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Q: two factor authentication - country code reject
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Oct 22, 2016 11:16 AMby alex_h1,
Hello nicoyano,
Thanks for asking about setting up two-factor authentication for Apple ID here in the Apple Support Communities. I am happy to offer some things for you to check for this.
The first thing we want to ensure is that all your data is safe. You can make a backup using Time Machine and an external hard drive. Use this article for help making a backup of your Mac: Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac.
Once your data is safe, we can start looking at reasons you are getting this alert, and some other options. According to this help article: Availability of two-factor authentication for Apple ID, you should have no problem with your location. This means there is something else blocking it, or there is another issue, but that is the only alert that is displaying.
The first thing that comes to mind for an issue like this is the things that can block or confuse the system to provide this alert. There are many things that can cause this. First we first need to make sure you are using an open wireless network like your home network. If you are connecting to a free wireless network like a school, work, or other business, the airport, a military base, or a hotspot type of a network, this will not work because these types of networks have high security and high traffic. They do not allow the necessary data back and forth causing issues exactly like the one you are currently experiencing.
Also, you may be using third party firewalls (even on the router), virus protection, or proxies (that hide your identity from the internet)? Some security apps also do this, but are only called Security or VPN. Some such apps have names like Little Snitch, Astrall or Webroot Secure Anywhere Antivirus, or other anti-malware apps. These are not bad apps or malware, they are just doing exactly what they are designed to do which is block ports to protect your identity and computer. There are literally hundreds of such apps that block incoming ports which will not allow this feature to work.
You may wish to try setting this up in safe mode. Safe mode will disable third party drivers, but if this is caused by some third party app, it may allow it to work in safe mode. This help article will help you with the steps for safe mode: Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up. If it works in safe mode, then you know there is a third party app blocking the port, but once the two-factor authentication is set up, it may be best to leave that setting for your security. If you prefer to remove it, then start by removing third party apps as described above and restart the computer.
Thanks again and have a great rest of your day.
