How to turn off two factor authentication?

Sadly two factor authentication is foistered upon us and it can't turned off or removed.

You need to have two devices every time you do something relating to your account, the device you are changing and an authentication device. So if you are travelling, don't forget to take both devices with you.

The best solution is to buy a Windows pc or an Android.

Unfortunately is just purchased a new ipad, but on the plus side i did not purchase a new macbook - which i will not be purchasing now.

cylynn wrote:

I use find my phone when I can't find my phone. If I'm looking for the phone, I can't get the authentification code that is sent to the phone. Please help. Can the authentification be sent to my email? Please help. Find my phone is useless if I can't get the authentificaion. One post said that 2 factor authentification can't be turned off.

In a browser, go to http://icloud.com/find and use your Apple ID to use Find My Phone without a code.

This is not an off topic debate. It is about how to turn off the two factor authentication ! And now that we all know that Apple will not let you choose if you want this or not, It's about the fact that you can't turn off the tow factor authentication. Because Apple forces you not to. Where were you? And how can you say you can choose to use this service, or not, if you can't turn it off? You have the only choice to use it or to bin your Apple if you don't want it ? If that's what you mean then thanks anyway. Or is it a way to turn it off and you're not sharing it? Cheers !

rootyorn wrote:

There are many IF. If I don’t want this feature, why can’t I just turn it off?

Simple. Apple gets to set the security model and requirements for how customers access their online services. Just like every other online service provider. You don’t own the systems you’re accessing, so you don’t get to say what’s required to access them.

I have two Macs and have rebooted them numerous times and never once required a 2FA code. It IS NOT required to login to a MacOS user account in an Apple computer.

The only time I have ever needed a 2FA code on my Macs was when setting them up and first signing my AppleID into iCloud, FaceTime, iMessage, the App, music and book stores. My 2018 Mac mini was rebooted just last weekend to update to Big Sur and no code was required at all, for anything, after that update finished installing and restarted the system.

A code is NOT needed to simple reboot and sign your device local user account back in.

If you’re being asked for a code every time you reboot your Mac it is because your AppleID is trying to sign into some Apple online service.

Dan_516 wrote:

Well if Android doesn’t give users the option to turn off two factor authentication, then I guess I’ll look for another option. And when I refer to Google and Facebook, I’m talking about their attempt use their algorithms to customize ads to each user. I’m just as concerned about on line safety as anyone else, but the decision to use 2FA or iCloud or any other Apple features should be UP TO ME, NOT APPLE. Capish?

[Edited by Moderator]

Why should it be up to you? iCloud data isn’t stored on your hardware. It’s stored on Apple’s hardware, and Apple is the company legally liable for its security. Shouldn’t they have the right to decide how to secure your access to their hardware (spoiler - they do, and always have had that legal right).

You have no rights to choice of security of access when it comes to how you access a company’s online services that you voluntarily chose to use. None. You never have. You choose to use a company’s online services, you agree to their terms for how you access your data stored on their hardware. It has always been that way, since the dawn of the internet.

It is your data. But when you choose to store that data on someone else’s hardware, the someone else gets to say what is required for you to access your data stored on their hardware.

All this talk about how it’s up to users to decide is nonsense. It never was and never will be when it comes to propriety online services. You don’t own the hardware the data is saved to, and you’re not legally liable for it if the service is breached.

If you want to keep your data wholly under your control, do not use any online service, for anything. That goes to your money in a bank where you use online services, to an Xbox or Sony game account. You do not, and never have had, control over how you access data you choose to store on online service accounts.

leave the final decision up to the USER/OWNER of the iPhone/iPad and also allow the USER/OWNER of the device to change their mind if they choose to?

Don't use an Apple service requiring 2FA. Entirely your choice.

Why can’t Apple explain it in simple terms that everyone can understand

Like this?

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

Dan_516 wrote:

I’m not storing anything on anyone else’s hardware. It’s also MY IPHONE AND MY IPAD. I PAID MY MONEY FOR IT AND I SHOULD BE THE ONE DECIDING HOW TO SECURE MY DATA. WHY ARE YOU ASSUMING THAT MY DATA IS STORED ON THEIR HARDWARE?

Because 2FA has nothing to do with your device. It only applies to your AppleID and the data associated with it held on Apple’s hardware. If your not using any service that requires 2FA (messages in iCloud, iCloud Keychain, Home Kit, Apple Pay, if you have an Apple Card) then you did not need to enable 2FA at all. The very fact you have an AppleID means Apple already has confidential information from you in their system. But if you’re not using an specific service that currently requires 2FA at this time, then you never needed to even enable 2FA in the first place.

But the plain fact is 2FA has NOTHING to do with anything you have on your device(s), unless that data is also part of what you’ve chosen to store on Apple’s online services hardware. And even then, unless it is data tied to some service that Apple requires 2FA to use, you can still have an AppleID and NOT enable 2FA on it.

Dan_516 wrote:

ONCE AGAIN, you’re missing the point. People don’t want your help. They want to choose for themselves to use it or not.

Well, they CAN’T choose and that’s the bottom line. So either deal with it or leave the platform.

