How to turn off two factor authentication?

unbelievable that we don't have the option to turn off two factor. I had no idea all the places (such as simply ordering a movie) this would interrupt work and play. Let us decide how to best use our system. This is NOT customer friendly in any way. Big brother does not know best.

This is ridiculous - I have an iPad for my mom and she does not live with me and now this is caused her to not be able to use her iPad because she keeps calling me for the password and code to enable her device. This is probably the final straw for me with Apple products.

See >>> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

“Should” is meaningless. It is what it is, acceptable or not.

Its the way the world is headed. Many US government services now require it. My banks and investment houses all require it. Google requires it for corporate accounts.

If you cant help (or do not wish to)

Nobody that contributes to this community can help. We don't choose to not help... we can't. We have zero influence.

The original question has been answered ad nauseum. Outside of the 14 day window when you first enable 2FA, it can't be disabled/turned off/gotten rid of.

point someone in the right direction, then keep in to yourself.

There is no direction to point you in. Other than offering your Feedback to Apple at their desired location.

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

This thread is jam packed filled with people that have legitimate issues.

And the world is jam packed with 100s of millions of users who don't.

So someone to so arrogantly say to other users, "Your doing it wrong.." is outrageous and outright disrespectful.

You realize you're (mis)quoting an 8/9 year old comment from Steve Jobs himself right? "You're holding it wrong" A quip from him that drips with the same arrogance you decry here. A comment about an iPhone 4 connectivity issue. I have not seen that quote directed at anyone during this conversation.

not being able to turn this off is unacceptable. I need to access my icloud email through a web browser regularly, on a work computer which i don't want icloud permanently installed on, in a second level basement where my phone does not have service. I'm tired of trying to sign in, then walk up 3 floors, get cell service for a stupid number and then go back down. The Trust this browser seems to run out after a couple of days.

I did not turn this on, I was prompted around a year ago letting me know that I now had it, don't want or need it, this is what my password is for, thats secure enough for me thanks.

You apparently have not familiarized yourself with how 2FA works. You can get a verification code on your phone in the basement - the device does not have to be online:

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

GB

Sorry, accidentally hit Post before I put in my response:

Yes, it appears you can turn off two factor verification. I was just reading an article, and it says that you can unenroll in two factor verification for a period of 2 weeks, and then set it back up with the privacy setting that does NOT require two factor verification.

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

However, I'm in the middle of MBA midterms, and haven't been able to look deeper into it. The article is a little ambiguous to me. I can't tell if you can only turn it off when you first turn it on. I hope an Apple tech reads this thread, because I need to turn it off, because my husband needs to access iCloud in an area where he has internet access (limited), but no cell service..

I'm going to be checking further into this later this week -- frankly, I trust Apple far more than I'd ever trust Google and Microsoft, who make a lot of money selling our information. Have you heard about the latest Google privacy violation in Europe? Just a thought. For a corporation, I think Apple does a great job.

OK, so first, it is Two-Factor Authentication. I know you probably think that it is being pedantic, but many people here and other countries still use Two-Step Verification, so interchanging any of the words except Two, will inevitably result in confusion.

You can only turn off Two-Factor Authentication for 14 days after you initially set it up. And that doesn't even apply to all users. Some users who set up Apple IDs in iOS 10.3 or macOS 10.12.4 had it as a part of the initial set-up, for example.

And, your husband does not need cell service (or even be on the internet) to be able to get a verification code for signing in. If the device the Verification Code is being sent to is an iOS device, the Verification Code is not a message at all. So, in that case, only internet access is needed. Cellular service is not required at all.

And if there is no access to the internet, then a Verification Code can be generated on the device itself:

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.

Best,

GB

Pall wrote:

Like I indicated earlier, sending an SMS message for 2F is insecure but lots of people continue to do it. NIST deprecated SMS code for 2F couple of years ago.

Trying to control user behavior is a loosing proposition. If it is difficult, they will circumvent. In this case, they may not use a Password at all and many don’t.

Apple 2FA codes are sent by iCloud push notification unless that is not available and you request a code to a backup SMS or voice telephone number.

