How to turn off two factor authentication?

This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of! I lost my phone, and was trying to ping it from icloud.com - but I couldn't log into icloud without authenticating with the 6-digit number - which of course is sent to my lost phone! WTH. Apple usually thinks this stuff through - this is a total fail.

I guess I will try the support number.

This Two Factor is a real problem. There is a bug that even after re-installing, I cannot get my Windows 10 computer to quit prompting me every few minutes to put my credentials back in for iCloud. I had to start ignoring it. Even if I went to the trouble, it is really annoying to my significant other that it also sends the code to her phone. So it is a huge constant interruption to two people. Now, why trying to trouble-shoot why my Outlook will no longer open my Contacts/address book, every one of your screens I go to and every option I try is a pain to both of us constantly getting these codes. Please give us users a way to opt out of this option.

ios_is_a_pain wrote:

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.

That statement indicates you don't understand how 2FA works. You don't always need to have two devices. The "two" in 2FA doesn't refer to devices, it refers to "factors". In this case, the factors are your password and the six-digit code. You can do both on one device.

On iOS device, you shouldn't need to be using 2FA very often. If I have to use it on my iPhone more than once every couple of months, that's a lot.

Before you start making more misstatements, you should take the trouble to learn more about how it works:

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

"Before you start making more misstatements, you should take the trouble to learn more about how it works."

Once again, a clear example of the arrogant, haughty, responses from this group.

Maybe, before making any more demeaning remarks to users, YOU should take the time to understand the problem and/or provide help, rather than deceitful, shallow remarks denigrating users suffering with this ill-conceivable, poorly implemented, system of 2FA.

Based upon the shear volume of negative feedback, you'd think maybe the light would go on, but apparently the magnitude of your pomposity overwhelms any light that might shine.

The sheer volume? There are hundreds of millions of users around the world with AppleIDs using 2FA since it is required for iCloud Keychain, messages in iCloud, home kit, Apple Pay, etc.

A relative handful of internet posts is not even a drop up in the bucket relative to the number of people using it, apparently without complaint.

Once again, a clear example of the arrogant, haughty, responses from this group.

Maybe, before making any more demeaning remarks to users, YOU should take the time to understand the problem and/or provide help, rather than deceitful, shallow remarks denigrating users suffering with this ill-conceivable, poorly implemented, system of 2FA.

Based upon the shear volume of negative feedback, you'd think maybe the light would go on, but apparently the magnitude of your pomposity overwhelms any light that might shine.

Someone sure had a plateful of thesaurus this morning.

There is no solution to turning off 2FA that we can provide. The question in play has been asked and answered numerous times.

Let me try boldface for this next bit.

All the help possible form this community has been offered.

Apple does not change policy here. Apple will not debate or update policy here.

This is not our rule. We abide by the same terms and conditions you do.

hAltonJones wrote:

"Before you start making more misstatements, you should take the trouble to learn more about how it works."

How was I wrong? You don't need two devices in hand to use 2FA. Saying so is a misstatement.

YOU should take the time to understand the problem and/or provide help, rather than deceitful, shallow remarks denigrating users suffering with this ill-conceivable, poorly implemented, system of 2FA.

I did provide the only help possible in these user-to-user forums: a link to the documentation on how to make it work.

If you know of something addition that might help the person to whom I replied, rather than to remonstrate me, help them. Show me how you think it should be done.

Here's how you were and still are wrong.

The "customer" said he/she was under the impression that such was the case. "If" the customer is wrong (although I thought - by definition - the customer was always right), then isn't it incumbent upon you to help that customer understand the problem? Isn't that the sine-qua-non of this forum??? Surely your purpose isn't to insult people who have - for better or worse - expressed a hopeful confidence in Apple products?

I noticed after my initial remark, some P.R. expert made a snarky remark about using a thesaurus. Is that your idea of "help"? For that person that apparently had to scurry to the dictionary, I apologize for using words that were apparently beyond his/her grasp; in the future, I'll try and dumb-it-down. But to provide you with a simple one-sentence answer to your question...

"You were wrong in not attempting to listen to a users needs and by demeaning that person for not having your self-perceived level of divine insight."

One iShark threw me an insult, advised that Android has no 2FA, which I followed and have not look back since. Not having to deal with that annoying protocol saved me a lot of blood. I hope everyone follows. Thanks, iSharks! 😁

hAltonJones wrote:

Here's how you were and still are wrong.

The "customer" said he/she was under the impression that such was the case. "If" the customer is wrong (although I thought - by definition - the customer was always right), then isn't it incumbent upon you to help that customer understand the problem? Isn't that the sine-qua-non of this forum??? Surely your purpose isn't to insult people who have - for better or worse - expressed a hopeful confidence in Apple products?

I noticed after my initial remark, some P.R. expert made a snarky remark about using a thesaurus. Is that your idea of "help"? For that person that apparently had to scurry to the dictionary, I apologize for using words that were apparently beyond his/her grasp; in the future, I'll try and dumb-it-down. But to provide you with a simple one-sentence answer to your question...

"You were wrong in not attempting to listen to a users needs and by demeaning that person for not having your self-perceived level of divine insight."

You do understand, don't you, that this is a user-to-user forum? To date, Apple hasn't participated.

Also, I spent twenty years in retail (none of it for Apple). The only people who say "the customer is always right" are customers.

Yes, I understand Apple hasn't participated, however, Apple sanctions its existence. Surely, you're not suggesting Apple encourages or even ******** snarky demeaning remarks from its "volunteers"?

And with all due respects to your "retail" past-life, customers are clearly NOT the only people who say that. As a former owner of software company with a tech-support department, my customers were always right, even when they weren't. I think your statement suggests that you may not have a strong understanding of the concept behind the customer is always right. It's really not intended to be a "literal interpretation".

I'm sure you guys are doing the best you can. Consider doing better.

hAltonJones wrote:

I'm sure you guys are doing the best you can. Consider doing better.

As you seem to have an idea how it should be done, I look forward to seeing you volunteer your time to help people. I'm always interested in seeing how other people approach things.

Best of luck.

I'm sure you guys are doing the best you can. Consider doing better.

I try to do the best I can and do not appreciate your personal attacks.

It might be a good time for you to read the ToU here:

https://discussions.apple.com/terms

There's the first clue someone might be starting to understand. If you don't appreciate the "personal attacks", try a little empathy. Put yourself in the customer or user or whatever you call us. We most certainly do not appreciate the personal attacks. And they have been bountiful.

I don't call you anything - I am a customer, user, or whatever - exactly like you. With one exception: My main purpose here is to help others, I rarely post a question.

You are an anonymous online poster looking for free help. You can also contact Apple support and may have to pay for the advice or repair.

We are volunteers.

We do not work for Apple.

We are not Apple support.

We do not get paid.

You are not our "customer". You are an anonymous online user that is asking us for free help and, quite often, displays an attitude if you get a (truthful) answer you do not like.

So, consider the above and the time we invest without asking for anything except a thankful reply that we are trying to help you.

And, I am done here.