Any hacker ways to disable my two-factor authentication? Having it forced on me (can't undo it) is unacceptable to me and leads to frustrating scenarios, like a lost phone that can't be found, because the authentication demands access to the lost phone!
iPhone XS, iOS 15
No. If there were known common hacks to disable 2FA, what point would it even serve? Apple requires if for accessing their online services with an AppleID. The only way to avoid it would be to stop using all Apple online services.
If you don’t have any other trusted devices to receive a code, you can have a code sent to your backup telephone number via SMS or automated voice message. See -> Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support (IN)
No. If there were known common hacks to disable 2FA, what point would it even serve? Apple requires if for accessing their online services with an AppleID. The only way to avoid it would be to stop using all Apple online services.
If you don’t have any other trusted devices to receive a code, you can have a code sent to your backup telephone number via SMS or automated voice message. See -> Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support (IN)
There is no means to disable two-factor authentication in an Apple ID, once that feature has been enabled for two weeks, or if two-factor was enabled when the Apple ID was created.
There are no means available to bypass, alter circumvent, “hack”, or otherwise disable two-factor authentication.
Two-factor is increasingly enabled by default on new Apple IDs, and is increasingly required enabled for access to various features.
There are schemes that can potentially phish two-factor tokens from unwary users, though that’s not what you're seeking here.
I was not implying anything. Yes, the older 2 step verification system was optional and could be disabled. Initially, 2 factor authentication was the same (when first introduced in 2015 with iOS 9). But that option went away with iOS 11.
So for years now, 2 factor authentication has been required for several AppleID services and thus Apple disabled the ability to stop use it once setup. New AppleIDs have it set by default and there is no option to disable it, temporarily or otherwise.
So no there are no hacks, none, of any kind, to disable it with an AppleID that uses it.
Apple requires 2FA with an AppleID to use Apple Pay and wallet, messages in iCloud, home kit, iCloud Keychain and to apply for and use an Apple Card. It is a mandatory additional login security step to use an AppleID with Apple online services.
So no, it cannot be disabled nor bypassed. It would be pointless for Apple to make it required if it could be.
And it has nothing to do with anyone’s personal device or devices. Not one thing. It is entirely about securing an AppleID when used to login and access Apple online services. So when you talk about disabling it on your iPhone, you clearly don’t understand what it even is. It has nothing to do with your iPhone (or iPad, or Mac or iPod touch). It has to do with your AppleID and that AppleID being used to sign in to Apple online services, on any device you own.
You can use your device just fine without 2FA. But if you wish to use your AppleID to sign into iCloud, or the App, Book or Music stores on that device, all online services provided by Apple, then yes, you need a 2FA code to do so.
And Find My can be used without a 2FA code. Just use a web browser and login to https://www.iCloud.com/find and no code is required (just your AppleID and password).
AmyJayBee wrote:
I shouldn't have to use ANOTHER phone number to use Find My Phone.
You don't. If you log into iCloud.com and select Find My iPhone, there is an option to use it without 2FA. The "2" in two-factor authentication doesn't refer to the number of devices you need, it refers to the number of factors (password and code) you need to log in.
Bob Timmons wrote:
At one time, Apple offered a "try out" period for Two-Factor Authentication. Don't know if that is still the case.
It might have been 7-14 days, can't remember exactly…
Two weeks.
Within two weeks, the Apple ID can be un-enrolled via a link the mail message received when two-factor was enabled. An Apple ID with two-factor a\enabled for more than two weeks, or an Apple ID created with two-factor cannot have two-factor disabled.
At one time, Apple offered a "try out" period for Two-Factor Authentication. Don't know if that is still the case.
The "try out" might have been about two weeks, can't remember exactly, but can probably find out if it is important. You could disable Two-Factor Authentication during this period, but if you did not disable it during the "try out", then Two-Factor Authentication became permanent and non-reversible.
There is no workaround. Please don't waste your time trying to find some magic software that claims that it can reverse the process.
I know about those options for using 2FA. I'm looking for workarounds to disable it on MY OWN phone (not someone else's). I don't really need any tips on how to use other services to use 2FA effectively. The point of 2FA isn't to lock us out of our own accounts. But that's the annoying result, sometimes, at least for an annoying amount of time it takes to follow all the steps when you don't want to carry around multiple devices. I shouldn't have to use ANOTHER phone number to use Find My Phone. Apple used to give customers the OPTION to use 2FA or to disable it. The point of that was customer choice. Apple has now stopped giving customers the option to disable our own 2FA. It's annoying. All of us commonly find workarounds for many things similar to this in tech/support communities, so if you don't know of a workaround, no need to respond. Not looking for opinions about whether I SHOULD disable it, or ways to use it more easily at this time, just any UNcommon workarounds that allow me to disable it on my phone. Thanks for any suggestions...
If you have used two-factor Authentication for more than 14 days, you cannot disable that service. It serves as added protection and is only a very minor inconvenience. You will not find a work-around for this issue.
Disable annoying two-factor authentication
