What happens to Apple Account Security Questions after moving to 2 factor authentication?

In my 1password app I have kept my old Apple Security Questions for my Apple Account. Apple says that this is the old method before moving to Two Factor Authentication. They don't say whether those Security Questions are removed as a method of logging in if 2FA is ever turned off for the account – Heck I don't even know if it's possible to turn off 2FA on an Apple Account/ID once it's been turned on.


Should I keep those Security Questions documented or are they useless now?

iMac 27″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 4, 2024 10:59 AM

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Posted on Nov 4, 2024 11:48 AM

They are no longer of any use since they are replaced entirely by two factor authentication. However…


For some background I suggest you read the support article: "Two-factor authentication for Apple ID" - Two-factor authentication for Apple Account - Apple Support


When reading that article some people (including some providing advice on this forum who miss the part about some people being able to disable the feature and just say you cannot) have difficulty determining if a person can or cannot disable two factor authentication on their accounts. Here's the actual situation:


Several years ago Apple transitioned to using two-factor authentication for additional account security. Accounts created since that time automatically use two-factor authentication and this indeed cannot be disabled.


Some people have older accounts from before two-factor authentication was mandatory on new accounts. Apple encourages those users to transition to two-factor authentication when signing in on their accounts because without it "your account is less secure and you can't use features that require a higher level of security." However, the support article also says in tiny, light-grey font: "If you updated to two-factor authentication inadvertently, you can turn it off within two weeks of enrollment." In other words if you have an older account, recently activated two factor authentication ("inadvertently" or not), and you're within the two week period for turning it off again, you should check for an email from Apple for a way to do this. If you don't see one about this, look in your junk mail folder.


I have no idea what happens when you revert. You may have to set up security questions all over again for all I know, or maybe it will revert to the old ones? I suspect most people who ask about reverting are not eligible anyway.




5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 4, 2024 11:48 AM in response to johnnyjackhammer

They are no longer of any use since they are replaced entirely by two factor authentication. However…


For some background I suggest you read the support article: "Two-factor authentication for Apple ID" - Two-factor authentication for Apple Account - Apple Support


When reading that article some people (including some providing advice on this forum who miss the part about some people being able to disable the feature and just say you cannot) have difficulty determining if a person can or cannot disable two factor authentication on their accounts. Here's the actual situation:


Several years ago Apple transitioned to using two-factor authentication for additional account security. Accounts created since that time automatically use two-factor authentication and this indeed cannot be disabled.


Some people have older accounts from before two-factor authentication was mandatory on new accounts. Apple encourages those users to transition to two-factor authentication when signing in on their accounts because without it "your account is less secure and you can't use features that require a higher level of security." However, the support article also says in tiny, light-grey font: "If you updated to two-factor authentication inadvertently, you can turn it off within two weeks of enrollment." In other words if you have an older account, recently activated two factor authentication ("inadvertently" or not), and you're within the two week period for turning it off again, you should check for an email from Apple for a way to do this. If you don't see one about this, look in your junk mail folder.


I have no idea what happens when you revert. You may have to set up security questions all over again for all I know, or maybe it will revert to the old ones? I suspect most people who ask about reverting are not eligible anyway.




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What happens to Apple Account Security Questions after moving to 2 factor authentication?

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