Mac OSX switch to iCloud password login missing

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Level 1

7 points

Mac OSX switch to iCloud password login missing

I have a couple of users sharing an iMac (10.11.4). They are logging in with local accounts / passwords.

I have just set them up with iCloud accounts, and I'd like them to log in to the machine with these.

Normally to enable this I would log in as the user, go to System Preferences / Users & Groups and hit the Change Password button, and then click the 'Use iCloud' button. However I'm just getting the regular password change pop-up window, with no option to switch to iCloud.

I have tried signing the user out and in again in System Preferences / iCloud but this hasn't helped.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Posted on Mar 29, 2016 4:47 AM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

684,039 points

Mar 29, 2016 10:46 AM in response to jmpawson

If the users aren't admin users, try making them admin users to see if that works. You can then change them back.

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Answer 2

jmpawson Author

Level 1

7 points

Mar 30, 2016 1:41 AM in response to jmpawson

Thanks for the comment - unfortunately that hasn't helped

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Answer 3

markyp

Level 1

19 points

Apr 3, 2016 1:14 PM in response to jmpawson

Just to say that I have the same problem on my 10.11.4 Macbook Pro 13in Retina - I'm logging in using a local account, and cannot switch to iCloud login (as the OP says, there's no option on the Change Password screen).

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Answer 4

nholm

Level 1

4 points

Apr 20, 2016 11:59 AM in response to jmpawson

Since it's not possible for users with Two-factor authentication to use this feature anyway, maybe Apple has decided to remove it.

Now I'm just waiting for Two-factor authentication to be available for my iCloud account. What's taking so long?

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Answer 5

jmpawson Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 21, 2016 3:27 AM in response to nholm

Are you sure about that? I have two-factor authentication enabled and I'm using my iCloud password to log in to my devices.

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Answer 6

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,668 points

Apr 21, 2016 4:27 AM in response to nholm

nholm wrote:

Since it's not possible for users with Two-factor authentication to use this feature anyway, maybe Apple has decided to remove it.

Now I'm just waiting for Two-factor authentication to be available for my iCloud account. What's taking so long?

Someone else here posted that you have to disable two-step authentication before you can enable two-factor. I haven't tried, yet.

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Answer 7

nholm

Level 1

4 points

Apr 21, 2016 10:30 AM in response to Barney-15E

I have tried that before, but now it worked! Thanks!

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Answer 8

Apr 30, 2016 4:54 PM in response to nholm

I've been having this same problem. I am about to try to disable 2-factor and erase and start over for about the 10th time in 2 days. I can't believe I didn't think of this... Oh well, even Apple didn't. Here was their response...

Alright thank you. Upon further research of this with the 10.11.4 update we are no longer able to create an account using your iCloud login information. If you are wanting to have this setup so that you can use the same password we are able to have them the same, it would just require you to manually change the password once setup to the preferred password. During setup it will not allow for the same password.

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Answer 9

May 9, 2016 3:22 PM in response to jmpawson

I have it setup on my Mac Mini (OS X 10.11.4) but on my wife's iMac I wanted to do it but it's not there.

It doesn't ask Do I want to use iCloud login and password.

It's on OS X 10.11.4 too

Why is this?

the iCloud is setup on her computer.

all the check boxes are checked in Settings>iCloud

what/why did Apple do this?

Like I said, my Mac Mini still works with it, but her's does not.

And her account is the Admin on the iMac, my user id is also a admin but I used her account to make my account on her iMac and I do remember it asked if I wanted to use iCloud, which I did for my login.

Do you have to have a separate ADMIN login and then make up user id's using the iCloud login?

Why has Apple made things MORE difficult?

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Answer 10

May 11, 2016 7:04 AM in response to philmiamiflorida

I have the exact same issue as what you have described. To add, I don't have two-factor authentication, never did - yet I'm facing the same issue. I'm seeing this in one of my 2008 MB w/ El Capitan, but my other 2008 MBP w/ EC, it works.

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Answer 11

May 20, 2016 1:06 AM in response to jmpawson

I chatted with Apple Support about this and they said iCloud password login was removed in OS X 10.11.4. It doesn't forcibly remove it from existing accounts, but if you turn it off, you can't turn it back on.

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