You cannot create nor use an AppleID with a password - Change your Apple ID password - Apple Support

”When you create a new password, keep the following in mind:

• Your new Apple ID password must contain at least eight characters, a number, an uppercase letter, and a lowercase letter. 
• You can't use spaces, the same character three times in a row, your Apple ID, or a password you've used in the last year.“

To the handful of contributors on here that think 2fa is a good thing maybe you have only 1 or 2 new devices which of course won’t cause any problems

I don't believe anyone here has ever positioned 2FA as a good thing or not a good thing. It simply is what it is.

If you read through the replies from the "handful of contributors" I think you will see a consistency to our "message"

• It is in place and your options to use an Apple ID without it are becoming more and more minimal.
• Nobody here can change it.
• Tell Apple how you feel at hhttp://www.apple.com/feedback/

waiting for a text on a device you left at home

What Apple service requiring 2FA are you needing to access in this scenario?

Also, a trusted phone number for your mom, neighbour, significant other will resolve this issue. "Hey mom, in a minute you're going to get a phone call from Apple with a 6 digit code... I need that code please"

Debating all of this here in this community, on this 70 page conversation, is futile.

We are not stupid people and can hear that you're unhappy. We simply can't do anything about that for you.

See -> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

“If you don't have a trusted device with you

If you're trying to sign in and don't have a trusted device with you that can display verification codes, you can tap Didn't Get a Code on the sign-in screen and choose to send a code to one of your trusted phone numbers. This text message might include an additional domain validation line that includes the @ symbol, the website name, and your code (for example, @icloud.com #123456 %apple.com). Or you can get a code directly from Settings on a trusted device.

Learn how to get a verification code

About trusted phone numbers and trusted devices

With two-factor authentication, a trusted device or trusted phone number helps verify your identity when you sign in to a new device or browser.

What is a trusted phone number?

To use two-factor authentication, you need at least one trusted phone number on file where you can receive verification codes. If you have a phone number that isn't associated with your trusted device, consider verifying it as an additional trusted phone number. If your iPhone is your only trusted device and it's missing or damaged, you won't be able to receive verification codes required to access your account.

To see, add, or change your trusted phone numbers:

• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Go to Settings > your name > Password & Security. Next to Trusted Phone Number, tap Edit.
• Choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click your name (or Apple ID). Click Password & Security, then add or remove a trusted phone number.
• Go to the Account Security section of appleid.apple.com.“

See "To see, add, or change your trusted phone numbers" at  Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support 

• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Go to Settings > your name > Password & Security. Next to Trusted Phone Number, tap Edit.
• On your Mac: Choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click your name (or Apple ID). Click Password & Security, then add or remove a trusted phone number.
• Go to the Account Security section of appleid.apple.com.

Graceglory wrote:

This is really irritating. Causes problems for me if I don't have another device with me.

You can have other phone numbers listed as trusted numbers so that you can receive a call or SMS on those numbers. It can be a spouse's number, a work number. If your in the U.S., using a Google voice number as one of your trusted numbers means you can get an sms from any computer you can log into.

Also, you should rarely need the 2FA code. If you're getting a request for it a lot, that might be something to explore. There might be something you can to to mitigate that.

If you have a trusted device, you do not need connectivity of any kind.

See <<< https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204974

A better way may be to do some basic research before joining a conversation where you don't understand how the technology. actually works.

But what I don't get is that you don't offer support for my older macs that now won't allow me to log in because I can't put in the 2 factor code. Geesh... Come on guys.

Being informed is an important thing.

See >>> https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204915

DEAR APPLE, TURN OFF TWO FACTOR!!!!

You are not screaming at Apple here.

As noted Feedback goes elsewhere.

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

So I lose my iPhone, so I sign in online to use the find my iPhone app. My iPhone is the only apple device i got. In an effort to find my iPhone, Apple sends a code to my iPhone that i have to read and enter online...but wait... my iPhone is missing in the first place. And it has the code on it that i now need in order to find it. WHAT THE ****? Apple, do you understand the cyclical conundrum here? thanks Apple. Well thought out. Sheer genius.

Calm down. They have thought of this. A little research on your end may have prevented this inaccurate rant of yours.

Add an additional trusted phone number in case this happens to you. If you lose control of your trusted device, you can redirect the code to this trusted number. It can be any phone number. On an Android, a landline etc.

See >>> https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204915