You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How to turn off two factor authentication?

How to turn off two factor authentication?

Posted on Sep 18, 2018 12:33 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 17, 2018 12:01 PM

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.

2,627 replies

Jan 20, 2021 5:06 PM in response to marchildy

It seems useless to have 2FA if the prompt appears on the exact same device being authenticated.

2FA protects the account you are wanting to access, not the device it arrives on. If a thief is on your home screen, they already bypassed your passcode and have access to most anything. If your device is locked, they can't make use of the code.


Apple 2FA should allow clear and easy identification of where the confirmation code will be sent with a wide variety of targets which are not the device in use.

Like this?


https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204974




Jan 21, 2021 2:27 AM in response to Dan_516

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"






Nov 10, 2018 8:14 PM in response to kleber115

No one participating in this thread or reading it had any hand in creating or implementing two-factor authentication. If you want to let Apple know how you feel, use the feedback page:


Product Feedback - Apple


Meanwhile, if you're being asked for the 2FA code more than every couple of weeks, I'd say there's something wrong. You might want to explore what that is.

Nov 22, 2018 3:48 PM in response to jonathanjturrell

jonathanjturrell wrote:

And Apple no longer offers 24 hour chat on their support page? What's that about?

They never did offer 24 hour chat. And least not as long as I've been using the forum, but that's only 14 years. But you can call them Apple phone contacts, and if you use the Contact Support link at the top of this page you can have them call you.


But what does your post have to do with two factor authentication, the subject of this thread?

Nov 30, 2018 10:37 PM in response to betty119

betty119 wrote:


Thanks for your reply. I do not share an Apple ID with anyone, and I did not set up the two-factor myself.


One of the guys in my Apple Store told me today that it's a "requirement" that was included in the new Mojave OS. However, I updated to Mojave right when it came out, and the two-factor did not appear on my devices until this week.


At this point, I guess it's moot, since it can't be uninstalled.

If it's less than 14 days since 2FA was activated on your account you CAN disable it.


You should have received an email from apple that reads something like:


Dear [name redacted],
Thank you for enabling two-factor authentication for your Apple ID (g•••••@mac.com).
Two-factor authentication is an additional layer of security designed to ensure that you are the only person who can access your account, even if someone else knows your password. This significantly improves the security of your Apple ID and helps protect the photos, documents and other data you store with Apple. For more information please read Two-factor authentication for Apple ID.
If you did not enable two-factor authentication and believe that an unauthorised person has access to your account, you can return to your previous security settings. This link and your Apple ID security questions will expire on 21 October 2018.


Find that email and click the link that returns you to your previous security settings.

Job done

Dec 22, 2018 5:43 PM in response to PoliPeter

I had entered my phone number, but Apple elected to restrict it to only Apple devices. I don't usually carry 2 Macbooks around with me, but i always carry my Android phone.

So, set your Android number up as a trusted number. You can have the code sent as and SMS or the system can call you.


Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


I have my office (landline) phone set up as a trusted number.

Jan 1, 2019 6:32 AM in response to 7@Susan

I agree 100 percent. They think they can tell us what is best for us when it comes to Security. I don’t know anyone who,likes this.

Lots of people do. I do. I so rarely have to interact with it that the increased security is well worth it.


They don’t listen. They don’t care. Someone thought this was a good idea and it doesn’t matter what we want. We are stuck with this horror!

Apple (I assume that's who you mean by "they") are certainly not listening here. This is a user-to-user technical support forum. If you want them to know how you feel, use the feedback link:


Product Feedback - Apple

Jan 19, 2019 7:20 AM in response to TechieGrandma

have absolutely no need for Two Factor Authentication. No financial info, I don't shop on my phone or make purchases from iTunes or the App Store. I don't carry my phone in my hand everywhere I go or use it constantly. I use it as a phone. I don't even have email saved on it. I use it to make calls, text, as an alarm clock, camera and for directions.

You're making the same incorrect assumption most of the people who have difficulty with 2FA make. It is not designed to protect your phone (or your Mac or any other piece of hardware). It is designed to protect your Apple ID.


Unless there is something amiss, you should rarely have to enter the 2FA code on your phone. The only time I had to enter it was when I originally set it up. If you have only one Apple device, you should have a phone number (landline or mobile) set up as a trusted number. When are you seeing a request for the code on your phone? If you explain, someone may be able to help you figure out what's going on.


I suggest that you review Apple's documentation:

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

Jan 22, 2019 10:50 AM in response to 7@Susan

This two factor should not be forced on any of us. We should have the opportunity to opt out at any time. I don’t like it at all. It creates far too many obstacles. However, I have come to the conclusion that Apple really doesn’t care.

Well, I can tell you that they're not reading here for opinions. Use the feedback page to let them know how you feel:

Product Feedback - Apple


Meanwhile, if you explain what the obstacles are that you're facing, perhaps someone can help you figure out how to work around them.

Jan 25, 2019 9:05 PM in response to TechieGrandma

Sorry, but you can use the Recovery method to recover your account, so, again, you are misinformed:


If I can't sign in, how do I regain access to my account?

If you can’t sign in, access a trusted device, reset your password, or receive verification codes, you can request account recovery to regain access to your account.

Account recovery is an automatic process designed to get you back in to your account as quickly as possible while denying access to anyone who might be pretending to be you. It might take a few days—or longer—depending on what specific account information you can provide to verify your identity.


From this support article: Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


GB

How to turn off two factor authentication?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.