How to turn off two factor authentication?

GoldMonkey wrote:

So... if my *mobile phone* goes down... or GETS HACKED... this means I'm SCREWED ON EVERY SINGLE OTHER MAC DEVICE I OWN!?!?!?

Only if your phone is your only trusted device. Always have additional trusted devices. I have my Mac and my iPad as trusted devices. I also have my office landline as a trusted device.

I had many issues at first with 2FA and found no help whatsoever, However once the problem was finally fixed 2FA although not perfect works ok.

If you turn on 2FA your phone if working ok should stop asking you to activate 2FA

and yet, the very fact that you need to have ' a landline and Google Voice number as back ups' and demonstrates that people need to ensure they have 2FA workarounds and 2FA IS the problem. Basically without a secondary 'device' anyone with 2FA imposed upon them risks losing access to their Apple account.

not only that but if you have an iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook etc the verification code is a complete nightmare. Its like you have to travel everywhere with all your devices in case you are asked a verification code at some random point on a random device. Apple should check what banks do to verify bank transfers. quick and easy sms code takes 1 second and its secure. This whole thing makes you want to buy Samsung jut to get away from it

Basically without a secondary 'device' anyone with 2FA imposed upon them risks losing access to their Apple account.

Yes.

Those who choose not to purchase insurance for their home run the risk of losing access to their home in a fire. Insurance provides a plan B to replace your home.

It is a simple process to set up and provides a plan B. My extra trusted phone number is my mother's landline.

Feeling lucky? Don't make the effort. Your choice.

This does not make the design lacking. It makes it secure and in your complete control. Exactly what a security process should be.

wrong.... grown ups take responsibility and look after their own security.

Apple security is for children.

I see a lot of absurd replies here.... this one is special.

Being a grownup is all it takes?

You don't need anybody's help keeping your account secure?

You should publish your process. You'll make millions.

Apple. Microsoft, Google, Instagram, WhatsApp all came up with a form of 2FA.

But you say being a grownup is enough. Good to know.

Spacious wrote:

sure, my process is called a good password.

Never had it hacked in 30 years.

Not hard for grown up.

Apple has about a billion accounts.

The needs of the many... outweigh the needs of the few.

With 2FA enabled, I could print business cards with my Apple ID and password on it and still not be compromised.

It is secure and I am willing to bet children take online security more seriously then most grownups.

I have worked in phone support and have been screamed at and called names by "grownups" who do not want a password at all.

They claim the same. "I know what I'm doing"

The-wolf wrote:

I wasn’t aware that issues cannot be raised here, from my understanding of an independent forum surely this would be the place to raise issues that cause concerns.

So, 19 pages and almost 2 months ago, I wrote this for you...claiming you didn't know is incorrect.

You can ask technical support questions here. Or in your terms, "issues can be raised"

If there is an answer, a volunteer may provide it to you. This question was answered on day 1, page 1.

Raised is not the same as debated.

Issues can be raised and ideally, a solution offered.

This question has an answer, but no solution.

This is not an independent forum. Apple has documented terms and condition and we all agreed to them. One of the terms is not questioning Apple policy. Your post did exactly that.

The-wolf wrote:

I wasn’t aware that issues cannot be raised here, from my understanding of an independent forum surely this would be the place to raise issues that cause concerns.

This is not an independent forum. It's an Apple owned and run forum.

'Back up', 'work around', whatever the label you want to give it.....multiple devices are still required for Apple accounts forced to have 2FA.

2FA has impinged on the functionality of devices and introduced usage restrictions undisclosed at point of sale.

And who are you or who is Apple to force me or anyone elese to use this usless and rbish shh"feauture" even if I or we don't want it ? Did you just said that if I spend a fortune for a new Apple device I am beign forced by Apple to do something that I don't want to ? And one more thing : if I consider and know that only a one step authentication like a password is enough for me, then I know that I will not need this two step authentication !

I don't need Apple to tell me what I need and to force me use to it ! Next time I'll buy something, bbye Apple. Cheers !

What is the problem with you band of petty people? Why couldn't you simply say, "Not required"? Why do you have to tag every post with some childish dig at the person who (like me) was admittedly dumb enough to hope to get help in this forum.

If Apple's people are indeed watching, what's wrong with them that they can't give you a little guidance on how to treat people with some adult style civiliity? I blame Apple for allowing this nonsense to continue. Now, on the other hand, if that's Apple's policy, i.e., to offend its users, I guess I'm not allowed to bring it up. My bad.

(Do you win extra brownie points every time you take a cheap shot at a customer?)

hAltonJones wrote:

What is the problem with you band of petty people? Why couldn't you simply say, "Not required"? Why do you have to tag every post with some childish dig at the person who (like me) was admittedly dumb enough to hope to get help in this forum.

If Apple's people are indeed watching, what's wrong with them that they can't give you a little guidance on how to treat people with some adult style civiliity? I blame Apple for allowing this nonsense to continue. Now, on the other hand, if that's Apple's policy, i.e., to offend its users, I guess I'm not allowed to bring it up. My bad.

(Do you win extra brownie points every time you take a cheap shot at a customer?)

So making up facts to further an argument is civil?

The community is here to provide help with using Apple products. Help requires accuracy and truth.

When posts state facts that are incorrect, it's within the context of the community to provide the truth. Multiple devices are not required for using 2FA. That is a common misconception.

Apple is indeed "watching" and if I, or any other volunteer, are deemed to have ignored the terms, our posts will be removed.

Exactly my point of view ! If I don't like being forced by Apple to use this, I will not buy Apple products anymore. Goodbye Apple ! You are so right ! But though, I don't think you understand what's the real thing here. You already have a device using the online services and guess what : suddenly you are forced to keep and use something that you could've turn off before because Apple is forcing you to. And it's pointless because the user should decide if he need it or not accordingly to the data sensitivity it's being stored to it's account(the user knows that not Apple). As for how the data is stored by Apple and accessed, it's not the user's concern how a company stores data and what security protocols are being used by that company as the data is encrypted anyways for sure(it must be) and it's safely stored to that companies servers. So of course no one dictates to a company how to secure access to the data stored to it's servers but every user has the right to decide how to use the services provided by that company(Apple in this case) to access that data : the users own data !

every user has the right to decide how to use the services provided by that company

Exactly right. Use 2FA or don't.

Apple now provides 2FA on all accounts. Use it or not.

What you don't have is the right to dictate how a private company offers its service(s).

Offer feedback, Voice your concern. Don't flood this technical support community with off topic debates about Apple Policy.

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