CharPatton

Q: 2 factor authentication notification devices

Hi:

 

Under my Manage Your Apple ID page there is an option to click Devices and all of my computers, iPhones, iPads show up.

 

I would like to use Two-Step verification, but not have the code sent to all the listed devices.

 

Is there a way to choose just my iPhone to get the Two-Step verification code?

 

Thank you!

OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Apr 25, 2016 8:00 PM

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Q: 2 factor authentication notification devices

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Glenn Leblanc,Apple recommended

    Glenn Leblanc Glenn Leblanc Apr 28, 2016 8:10 PM in response to CharPatton
    Level 6 (11,016 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 28, 2016 8:10 PM in response to CharPatton

    I've never used the Two-Step verification code, but you are suppose to register the devices you want to use with it when you set it up.

    Read here:  iCloud: two-step verification

    And here:   Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

  • by Rysz,Helpful

    Rysz Rysz Apr 28, 2016 8:11 PM in response to CharPatton
    Level 7 (20,492 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 28, 2016 8:11 PM in response to CharPatton

    Rregardless of how many devices are registered, when you're requesting a code to be sent, you also have to select to which device you wan it sent. It's never sent to more than just one device.

  • by CharPatton,

    CharPatton CharPatton Apr 28, 2016 8:11 PM in response to Rysz
    Level 1 (41 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 28, 2016 8:11 PM in response to Rysz

    Hi:

     

    Thanks to you both for responding!

     

    I’m ignorant about things computer, so please excuse this if it doesn’t make sense.

     

    But what I would like to do is have full use of our various devices (iPhone, iPads, computers) but only have the verification code sent to one or two of these devices.

     

    Here’s the blurb from the Apple site about trusted devices:

     

    “You can also remove a trusted device. Removing a trusted device will ensure that it can no longer display verification codes and that access to iCloud, and other Apple services on the device, is blocked until you sign in again with two-factor authentication. If you need to find or erase your device before you remove it from your trusted device list, you can use Find My iPhone.”

     

    It sounds like from this that if one removes a trusted device, then it no longer has full functionality.

     

    Is there any way around this situation? That is, can verification be sent to just one or two devices, but all the other devices retain functionality?

     

    Much appreciated.

  • by Glenn Leblanc,

    Glenn Leblanc Glenn Leblanc Apr 28, 2016 8:25 PM in response to CharPatton
    Level 6 (11,016 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 28, 2016 8:25 PM in response to CharPatton

    Verification codes are only sent to one device of your choosing as Rysz pointed out earlier. If you remove a device from the list, then you will not be able to use iCloud services. When you log back into iCloud services, you will once again have to reverify the device.

    So your statement pretty much says the same and that's correct. You will lose iCloud services on the device until you sign back into iCloud and reverify it.

     

    When you sign into iCloud on a device, once verified, it is added to the list of devices automatically.

     

    If you are wanting to use it, then go ahead and sign up for it. That way you can fully understand how it works. If you decide you don't want to use it, you can always remove it at anytime and go back to how it is now.

  • by Rysz,

    Rysz Rysz Apr 28, 2016 10:00 PM in response to CharPatton
    Level 7 (20,492 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 28, 2016 10:00 PM in response to CharPatton

    What Glenn Leblanc said. He knows of which he speaks.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Apr 28, 2016 10:33 PM in response to CharPatton
    Level 8 (39,746 points)
    Apr 28, 2016 10:33 PM in response to CharPatton

    Be extremely careful.  You are talking about two different things.

     

    Your first post refers to two-step verification.  That's fine, and most of the responses above assume that is what you mean.

     

    But then your post's title and your second post refers to something very different: two-factor authentication

     

    Glenn Leblanc sent you links describing both.

     

    Make sure you know which one you're dealing with.  They are different!

