Swap SIMs To Receive Two Step Authentication Code?

Question

Level 1

11 points

Swap SIMs To Receive Two Step Authentication Code?

My girlfriend's iPhone 7 Plus (Sprint) fell into the lake on Sunday. It is sitting 22 feet under water, and obviously, I can't get it. She received her replacement from Asurion today, but apparently she has two factor authentication enabled, with only one iOS device.... In case you aren't aware, that means that when she tries to login to her iCloud account on her new iPhone, it's sending a verification code to an iPhone that is off, sitting at the bottom of a lake. Clearly there is no way that we are able to get that code, which means that she cannot use her new phone.

Browsing this forum, it seems as though the Apple ID recovery process has taken up to months for some people, and obviously that just simply won't do, nor will creating a new Apple ID. I had a thought. If she were to go to the Sprint store and have them create a SIM card with her phone number on it, could I insert that into my iPhone 7 Plus (Verizon), and have her send the code again from her new phone while on WiFi, receive it on my phone to allow her access, and then re-insert my SIM card back into my phone with no damage done?

It looks like the SIM card will work with no issues, but I'm wondering if anything else will have to be done to be able to receive the text message, and I also want to make sure that no damage will be done to my phone during this process.

I could complain for weeks about how stupid enabling two factor authentication is when that same iCloud account knows it's only signed into one device, but from what I've read, those complaints have been made very clear. Lesson learned, I guess.... But it's still a pretty stupid loop to get stuck in. If I can walk into an Apple store with my iPhone, ID, Passport, credit card, social security card, phone bill, etc, and have them tell me that there's nothing they can do to verify my identity, then there is a major issue.

So will this work or not? Anyone done it successfully on a different carrier, or even better, from Sprint to Verizon?

iPhone 7 Plus, Windows 10

Posted on Jul 11, 2017 9:06 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Jul 11, 2017 9:52 PM in response to JWhite1089

It should work, but you will not get the code immediately, as the new phone, despite having the same number, is not a trusted device.

You will need to tap on the "didn't get a code" link and direct the code to your new phone/old number as an SMS or phone call. While you no longer have a trusted "device" you do still have a trusted "phone number"

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 2

JWhite1089 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 11, 2017 10:05 PM in response to LACAllen

Thanks LACAllen, that makes sense. I assume when it is the trusted "device" it immediately pops up as a notification with a map, etc, but when it just send it to the trusted "phone number" it is sent as an SMS text, or as a phone call. I noticed that today as I pressed "Didn't get a code" about 20 times haha.

Do you know if it's as simple as shutting down the phone, putting the Sprint SIM in, powering it back up, and sending the code?

Reply

Answer 3

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Jul 11, 2017 10:10 PM in response to JWhite1089

I assume when it is the trusted "device" it immediately pops up as a notification with a map, etc, but when it just send it to the trusted "phone number" it is sent as an SMS text, or as a phone call.

Correct. A system notification can't happen if the device is not trusted. After you sign in, it becomes trusted and going forward, life should return to normal.

Notification = Plan A. SMS/Call = Plan B.

Add an additional trusted phone number = Plan C.

Do you know if it's as simple as shutting down the phone, putting the Sprint SIM in, powering it back up, and sending the code?

Should be. Assuming the SIM is configured correctly for the same phone number.

Reply

Answer 4

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Jul 11, 2017 10:34 PM in response to JWhite1089

That just seems like common sense to me, but maybe not..

That's the thing about common sense... it often isn't. Common that is.

They actually do... in typical Apple style. More of an inference than a requirement. A hard requirement would be ideal. However, I fear the community would hear all about how "Apple forces you have 2 phone numbers to use 2FA!!!!!!!"

If California can't make bikers wear helmets, despite them being a really good idea...

Reply

Answer 5

JWhite1089 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 11, 2017 10:13 PM in response to LACAllen

Great. We'll give it a shot tomorrow.

And yes, we will most definitely be adding my phone number to her list of trusted numbers. I will probably do the same and add her number to my list even though I have an iPad, just for redundancy purposes.

If this solves our issue I will note that it solved my question. Thanks again!

Reply

Answer 6

LACAllen

Level 8

43,584 points

Jul 11, 2017 10:22 PM in response to JWhite1089

My pleasure. Backup plans = Good idea!

The users from those other conversations you refer to did not typically have backup plans or an awareness of what 2FA is and how it works.

Let's face it, resistance is futile... you will use 2FA. And it will protect your account.

Reply

Answer 7

JWhite1089 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 11, 2017 10:27 PM in response to LACAllen

I absolutely will and do lol I simply didn't think about it being activated when she got her new iPhone (they activated it at the Sprint store for her and must have selected it), and being her ONLY iOS device, my only gripe is that there isn't even a pop-up saying "This is your only iOS device. If you lose this device you will be unable to activate a new one with this Apple ID." Or at least require an alternate phone number if that is the case. That just seems like common sense to me, but maybe not.. The folks at Apple are a lot smarter than I.

Reply

Answer 8

JWhite1089 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 11, 2017 11:36 PM in response to LACAllen

Even if they don't make it a requirement at least provide that information when setting up the device. 99% of people aren't going to go to Apple's website to read up on 2FA. Again, if you have more than one iOS device there is no problem unless you lose them both all the same time, but if you only have one and agree to 2FA without any redundancy you're taking a rather large risk unknowingly.

Reply