fabio.esquivel
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Two-factor authentication SMS verification code

I'm trying to enable two-factor authentication on my AppleID, but I'm not receiving the SMS verification code on my SMS-capable iPhone, though my country and carrier are in the supported list of coutries and carriers (Apple ID: About two-step verification and SMS - Apple Support, Costa Rica & Movistar).

 

I've tried this for months and the SMS still does not arrive. Of course I'm able to receive SMS codes from other services (WhatsApp, Viber), but not from Apple's website when trying to enable this feature.

 

My iPhone 5s with iOS v8.2 also has Find My iPhone enabled and working just fine according iCloud: Set up Find My iPhone, but I don't know how to set it up for receiving verification codes for two-factor authentication.

 

Finally, I have been unable to find an Apple's support page where I can ask for help on this subject.

 

Any hints?

iPhone 5s, iOS 7.1.2

Posted on Mar 16, 2015 3:44 PM

by FelipeV,Solvedanswer
FelipeV FelipeV
Level 5 (6,803 points)
iPhone
A:

Those "enabling" SMS have to do with your carrier as SMS (including the ones used to activate iMessage and FaceTime) are sent and received via the carrier. Often the problem has to do with proper provisioning of the iPhone by the carrier. As it seems you have set up 2 step correctly, the problem seems to lie in the carrier. I would start there by contacting the carrier.

Posted on Mar 16, 2015 7:55 PM

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fabio.esquivel

Q: Two-factor authentication SMS verification code

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  • by fabio.esquivel,

    fabio.esquivel fabio.esquivel Mar 16, 2015 3:56 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 16, 2015 3:56 PM in response to sberman

    I've read that page many times already, but it does not help: I'm not getting the SMS verification code, which is the first step to enable the feature.

     

    I've tried this for months to no avail, though I'm able to recieve regular SMS and SMS verification codes from other service activation procedures (WhatsApp and Viber, among others).

     

    And I can't find a place to ask for help directly from Apple!

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Mar 16, 2015 4:36 PM in response to fabio.esquivel
    Level 8 (38,076 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 16, 2015 4:36 PM in response to fabio.esquivel

    Apple ID: Contacting Apple for help with Apple ID account security

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Mar 16, 2015 5:15 PM in response to fabio.esquivel
    Level 8 (40,200 points)
    Mar 16, 2015 5:15 PM in response to fabio.esquivel

    As the Frequently asked questions about two-step verification for Apple ID - Apple Support I attached explains, even if you cannot receive your SMS code, you still must have a recovery key you can use.  Further, you may well have entered other "trusted" devices capable of receiving your code.

  • by fabio.esquivel,

    fabio.esquivel fabio.esquivel Mar 16, 2015 6:56 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 16, 2015 6:56 PM in response to sberman

    I think I'm not making myself clear about my problem: I'm not talking about the one-time password or code used during logins, I'm talking about the first and foremost SMS verification code that Apple sends to enable the feature.

     

    The first step to activate two-factor authentication, after a few days wait for security measures, is to receive an SMS verification code on my phone, which I would enter on the https://appleid.apple.com website to finally enable the feature on my Apple ID. Only then I would be able to get a recovery key or add trusted devices.

     

    I'm not receiving that SMS verification code at all, so the two-factor authentication is not getting active or enabled for my account. At all!

     

    As it's not enabled, I don't have a recovery key and I'm not able to add trusted devices capable of receiving a one-time password/code when I try to login with my Apple ID somewhere else (an iPad, or in iTunes on my PC).

     

    Even more frustrating: I can't find any way to fix this with an actual Apple employee in charge of this feature.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Mar 16, 2015 7:31 PM in response to fabio.esquivel
    Level 8 (40,200 points)
    Mar 16, 2015 7:31 PM in response to fabio.esquivel

    Have you tried changing the country code setting in the iPhone's telephone number to receive the SMS (submitting your country code if you have not been using it, or omitting it if you've been using it)?

  • by FelipeV,Solvedanswer

    FelipeV FelipeV Mar 16, 2015 7:55 PM in response to fabio.esquivel
    Level 5 (6,803 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 16, 2015 7:55 PM in response to fabio.esquivel

    Those "enabling" SMS have to do with your carrier as SMS (including the ones used to activate iMessage and FaceTime) are sent and received via the carrier. Often the problem has to do with proper provisioning of the iPhone by the carrier. As it seems you have set up 2 step correctly, the problem seems to lie in the carrier. I would start there by contacting the carrier.

  • by fabio.esquivel,

    fabio.esquivel fabio.esquivel Mar 17, 2015 7:47 AM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2015 7:47 AM in response to sberman

    Country code settings were right from the first time I tried: The activation process automatically sets the country code based on the location of my Apple ID store.

  • by fabio.esquivel,

    fabio.esquivel fabio.esquivel Mar 17, 2015 7:52 AM in response to FelipeV
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2015 7:52 AM in response to FelipeV

    I did so and the carrier verified my service: Nothing wrong according to them.

     

    Anyway, I tried again last night, several times actually, to send an SMS code (the activation process allows to retry the sending of codes multiple times) and finally one of them got through! I was finally able to enable the feature and it's working fine now.

     

    You might be right, it may have been something on the carrier's setup, but it's strange that enrollment SMS codes for other services worked flawlessly at first try... I don't discard some Apple fault on this just yet.

  • by FelipeV,

    FelipeV FelipeV Mar 17, 2015 9:35 AM in response to fabio.esquivel
    Level 5 (6,803 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 17, 2015 9:35 AM in response to fabio.esquivel

    I'm glad you got the problem sorted out.

     

    FWIW, I use several SIMs from different operators in different countries. I tried getting a phone number from a LatAm operator registered a few months back and it took several tries for the SMS to go through. In the end it worked. But I never had those problems in the US or EU. Go figure!

  • by Marvroja,

    Marvroja Marvroja Jun 19, 2016 10:26 AM in response to fabio.esquivel
    Level 1 (12 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 19, 2016 10:26 AM in response to fabio.esquivel

    Hi Fabio,

     

    I am experiencing this issue right now and I am wondering what did the carrier's support people do to fix this problem? I am with Kolbi and suddenly the verification codes stopped coming in. By the way, I know this happened last year. Thanks!