  • by Glenn Leblanc,

    Glenn Leblanc Glenn Leblanc Apr 29, 2016 5:05 AM in response to sberman
    Level 6 (11,016 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 29, 2016 5:05 AM in response to sberman

    You're correct on that. I am confusing the 2 different things. I though Apple was expanding on the 2 step verification, but I see they are separate things. Please help the OP with other questions. I will have to get up to date between the two.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Apr 29, 2016 2:29 PM in response to Glenn Leblanc
    Level 8 (39,746 points)
    Apr 29, 2016 2:29 PM in response to Glenn Leblanc

    Thanks for your remarks.  I think you provided the OP with exactly the information (s)he needs to make an informed decision - use two-step verification, two-factor authentication, or neither?

  • by CharPatton,

    CharPatton CharPatton May 1, 2016 5:50 AM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (41 points)
    Apple TV
    May 1, 2016 5:50 AM in response to sberman

    Thanks to all above for all their help. This is very confusing and I greatly appreciate your guidance!!!

     

    I'm starting to get a handle on this now, but what complicates it is that years ago I had an AppleID (#1) for which the e-mail provider is now defunct. I used that to buy a bunch of music. That was the account that the 2 factor was set for (since it had a credit card attached to it).

     

    I have another AppleID (#2) based upon my iCloud e-mail (it seems that it is impossible to merge these two AppleIDs). This AppleID (#2) based upon my iCloud e-mail is what I use to access the "Cloud" from all my devices.

     

    It seems (and I may easily be wrong!) that the two factor device list shows only devices that are signed into the cloud using a specific AppleID. Thus, since I am using another AppleID (#2) to sign in with all my devices, none of my devices are listed when signed in managing the account (where the 2 factor options are listed) from the first AppleID (#1).

     

    I wonder if it is possible to get all my devices listed under the first AppleID that uses 2 factor so that I may choose which device to send the notification to?

  • by Glenn Leblanc,Solvedanswer

    Glenn Leblanc Glenn Leblanc May 1, 2016 7:28 AM in response to CharPatton
    Level 6 (11,016 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 1, 2016 7:28 AM in response to CharPatton

    First the confusion between 2 step verification & 2 factor authentication, and now it's 2 separate Apple IDs. That really makes things complicated.

     

    You can't merge 2 separate Apple IDs. Do you really have 2 separate AppleIDs, or are you referring to using an outside email address & apple email address for the same account?

    Is the first Apple ID still usable? You mentioned that the email provider for it is no longer used, but you can change that to a different address as well as add an apple email to it.

     

    I seriously doubt that you can associate a device to more than one Apple ID at a time, but again I'm not positive. If that's the case, then you would have to decide on which ID you want to use.

    For the 2 factor authentication, a device gets added to the Trusted List when you sign into the Apple ID on that device and it is verified. Once verified, I'm not sure if it is removed from the list when you sign out on that device or if you have to go to the website to remove it from the list.

    In any case, I would assume you have to make sure it is removed from one AppleID before it can be added to another.

     

    If you want everything to be listed under the first Apple ID, then what is it that you want to use the second Apple ID for?

  • by CharPatton,

    CharPatton CharPatton May 7, 2016 9:30 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc
    Level 1 (41 points)
    Apple TV
    May 7, 2016 9:30 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc

    As always, thanks for taking the time to reply and help out; much appreciated.

     

    The main issue, I think, is that I have the old Apple ID that I can't merge to the new one (or I lose purchased music). But went through and just logged all devices in with the new ID and now the 2 factor seems to work well enough. Good learning experience!

  • by Glenn Leblanc,

    Glenn Leblanc Glenn Leblanc May 7, 2016 10:21 AM in response to CharPatton
    Level 6 (11,016 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 7, 2016 10:21 AM in response to CharPatton

    You're Welcome for any help I gave.

     

    Just remember that you can always log into the old Apple id to retrieve past purchases. You should also be able to continue to use the old Apple ID to log into iTunes and the App Store if you wish, and use the new ID for all other services.

    I don't understand why Apple won't allow merging of 2 Apple IDs. Many people have wanted this, but doesn't seem it will ever be possible. Best to stick with just one unless you have specific needs for another such as sharing it with others for iTunes purchases.

     

    Anyway, good to see the 2 factor seems to be working out for you.