How can I turn off two factor authentication?

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Level 1

8 points

How can I turn off two factor authentication?

I am hoping someone somewhere might be able to help me. I have googled to no avail. All I want to do is turn off two factor authentication on my Apple account. It is driving me nuts. Every time I try to log in to iCloud on my browser (Firefox on a Windows 10 laptop) I have to go through the two-factor process. Then I trust the browser and it happens again next time. Every time. I am not massively computer-literate, but have tried allowing cookies. When I go into security on my Apple ID and try to edit, there is no option to turn it off. Why is it so hard to do? I don't want it anymore! If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd be very grateful.

Windows, Windows 6

Posted on May 18, 2020 3:26 PM

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Answer 1

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donv_the_ghost

Level 9

50,942 points

May 18, 2020 3:29 PM in response to turbodicky

You can't turn it off except as indicated below.

See Two-factor authentication for Apple ID https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915 and more specifically the section entitled Can I turn off two-factor authentication after I’ve turned it on? This section says:

"If you recently updated your account, you can unenroll within two weeks of enrollment. Just open your enrollment confirmation email and click the link to return to your previous security settings. Keep in mind, this makes your account less secure and means that you can't use features that require higher security."

This quote emphasizes the security-related importance of two-factor authentication. I would not turn it off even if you are able to. Another reason for not turning it off is that if you use two-factor authentication, then you no longer will have a need for security questions. They are turned off when two-factor authentication is activated.

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Answer 2

turbodicky Author

Level 1

8 points

May 18, 2020 3:46 PM in response to donv_the_ghost

Appreciate the reply. I understand the value of it, but it also says:

“Once signed in, you won’t be asked for a verification code on that device again unless you sign out completely, erase the device, or need to change your password for security reasons. When you sign in on the web, you can choose to trust your browser, so you won’t be asked for a verification code the next time you sign in from that computer.”

Whereas in reality, every time I go through the process, then tell it to trust the browser, it proceeds to ignore me and I have to do it again. Every single time. I feel like I’m a slave to the never-ending two-factor authentication process, every time I try to log into my Apple account!

First world problems, I realise, but I have to assume something is not working correctly for it not to be functioning as Apple says it should. And I don’t know if it’s just me being an idiot in some way and somehow doing something wrong!

Anyway, cheers for the quick reply.

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Answer 3

May 18, 2020 4:46 PM in response to turbodicky

You are very welcome. And, I sometimes have to deal with some of its foibles too. Good luck, and be safe.

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How can I turn off two factor authentication?

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