How to turn off two factor authentication?

How to turn off two factor authentication?

Posted on Sep 18, 2018 12:33 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 10, 2023 5:50 AM

You can’t.


(Sorry for the “harsh-sounding” reality)


What makes you think that you need to do so?


So … since you’re going to have to “live with it”


Recommend that you carefully review and thoroughly digest the two fairly important and informative articles linked below.


Pay particularly close attention to thoughtfully selecting and setting up Trusted Numbers … these become critical when you need to regain access to your account (e.g. lost, damaged, or stolen device).


Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


and


Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support

2,627 replies

Jan 30, 2019 9:29 AM in response to jskillen

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


Mar 11, 2020 6:19 PM in response to XandMan70

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.

Oct 29, 2018 7:22 PM in response to Chas_in_the_Hammock

Chas_in_the_Hammock wrote:


TFA should be the users decision, not Apple's. I love my iPad, but this is unacceptable.

It is your choice, entirely, to enable 2FA or not. It is Apple's choice not to make certain features available without it. Should you have already enabled it and it has been more than 14 days, your choices are to live with it (you rarely need to interact with it) or give up the iPad. Saying it's "unacceptable" will not change anything.

Mar 20, 2019 11:10 AM in response to jinho80

Nobody here is forcing anyone to do anything. These are user community forums. We also cannot alter Apple policy, which is that after 2 weeks, you cannot disable 2FA, and 2FA is required to use certain services from Apple (like messages in iCloud).


And you do not need more than one Apple device - there are alternative methods for backup contacts to get 2FA codes on, as explained several times in this thread.

Apr 29, 2019 4:50 PM in response to MJC130

Well, now you are stuck. Apple is not going to change 2 factor authentication, not even for you. In fact, it's likely that it will become mandatory going forward. It already is if you want to use some desirable advanced services. So you have limited options:

  • Get a new Apple ID without 2FA and send instructions to everyone on how to log out of the current one and log in to the new one.
  • Change to a less secure phone and send new phones to all of your users.
  • Tell all of your users to create their own Apple ID and replace the company Apple ID.
  • I can't think of any other options.

Dec 1, 2019 7:28 PM in response to fatboy_2003

because of a ******* stupid recovery key plz help and i am about to break my phone

If you are missing your Recovery key, that is likely from Apple's 2 Step Verification, not 2 Factor Authentication.


They are 2 different methods.


2SV used a recovery key. If you forgot your password AND lost your recovery key, you are permanently shut out of your account.


There is no recovery process for 2SV.



Dec 26, 2019 8:49 AM in response to Vinnie3366

If you read the forum, you would have known that you cannot turn off 2FA once you turn it on. There is limited time period when you can. Once it expires, you cannot.


This horse has been beat to death. Time to complain to Apple directly or leave it alone.


Apple doesn't look at the user forums, so I have been informed.

Dec 31, 2019 12:07 PM in response to Community User

So, what is the true end game here for Apple?

To prevent compromised accounts. To greatly reduce the number of Apple users who need to report compromised credit/debit cards.


Apple should allow someone to cancel out of 2FA if they want

But they don't.


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


I am finding it to be more of a pain in the rear than a benefit.

Why? Exactly why?

Jan 14, 2020 1:03 PM in response to garyn805

garyn805 wrote:

I need to turn this off it makes my phone do things I don't want it to do

Have you had it enabled less than 14 days? If so, follow the instructions given in the answer marked "Apple Recommended".


If you've had it enabled for longer than 14 days, you can't disable it. So, try explaining what it is that you think it's making your phone do and someone should be able to help you figure out what to do.

May 4, 2020 2:50 PM in response to The-wolf

In fairness this is all anyone wants is the ability to turn 2fa off that’s alI I get asked to sign in constantly and this never happened prior to this service being forced on me

Nothing was forced on you.


And again, we get what you want.... you can't achieve your goal here.


Have you tried the on device process below?


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



And your specific issue, by your own admission, is entirely related to carrier coverage, or lack thereof. Not the design or use of 2FA, but that you struggle with carrier signal. The above may help you.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

How to turn off two factor authentication?

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