I WANT TO TURN OFF TWO FACTOR VERIFICATION!!!!! It is a total pain in the butt and I want the option to turn it off. Help!!!!! How can apple not allow us to turn this time-suck feature off? I want to register my frustration.

See https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915

”What if I use two-factor authentication on a device running older software?

If you use two-factor authentication with devices running older OS versions—like an Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation)—you might be asked to add your six-digit verification code to the end of your password when signing in. Get your verification code from a trusted device running iOS 9 and later or OS X El Capitan and later, or have it sent to your trusted phone number. Then type your password followed by the six-digit verification code directly into the password field.”

Read Kurt’s answer. He posted about how to turn off (the older) 2 step verification in order to turn on 2 factor authentication.

That post - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207198 only applies to people with devices running iOS 10 or older who wish to voluntarily switch from the older to the newer system of proctection for their AppleID.

Anyone who purchased and signed into their AppleID on a device shipped with iOS 11 or 12 has already enabled 2 factor authentication, and after 14 days cannot disable it. And if they did have 2 step verification enabled beforehand, the act of signing into a newer device using 2 factor authentication automatically un-enrolls their AppleID from 2 step verification.

Here is a post for people who think Activation Lock isn't important: My another Apple ID haked - Apple Community

This poor soul will probably never be able to use their Apple ID or phone again. Not the first one like this that I've seen in the past week.

I feel that 2F does not at all reflect the spirit of those of us who have lauded our Mac computers for years - since the first unit hit the market in fact. Also some of the answers I find to be unfriendly and not with the type of respect and care I've always been used to on this website. Please bear in mind that those of you who do this are not up to the standards we are used to - and in fact I will consider changing loyalty if this carries on. I, for one, am thoroughly tired of having updates at what feels like every few weeks. If you forget, word of mouth advertising - sort of how Mac was established, is the best advertising. What I've done with the 2F is hide it so that I don't have to look at the reminder every day. I should add that my son has his phone et al connected. I will never ever do that - because Apple now is demonstrating that it is more into the era of "control" than supporting the independence and creativity of the Mac user.

And you are telling us, your fellow users, this for what reason? No one here that is posting, with the exception of the Community Specialists, is employed by Apple. We are all users. We provide help when people ask for it. But posting a rant like the one above is really pointless, and is against the TOU of this forum as well.

If you have a question or issue with 2FA, then please explain what it is so we can help. I, also, have been using Apple products since the 80's, but I do not see what that has to do Apple adding increased security to protect your personal information and privacy. What is the connection?

Also, what does any of it have to do with updates? Updates are released when required for security reasons, or to fix bugs. Why is it such a problem? An update can be done overnight while you have your device plugged in for charging. Once you have started the install, you don't need to babysit it.

And everyone here is fully aware of the standards for this forum, as well as the Terms of Use. But it doesn't seem that you have familiarized yourself with them: Apple Support Communities Terms of Use Agreement

So, again, please explain what specific issue you are having with 2FA and we will try to help.

GB

Yes agreed apple just lost me as a customer this is pretty lame. I believe in two factor but not to allow the account owner to deactivate it is pretty lame.. 1 of 5 iPhones gone ,2apple TVs,2macbook pros, and my family iTunes among other things will be phased out. I doubt any one that monitor this really cares anyway.

As has been explained several times in this thread, the only people who monitor this forum are the Hosts. They read to make sure that posts adhere to the Terms of Use to which we all agreed when we registered. They don't have time to do anything else. So, no, pretty much no one who is reading here really cares what personal electronics you do or don't buy.

If you actually want Apple to know, use the feedback link:

Product Feedback - Apple

[Edited by Host]

When you entered your Android SMS number, did you get the verification text? If that number did not verify for some reason, it won’t get codes. In that case, call Apple and they can help trouble shoot why it did not verify.

And are you in a supported carrier (most are supported, so most likely yes, you are but just so you can check - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202656#us-ca).

Glad it worked, Since Google Fi uses Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular, all of which are supported, it should work. The SMS or voice synthesized codes are only sent to your backup when you indicate on the login site that you did not get the code. Codes are not sent to your backup contact by default. By default, they are sent by notifications to your Apple trusted devices (and notifications are neither SMS nor iMessage - it is an independent technology from texts).https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204974

gi_jon0131 wrote:

This is no longer the case. I have created TWO new Apple ID's and 2FA is automatically enabled. I even went through and took screen shots of every screen of the second account creation and no where does it say you are enabling 2FA but it is automatically turned on and no way to turn off.

According to Apple, you need to use the link in the enrollment email to disable it. And you need to do it within 14 days.

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

Krissia33 wrote:

I know there is 14 days. I font check email on many occasions. That being said I think it should be an option AFTER 14 days and never a time limit on this ad it’s a personal choice. I don’t appreciate it being made for me when I might not want it later down the way

No one here can give you want you want. You can let Apple know what you'd like to see here:

Product Feedback - Apple

However, it's highly unlikely that Apple is going to reduce security on Apple IDs.

completely-unbelievably time consuming and needlessly tedious.

