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How Do I Use iCloud Without Two-factor Authentication

Could someone - preferably from Apple - please enlighten me on how to use iCloud without mandatory two-factor authentication? It seems rather contradictory to have a cloud-based email that can be accessed anywhere in the world if it is always dependent on having a recognized device with me that's connected in order to verify my identity.


For example, let's say I'm on vacation in the Caribbean and lose my iPhone or even if I just don't have a wireless or cellular connection to it. What happens if there's any emergency and I need to send an email to someone back home and the only way to send that email is by using a computer at the hospital where I am? How would I log into my iCloud from a browser?


Has anyone at Apple thought of this? What am I missing? Would I just be SOL???

iCloud

Posted on Sep 26, 2018 10:45 AM

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9 replies

Sep 26, 2018 10:51 AM in response to brendancanada

brendancanada wrote:


Could someone - preferably from Apple - please enlighten me on how to use iCloud without mandatory two-factor authentication? It seems rather contradictory to have a cloud-based email that can be accessed anywhere in the world if it is always dependent on having a recognized device with me that's connected in order to verify my identity.


For example, let's say I'm on vacation in the Caribbean and lose my iPhone or even if I just don't have a wireless or cellular connection to it. What happens if there's any emergency and I need to send an email to someone back home and the only way to send that email is by using a computer at the hospital where I am? How would I log into my iCloud from a browser?


Has anyone at Apple thought of this? What am I missing? Would I just be SOL???

Product Feedback - Apple

Sep 27, 2018 8:39 AM in response to brendancanada

See this link switching from secondary authentication to two factor authentication

The condition is you have to borrow a Mac and trusted mobile number from hospital authorities who have network connection , in a scenario they enabled secondary authentication in the system preferences - iCloud , you have to sign out from their account , sign with your newly created Apple ID ( could be secondary authentication or if they permit to use their phone for 2FA ) , if they do the code will be received on their trusted mobile number .

See this method -

How to create a new Apple ID with two factor authentication from system preferences .


( a ) Open system preferences > click on iCloud and click on sign out , you can see a window stating do you want to keep a copy of your iCloud data on this Mac before signing out ? The boxes iCloud Drive , contacts , calendars , reminders are checked by default - so click on keep a copy . A pop up window will appear are you sure you want to stop updating and continue with sign out ( any documents not updated to iCloud Drive , will be moved to a folder named “ iCloud Drive archive in your home folder on this Mac ) so don’t click on “ cancel “ but " click on continue with sign out ."


( b ) Then uncheck the boxes of iCloud Drive , contacts , calendars , reminders and click on continue .

a pop window will appear . Do you want to keep a copy of safari passwords on this Mac ?

( 1 ) Delete from Mac ( 2 ) cancel ( 3 ) keep on Mac .

So its optional you can select keep on Mac or click on delete from Mac ( as some user

write down the safari passwords in a safe place and they can autofill it again )

( c ) It will prompt enter the Apple ID password for mail address to turn off find my Mac , so enter your Apple ID password and click on continue , a small circle will rotate , be patient .

( d ) After some time a window will appear showing iCloud lets you access your music , photos , contacts , calendars and more on your devices , automatically , your Apple ID would be written in the field , click on next .

( e) It will prompt to enter your apple id password , so enter the password ( it will take some time to fill up the password in the password field ) and click on next a small circle will rotate .


( f ) Click on create Apple ID , the circle rotates , your date of birth is used to determine which services to set up on this Mac .

( 1 ) Date of birth - Day [ ] , Month [ ] , Year [ ] , click on drop down arrows of day , month , year and fill up the credentials and click on next .


( g ) A window appears get started with your name , email address and password

Name [ First ] [ Last ]

Email address - name@example.com

This will be your new Apple ID

Get a free iCloud email address

Password required …….

Verify ……..

Your password must be at least 8 characters long & include a number , an uppercase letter and a lower case letter .Fill up the credentials .

Check the box of apple news and announcements …..the terms and conditions and click on next .

Enter a phone number which can be used to verify identity via text message or phone call

Phone number …….country code will be written .

Phone number ……… enter your trusted mobile number .

Verify with - text message , phone call its optional you can check the box for text message and fill up the credentials it will show .

Did not receive code , cancel , next .So click on next .


( h ) Terms and conditions - check the box of license agreement and click on agree , a circle will rotate a prompt will appear to enter your password for admin , so enter the admin password correctly and click on ok .


( I ) A window will appear .

Use iCloud for your documents and data .

Use find my Mac

The boxes for them are checked by default , then click on next .

( j ) Again , a window will appear allow find my Mac to use the location of this Mac ?

Not now , allow , you have to click on allow .

You are signed with new apple id and password , check the box for Siri , wait for while after few minutes you will be able to move your cursor , click on iCloud Drive option button and check the box of documents and desktop .

You will notice that the box of keychain is checked but no option button is shown as this is Apple ID is created with two factor authentication .


Note : Write down the Apple ID and password in a safe place , also you can create only three Apple ID on iCloud domain using a single Mac .


Once an Apple ID is created you can send mail to your family member using your personal Apple ID , after that sign out from your account in system preferences > iCloud as its hospital computer you should hand over their Mac .

Note : before leaving to lonesome places always carry a second mobile that should be added to your initially created 2FA , suppose the first device is lost or damaged you can get a code on second device .

Sep 26, 2018 12:38 PM in response to singh49asda

Hi. Thanks for the reply. So please tell me then how would I retrieve that code from said relative or land line if I don't have access to my iPhone or to my email? Even if it wasn't an emergency, and I just didn't have my phone with me or there was no cellular/wireless connection, I'd have to get to a phone, call someone, and hope that they pick up in the hopes that they might give me an access code so I can access iCloud?


You're right. Security has its cost: complete inaccessibility when you might need it most.

Sep 27, 2018 8:29 AM in response to tygb

Lol. This is amazing. Thank-you, tygb. I'm going to print this out and keep it with me at all times in case I lose my iPhone or don't have a connection to receive a verification code.


But seriously, though, anyone else? Preferably from Apple? How does one access their "cloud-based" iCloud email from a browser if they are travelling abroad without their iPhone or a cellular/wifi connection? And please provide a realistic answer, not this ridiculous notion that we should set up a second trusted phone number or that of a trusted friend.


If you don't have a simple answer to this hypothetical, but entirely possible scenario, maybe rethink the mandatory two-factor authentication? I mean, the whole point of iCloud was to be able to access your email (and other iCloud services) wherever you are in the world. You've severely handcuffed it...

How Do I Use iCloud Without Two-factor Authentication

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