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How do you turn OFF two-factor authentication?

How do you turn OFF two-factor authentication? Every time I go into my Apple ID from my desktop, it asks if this is a trusted device and if so, it will not ask me again. I say "yes it's a trusted device," but it doesn't remember that and I have to go through the whole thing again.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]


Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Feb 21, 2023 1:09 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 21, 2023 3:31 PM

Hello,


I see you want to disable two-factor authentication. For some background I suggest you read the document: "Two-factor authentication for Apple ID" - Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


When presented with isolated quotations from that document it is easy to misunderstand if you can or cannot disable two-factor authentication. This is how it works:


Several years ago Apple transitioned to using two-factor authentication for additional account security. Accounts created since that time automatically use two-factor authentication and this cannot be disabled.


Some people have older accounts from before two-factor authentication was mandatory on new accounts. Apple encourages those users to transition to two-factor authentication when signing in on their accounts because without it "your account is less secure and you can't use features that require a higher level of security." Those older account owners who do start using two-factor authentication have two weeks to change their minds and return to older security settings.


If you have an older account, recently activated two factor authentication, and you're within the two week period for turning it off again, you should check for an email from Apple for a way to do this. If you don't see one about this, look in your junk mail folder.


That said, your equipment should not ask you repeatedly to trust it. Ask Apple for assistance with that: Refer to this document for ways to contact Apple --> Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support

Select your country (also look for "other" regions), then a product. If you don't see one that handles your issue then keep experimenting with selections until you reach one that gets you a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.


or:


Contact Apple for support and service by telephone --> Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support



3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 21, 2023 3:31 PM in response to Pilot Sister

Hello,


I see you want to disable two-factor authentication. For some background I suggest you read the document: "Two-factor authentication for Apple ID" - Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support


When presented with isolated quotations from that document it is easy to misunderstand if you can or cannot disable two-factor authentication. This is how it works:


Several years ago Apple transitioned to using two-factor authentication for additional account security. Accounts created since that time automatically use two-factor authentication and this cannot be disabled.


Some people have older accounts from before two-factor authentication was mandatory on new accounts. Apple encourages those users to transition to two-factor authentication when signing in on their accounts because without it "your account is less secure and you can't use features that require a higher level of security." Those older account owners who do start using two-factor authentication have two weeks to change their minds and return to older security settings.


If you have an older account, recently activated two factor authentication, and you're within the two week period for turning it off again, you should check for an email from Apple for a way to do this. If you don't see one about this, look in your junk mail folder.


That said, your equipment should not ask you repeatedly to trust it. Ask Apple for assistance with that: Refer to this document for ways to contact Apple --> Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support

Select your country (also look for "other" regions), then a product. If you don't see one that handles your issue then keep experimenting with selections until you reach one that gets you a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.


or:


Contact Apple for support and service by telephone --> Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support



Mar 18, 2023 10:14 AM in response to Pilot Sister

Two ideas:

  1. I *think* that if you have highly secure browser settings, it won't let Apple save cookie (or whatever) so that Apple recognizes your logon. This happens with me with Firefox.
  2. I don't think it's possible to disable 2FA, as I discovered when I locked myself out of my house without phone. (short version: Neighbor with key was gone. Tried to log on at another neighbor's so as to call the first neighbor, and I couldn't get into my own account. Blah, blah.) Solution for future snafu: added another secure phone # (the second neighbor's) such that it will get the 2FA code if I log on at their house.

How do you turn OFF two-factor authentication?

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