Agreed.

Your post is all of those things.

If you are looking for iTunes help in the Finder Help menu, are you perhaps running the macOS Beta?

If so, that discussion is not allowed here.

If not, iTunes playlist help is here >>> https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207542

Michael Black wrote:

Apple’s older 2 step verification used 4-digit codes sent to your trusted SMS telephone number. The newer 2 factor authentication system uses Apple’s iCloud Push Notification service to send 6 digit codes. In both cases the codes are good for only about 10 minutes or so, and then expire. With 2FA, you can register a trusted alternate SMS and voice telephone number(s) to receive codes with when you don’t have an Apple device available for the default push notification codes.

With 2FA, the default is to use iCloud push notification. That notification shows up simultaneously on all your trusted devices. It disappears as soon as you tap okay but it will stay in the screen until you dismiss it so you can memorize it to enter in the box as needed for login to your AppleID or service asking for it.

I use my Google Voice number as my backup (although I also have more than one Apple trusted device anyway) and have only tested getting a code by SMS to that, so cannot speak to how the voice system works. But bear in mind, the SMS or voice code is intended as a backup mechanism, not the default or normal means of getting codes.

While logging into your AppleID management site (https://appleid.apple.com/) will always require a 2FA code to edit or alter anything with your AppleID itself, codes for things like these forums are only occasional. You can chose to trust the browser so you’d then only require a code if you’ve cleared cookies and history, not logged in for a number of days or some other time out period or browser clearing (e.g. a browser update may trigger a need for a code again).

That means I will have to use it all the time and that is NOT acceptable. I don't need Apple trying to dictate to me how to have good security on my two desktop Windows 8 Pro and 10 Pro computers. Default is NO Cookies ever accepted and this has been the case for the past 20 years. If I must accept cookies at a specific site to peruse the site (and the site is one I absolutely need to visit) then first party ONLY cookies are allowed and local DOM storage for that site is very reluctantly allowed and then ALL is cleared when I close the browser at bedtime. I do keep browser history but that only shows that I visited this site on such and such a date and time. Between most browsers updating every month (my default browser updated twice this month) and Windows 10 driving one insane wanting to upgrade to an even worse version than the current one the code will be needed repeatedly.

I read the entire 11 pages of this thread and I was struck by the fact that was obvious to me, but not to some respondents, that most who had problems with 2 step verification or the newer 2 factor authentication (because of very frequently needing a code) were WINDOWS users who chose to get an iPhone because Android phones cannot be used by anyone concerned about their privacy. Plus, I suspect most of them also do NOT use Chrome browser (if they did they would have an Android phone) and block Google anything in any and every way they possibly can (including having nothing to do with gmail and blocking anyone who uses it).

iCloud is a mostly useless mess on Windows because it is hard coded to IE browser. Microsoft says to not use IE at all on Windows 10 and Edge appears to have to been created by a three year old and both invade one's privacy (just as Firefox will soon be doing by bypassing the user's Host file) so Windows users who care about privacy are reduced to using non mainstream browsers and iCloud doesn't work with them. iTunes is an even worse mess on Windows. I will be forced to upgrade my version of Windows 10 in November and I will then be able to completely remove IE forever and that is what icloud is hard coded to by Apple...not Edge but IE. Edge will soon be worthless for anyone concerned about privacy because Microsoft inexplicably decided to marry Google so Edge will become a much worse breaker of one's privacy than it currently is and will be avoided by those who care about privacy.

icloud seems to be needed only for a lost/stolen iPhone as there are other ways to get iPhone photos onto a Windows computer. I would prefer nothing stored in the cloud anyway.

1) You can't turn it off if it has been more than 14 days. So, you'll need to figure out why you're not getting the codes. Start by making sure you have the right devices set up as trusted.

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

2) Apple isn't reading here. You can let the know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

However, I think it's safe to say 2FA isn't going anywhere any time soon.

If someone wants this security it should be a choice.

But it isn't a choice in iOS any longer.

It is clear many users like your self are unhappy.

It should be equally clear that nothing can be done by anybody here in this community.

We are not Apple. We do not speak for, or have influence over, Apple.

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/ all we can offer.

For this reason, I prefer to turn it off, and I think everyone should have that choice.

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

That is what all the outrage in this thread is about.

Nobody here is either stupid or denies you have the right to express your opinions... just do that as Apple asks.

And has been pointed out numerous times... this is NOT the place to express that outrage.

What the volunteers do here is answer answerable questions and provide solutions to solvable issues.

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Feedback for Apple goes here >>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Yes, thanks, I've done that. You're super helpful. There's no reason I can't provide my opinion here as well.

And has been pointed out numerous times... this is NOT the place to express that outrage.

I personally didn't express any outrage. I'm just giving my reason for wanting to turn it off. And frankly, since this is the Apple support community, I'd expect people who are unhappy with the state of the products to sometimes express it here and hope Apple pays some attention, despite there being an official feedback channel. It's not exactly unreasonable. If Apple is paying zero attention to what kinds of things people are ****** off about in unofficial support channels, shame on them. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