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.

Dagansinferno wrote:

I had 2FA on for 3 days. Then, tried to turn it off, and it wouldn't turn off at all. No options. No buttons. Nothing. Now, it's way past that time frame.

The link to turn it off was in the confirmation email you received when you enabled 2FA.

We have multiple Apple products within our family, and after this last fiasco (and the headphone jack), we're planning the exit strategy.

You should always buy the product that best meets your needs.

Then contact Apple's account security team-->Apple ID: Contacting Apple for help with Apple ID account security

I work in a "secure" environment. I cannot have my phone in the workplace. Therefore, every time I need to sign-in to icloud, I have to go into the parking lot and get the code off my phone. Then I go back to my office, inside an office, inside a building, to log on. It's the worst.

Why? Do you have a landline on your desk? Set it up as one of your trusted devices. Your could can be relayed to you that way. I have my office phone listed as one of my trusted numbers. It was very handy the day I arrived at work and couldn't find my phone. I logged into iCloud from my work (Windows) computer, got my code called to my work phone and found that I'd left the phone at home. It took less than 10 seconds for the code to be called into me.

Apple will not allow you to turn off the two-factor authentication, reguradless of how unnecessary or anoying it is. God forbid the customer is right. Someday when Apple is number 2, then 3 or likely not at all they may finally wakeup and stop their arrogant ways.

Again, you do not need another piece of equipment. You can get the verification code on the device you have in your hand if it is signed into your iCloud account:

Get a code from Settings on your trusted device

If you can’t receive a verification code on your trusted devices

automatically, you can get one from Settings, even if your device is

offline.

From your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

In iOS 10.3 or later:

1. Go to Settings > [your name].
2. Tap Password & Security > Get Verification Code.

In iOS 10.3 or later, if your device is offline:

1. Go to Settings > [your name].
2. Tap Password & Security. 
3. A message says "Account Details Unavailable." Tap Get Verification Code.

In iOS 10.2 or earlier:

1. Go to Settings > iCloud.
2. Tap your Apple ID username.
3. If your device is offline, tap Get Verification Code. If your device
4. is online, tap Password & Security > Get Verification Code.

From your Mac:

1. Go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > iCloud.
2. Click Account Details.
3. If your device is offline, click Get Verification Code. If your device is online, click Security > Get Verification Code.

From this support article: Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support

Also, Idris' response said including landlines. You can also use an Android phone number. And the only time it asks for a Verification code is when you are signing into your iCloud or Apple ID account, so it's not like you need it everywhere, all the time. Why would you be signing into and out of your iCloud account on your iOS device?

Take some time to familiarize yourself with how 2FA actually works: Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

You might find that the issue is a lack of understanding on your part.

GB

I see that JaneonJane's enquiry dates back to September 2018. Today, February 7, 2019, there is a good answer from Kurt Nelson1 (please scroll down) about what to actually do to turn off Two Factor Verification. I am very grateful for this and will forward it to my Mac Friends.

There is no such thing as Two Factor Verification. There is Two Step Verification and Two Factor Authentication. Two Step Verification, an older system, is automatically updated to Two Factor Authentication if you sign into a device with iOS 11 or High Sierra.

KurtNelson1's answer will not enable you to turn off Two Factor Authentication. You cannot turn off Two Factor Authentication if you have had it for more than 14 days.

I have had to enter the verification code at least 7 times today, including just now when I had to register for this community to reply. Every time I sign in to my Apple ID, I get a request to enter the verification code for the IPhone in my hand. I have not signed out and read the articles to see why I to keep entering the code.

The first time you log into iCloud or a related service on a browser, you'll need the 6-digit code. Check the "Trust this browser" box before you enter it. Then, as long as you don't clear your cookies, and, as long as you log in to iCloud or a related service on that browser fairly regularly, you won't be asked for it again.

When you initially set up 2FA, yes, you will be asked for it until services have been verified. However, it's been probably a month since I've need to enter it for anything. And that was because my work IT folks mucked about with my Windows computer. I haven't needed to enter it on my Phone since I set it up about two years ago.

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]

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.

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).

Why don't you just add your Samsung phone number to your Trusted Numbers List? Maybe add a few others - your Mom's landline, your trusted friend's Android, your sibling's iPhone.

Just a thought....

GB

there is literally no way to do so.

sylviefromsaint-lambert wrote:

My wife and I share the same appleid and travel. She just has her iPad with her and does not use a SIM card. No way to communicate....... Nice job!!!

Apple IDs are designed to be used by only one person. While Apple does not prevent you from sharing them, you are likely to have problems.

What do you mean by "just updated"? You have 14 days to turn 2FA off.

It took me a while to figure out but I did, and how you undo two factor is : you got an email when you set it up, in that email it has the option to go back to original security setting, all you do is click on it,

Oh! You mean like I explained in my post in this thread from September 10, the one marked "Recommended"?

Do you have contacts on your phone? Suppose someone hacked your Apple ID, changed the password, then put it in Lost Mode and/or erased it. You would never be able to use the phone again. They also could change your personal information and security questions, so if you contacted Apple you would not be able to prove you were the owner of the Apple ID.

Then they used your Apple ID email address to spam the world, or perhaps sent "spear phishing" emails to all of your contacts saying that you were robbed in some country, had no ID and no money and they needed to send you money. Or similar. As the emails clearly came from you they would probably catch some of your contacts. And/or they contacted you and demanded a ransom to unlock your phone.

This is not hypothetical. I responded to another user who this happened to 2 weeks ago. And Apple could not help her, because none of her personal information matched the information associated with the Apple ID.