But you “helpful geniuses” don’t tell people about that, do you?

Fun Fact. We did. A long time ago as we keep saying.

They CAN CHOOSE if they opt out within the 2 week period and return to their previous settings. But you “helpful geniuses” don’t tell people about that, do you?

The answer you just revealed was shared Sept 18, 2018 (22 MONTHS AGO and the same day the question was asked). and is shown at the top of every page in this 128 page "discussion". as an Apple Recommended answer.

EVERY page. On account of it being helpful, accurate and timely and stuff. It is copied from a Support Article (HT204195) provided by Apple and.findable on the Google by searching for "turn off apple 2fa"

Yes, if you’re using certain iCloud services that require it, you’re prompted to enable it and must then have it on to use those services. So if you have an Apple Card, if you use messages in iCloud, iCloud Keychain, Home Kit, Apple Pay then you must have 2FA enabled to use those services.

But there was a prompt to do so, whether you remember responding to it or not. Apple does not secretly, nor without your knowledge, enable 2FA on anyone’s AppleID.

The-wolf wrote:

Ok I get that Apple don’t like policies challenged, and yes many people on here are asking to turn off 2FA.

And that's not going to happen.

But my statement was the reason most are requesting to turn it off is the lack of understanding and the lack of information available when things go wrong.

No one is asking Apple to reveal any security secrets, just a simple easy to follow flow diagram of what to expect and what to do if as in many cases problems arise.

The currently available information is at best minimal and does nothing to dispel the myths and the many issues raised here and elsewhere by users.

Im sure many of the complaints would disappear if this information was freely available and the original Apple “it just works”

was still true today.

Apple does provide a pretty straightforward support article (that's been referenced multiple times in this thread). Would options that meet the learning styles of every person who use an Apple ID be better? Sure. Likely? No. But, you should certainly submit the suggestions you have to Apple using the Feedback link that has also been given multiple times in this forum.

As for policies most people don’t care about them and simply vent over an issue that if properly explained simply wouldn’t exist.

Not the purpose of this forum.

Apple have tried to produce a solid form of security protection, however many users are experiencing problems that with proper explanation would work well.

Most people won't, when directed to resources, or given explanations in this forum, don't take advantage of them.

I'm glad that you took personal responsibility for your issues and had the persistence to figure them out. Most (of the relatively small percentage of Apple ID users) don't.

Best of luck.

Angiedripcandy wrote:

Apple should not have the ability to choose wether or not we are able to turn off two factor authentication, because as customers we should be able to choose how our setup goes, sincerely LET ME TURN IT OFF.

They do and there’s nothing you can do about it... at all. Deal with it.

You can't

Some on here will tell you how wonderful it is, and that you shouldn't WANT to turn it off.... of course, many of the 140 pages worth of comments on here are from people LIKE ME who DO want to turn it off. But the answer is the same:

You can't

Suck it up, get used to it, tell someone who cares

"Then why are you still using an Apple product?"

Because as formeripaduser said "BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FORCE 2-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION ON USERS WHEN I BOUGHT MY IPHONE. SO I DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO FIX IT UNLESS I THROW AWAY A $1000 phone"

Only in my case it is far, far worse. I have two Macbook Pros, 2 iPhones, 2 iPads... (even Apple TV is getting harder!) that would need to be "thrown away" MANY thousands of dollars worth

Our first three Apple devices were on one Apple ID, it was very easy to navigate and communicate using any one of them INDEPENDENT of the others. This is how we generally DO want to use them; me in the office with most devices, husband on-site with one

When I replaced one of the devices I was required/exhorted to establish my "own" AppleID.... which is when it started to become much LESS easy to navigate using them INDEPENDENTLY. It still looked like the Macbook Pro that had been sitting on my desk communicating seamlessly with my other devices, but it wasn't. I found a workaround

Now I have to remember two Apple IDs, Okay. I can handle it. Annoying? Yes, terminal? No

Next replacement machine, minor irritations re the escalating hoop-jumping required, but good (if pricey) products, okay. Now have to remember which device is on which ID, mixing them up is a pain but hey ho, I can handle it

The final straw, replace another device - MORE hoops, 2FA. No thanks. Okay, up to you. Good, thanks but no thanks..... Then: Replace iPhones, "you WILL have 2FA"

NOT HAPPY

I moved from PC to Mac as I was convinced they are superior, if pricey, products. Yes, good products, happy. I moved ALL of the devices I use in our business to Mac for ease of use/consistency

Apple THEN moved the goalposts

Meaning I no longer find "ease of use" to be a term one could apply to Apple products

And, yes, it is "ridiculous to think that Apple has to consult with every user" on ANY "feature".... which is why there are OPTIONS with those features to toggle them on OR off depending on the needs of the USER

And why it is "ridiculous" that Apple have not extended this courtesy with this "feature"

As I said to you before, I hope the next "feature" gives you the regal s!hts and you feel like "ranting" about it. Questioning why it has been inflicted on you. Then I, and the 140+ pages worth of people "ranting" about the current farce can tell YOU to a) suck it up or b) bin thousands of dollars worth of equipment. As if either one of those is an appropriate solution