phone. Now, when Apple texted me my verification code, it came to my new phone. Done!
There is nothing on Apple Support FAQ's that tells you how to do this. You'd really think this would be a common problem among users. You drop your phone in the lake, it gets run over by a car, or the battery no longer charges so it's dead. So now, how do you get all your stuff onto a new phone without the old phone working? If you're old phone is not working, DON'T say "Yes - transfer my stuff please!" Just SAY NO! ...or else it will bind up the process. Don't bother calling Apple either, just do the super-secretive hack described above.
Again, thanks to all who responded.
I don’t think it’s unsolvable - the last option is to call Apple Support and work it out with them (it does seem like you already called them, though). Maybe they have another option.
Another hokey option I can think of is to setup a new Apple ID and set the phone up under that. Then at least you *could* sign into appleid.apple.com and add another trusted phone number as trusted to your *original* AppleID, assuming you have another phone number you can use.
You could then get your phone set up under your Apple ID if the verification code was sent to the other trusted phone number. This really seems like the long way around, though.
After reading this, I’ve gone ahead and added my significant other’s phone number as trusted to my account, just in case.
You say you do have a computer, it doesn't have to be a Mac. Have the code sent to your eMail address on your Windows computer.
Wish I could. Apple doesn't offer that option when setting up a new phone. Text or call are the only options given. I tried having them call my number and leave a message because I CAN access my voicemail from a landline. Great idea, right? Nope. The voicemail gets cut off and I can hear only one of the 6 numbers. Apparently, it's voice activated so the first couple numbers they say is enough to turn on the recording. Once it starts recording, it's too late.
My question was: "How do I get a verification code for my new iPhone when Apple wants to send the verification code to my old phone - which is DEAD...that's D-E-A-D, as in NOT working".
My computer has Windows 10. As unusual as this may be, I have no other Apple devices. Just one dead iPhone 7 and one useless iPhone 8 that won't let me in cuz the only way it seems is to get a text on a dead phone. I find it strange that Apple relies on the idea that everyone MUST have more than one device that works.
jayvicdon wrote:
My question was: "How do I get a verification code for my new iPhone when Apple wants to send the verification code to my old phone - which is DEAD...that's D-E-A-D, as in NOT working".
The article I attached above offers many ways to receive your code. And the end offers an “If you still can’t sign in” solution.
Thanks for the link. I went there, signed in...and behold...they sent a verification code to my DEAD iPhone. to make sure it's really me. Frustrated to no end. I thought my PC WAS a trusted device, but every time I try to use it for stuff like this, they send me that two-step verification thing every time. Here's what I really don't get...You'd think this should be a common enough issue with users that Apple would have a solution in their FAQ's. "Here's how to transfer all your stuff to your new phone when you're replacing an old phone that you no longer have access to". Can't believe that this has never happened to anyone else in the history of millions of iPhone users in the 13+ years iPhone have been in existence! I guess Apple can't conceive the idea that their stuff can actually break once in a while!
BTW, thanks to everyone contributing ideas.
sberman, thanks for the link you posted. It's mostly about how to retrieve your account when you forgot your password. I read it top to bottom and there's nothing there that helps me with this particular issue, but again, thanks for the effort.
Apple says this: "If you don’t have a trusted device handy, you can have a verification code sent to your trusted phone number as a text message or phone call."
Great idea!...but what if my trusted phone number is also my trusted (broken) device?!
is it possible that I've discovered an issue that Apple has never came across before and thus, is completely unsolvable?
Thanks so much for reporting the solution! Another person had the same problem today. I gave the same sort of answer I gave you. Yours was the first report I had seen with the issue. Now, I plan to save your detailed solution. That means I’ll probably never see the same question again, but if I do, I will know the answer!
I haven't set up a new phone recently, but isn't there an option to have verification code sent to your computer or another device instead of the dead phone?
I am setting up a new phone and need help.
Any chance you have a computer with a trusted browser (i.e., you can sign on with your AppleID without needing a verification code)?
If so, you could go appleid.apple.com and add another Trusted Phone Number.
How do I access the verification code for my new phone if my old phone is dead?
