How do I Approve my iPhone in Update Apple ID Settings

It has to do with iCloud keychain. On that page that says waiting for approval, you should have an option for can approve this iPhone. Just hit that and it will ask you about resetting protected data. It refers to only data protected by iCloud keychain, but if you've never used it, that means no data will be lost or actually reset. Then it may prompt you to create a security code, just do that and you should be good to go.

Thanks - I just reset the protected data and the message has FINALLY disappeared from all of my devices! And I didn't lose any data 🙂

I have this question also. I just updated iPhone 5s & iPad model ME407LL/A to iOS 10.3.1 on 8Apr2017 - Unfortunately both at the same time. I can login to iCloud account and see both the phone and iPad just as "jcboss76" mention in his post. Waited and waited but no approval code sent. Here is the screen shots to help understand the problem. I first noticed the settings gear with a RED 1 over the icon. Then under settings you see this:

The next page you see after selecting Continue is this in which I entered and it accepted...

The next screen that appears is this one: Approve this Pad

Went to iCloud.com account and logged in and I saw nothing nor could I find anything that would allow me to activate or send an approval code. I can see both of my devices but NOTHING on how to verify my devices. I restarted both devices to no avail. I logged out of iCloud account on my iphone ..Logged back in still same problem. 😐

Here is my iCloud account screen to show you what I see.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Here are the particulars about Two-factor authentication.

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

You have used phrases like "two level security" and "two level approval". These phrases are ambiguous, as there are two two-level methods Apple uses for security. The other is Two-step verification, but I am guessing that is not the one you are using.

You can tell if your iPhone uses Two-factor authentication by going to Settings > [Your Apple ID at the top] > Password & Security and seeing if it's turned on there.

Since you updated your Apple ID:

What to do after you change your Apple ID email address or password - Apple Support

I have this same issue which I think was caused by an expired credit card. I logged into applied.apple.com and fixed everything there but still have this odd message. My issue is that when I enter my iCloud password the wheel just spins and spins and never actually completes. I have logged out of iCloud, restarted the phone and logged back in. I have a separate Apple ID for iTunes & App store and have even logged out of that and logged back in. The big difference though is that two factor authentication is turned OFF so it isn't that. I only have one device so don't bite know how two factor authentication would work. This is our sons phone, hence the two Apple IDs and his iCloud password is working just fine and the security questions are also working. I am a bit stuck here!

Just choose the option for can't approve, it will ask you if you're​ ok with "resetting protected data" but not to worry, nothing will be lost. It's just a glitch with two factor authentication and iCloud keychain. Alternatively, you could also simply turn off two factor and that should make it go away as well.

I was about to try your recommendation but then got this and worried to move forward

Like I said in my previous post, "protected data" refers to iCloud keychain data and nothing else. Your photos, contacts, calendars, and the like will be unaffected.

I'm having the same issue. I do receive an authentication code on my iPhone which I input into iCloud in another device but I still cannot aprove my iPhone..the same "waiting for approval" screen appears.

Same problem for me also, past 3 days I am struggling to fix the issue but couldn't. If you solved for issue regarding approve your iPhone in other device kindly let me know. So that will useful for me and as well as others too. Thank you.

I am having the same exact issue. Please advise.

This is not a solution to the problem described - I updated my 6 Plus to 10.3.1 and I have the exact same issue as described by the screenshots below.

Perfect! Thank you! I was hesitant to reset the protected data, but it doesn't appear to have affected anything. Thank you very much!

This worked for me thank you