Can I turn off 2-factor authentication? Introducing overview and benefits | Apple Geek LABO

Apple ID’s latest security system “two-factor authentication”.

Your security has been updated without your knowledge and you want to unlock it.

In this article, we will introduce an overview of two-factor authentication, how to unlock it, and what to do if you do not receive the verification code.

What is the function of two-factor authentication?

Without further ado, let me start by explaining what kind of system 2-factor authentication is.

What is two-factor authentication? Apple ID security

Two-factor authentication is a system that was introduced as a mechanism to protect the security of the Apple ID.

Most of the recent web services use two-step verification to log in to sites using passwords and one-time passwords sent to SNS, etc. Apple also uses two-step verification in the same way. , two-factor authentication is its name.

Two-factor authentication with verification codes sent to trusted phone numbers and devices

In the case of other web services, you can log in to the site by entering a phone number when you register as a member, receiving a code that can only be used temporarily to that phone number, and entering that number, but it is only two-factor authentication. There are features.

As you know, Apple develops and sells hardware such as iPhone and Mac, but originally developed software.

By using a device loaded with software that is installed only in Apple products, the confirmation code is delivered not only to the registered phone number but also to a reliable device logged in with the same Apple ID.

So, even if your Apple ID and password are leaked, you can avoid accessing your personal information because the login notification will also be sent to your trusted device.

Currently (March 2023), you cannot create an Apple ID other than two-factor authentication

As of March 2023, it is no longer possible to create an Apple ID with security other than two-factor authentication.

This is only a guess, but it is predicted that the previous security will not be a countermeasure against phishing scams, which are increasing in recent years.

2 factor authentication cannot be turned off

As of March 2023, it is no longer possible to cancel two-factor authentication.

Even if you create a new Apple ID or update your bare Apple ID to two-factor authentication, you cannot cancel it, so be careful when making changes.

In particular, if you do not want to change it, you will be prompted to update to two-factor authentication immediately after updating iOS.

Only if you unintentionally switch to 2-factor authentication, you can cancel within 2 weeks

However, if you update your Apple ID after updating iOS, you can unlock the previous security within 2 weeks.

So, as of March 2023, two-factor authentication can only be canceled if you unintentionally update after updating iOS.

Also, please note that the cancellation period is limited to 2 weeks, so if you exceed 2 weeks, you will not be able to cancel it.

Can update via security question (previously security)

Previously, AppleID security was either secret questions or two-step verification.

Since two-step verification was not commonly used, many long-time Apple users used secret questions.

Users who still use secret questions can still update after updating iOS, but they can also update from settings.

If you have multiple Apple devices, you will receive the verification code on all of them

With two-factor authentication, if you have multiple Apple devices and are signed in with the same AppleID, you can receive verification codes on all of them.

In my case, I use an iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, and when I need a verification code, I can receive it on any device.

Many people think that there is no problem with secret questions, but if you use multiple Apple devices, you can’t unlock it, but two-factor authentication is safer, so please consider updating. please give me.

Advantages/disadvantages of removing two-factor authentication

So far, we have provided an overview of two-factor authentication.

I think you understand that you can’t unlock an Apple ID made with two-factor authentication or if it’s been more than two weeks since you updated it.

What are the pros and cons of disabling two-factor authentication? Here are the pros and cons of unlocking your Apple ID.

merit

The advantage of canceling two-factor authentication is that you can save the trouble of obtaining and entering a verification code when signing in to your Apple ID.

Also, when you change iPhone models and transfer data, you may see voices on SNS etc. that the confirmation code cannot be received and the data cannot be transferred.

In order to avoid the risk of such troubles, it is easier not to use two-factor authentication.

Demerit

The downside of disabling two-factor authentication is that it reduces security.

Secret questions may be known to people close to you.

I don’t want to suspect someone close to me, but since we live in an era where we have a lot of important data on our smartphones, there is a risk that the data will be accessed.

In order to reduce such risks, Apple officially recommends using two-factor authentication without canceling it.

How to cancel 2-factor authentication

Here’s how to turn off two-factor authentication.

1. Sign in to your AppleID account page
2. Get and enter a verification code
3. Tap “Security”
4. Tap “Turn off two-factor authentication”
5. Choose 3 secret questions and enter the answers
6. Enter required information
7. Complete when “Two-factor authentication has been disabled” is displayed

*If “Turn off 2-factor authentication” is not displayed, the account is not subject to cancellation. In addition, since security cannot be guaranteed, please cancel at your own risk.

How to cancel 2-step verification

If you are using Apple ID security with 2-step verification, you can cancel it in the same way as canceling 2-factor authentication.

What to do if you don’t receive your two-factor authentication verification code

Finally, we’ll show you what to do if you don’t receive the verification code needed to sign in, a common pitfall for two-factor authentication users.

Get verification code again

If you don’t receive your two-factor authentication verification code, you can retrieve it.

However, since there is an upper limit to the number of times the confirmation code is issued, if you reacquire it many times in a short period of time, the following note may be displayed.

・The maximum number of verification code attempts has been reached. Please try again later.

It doesn’t specify the upper limit of the number of attempts or how long you can wait to try again, but it’s said that you can get it again after about 8 hours, so it’s dangerous to get too much.

Improve device communication

The confirmation code is obtained from Apple’s server, so it may not be possible to obtain it without a network environment.

However, if you just issue a confirmation code, you may be able to get it offline, so it is convenient to remember that it may be possible to issue an iPhone without a SIM or a Mac that is not connected to the internet.

Get a verification code manually

You can manually obtain a verification code for two-factor authentication. If you have changed the iPhone model and have both models before and after the model change, and if the confirmation code does not arrive on the new iPhone, try to get it manually.

• iPhone/iPad: Settings App > Username > Password & Security > Get Verification Code
• Mac: System Preferences > AppleID > Password & Security > Get Verification Code
• Apple Watch: Settings App > Username > Password & Security > Get Verification Code

As mentioned above, if you are signed in with the same AppleID, you can also use the verification code obtained from another device.

You may be able to get the confirmation code even if you remove the SIM card, so if you do not receive it when you change the model, try manually issuing it on your previous iPhone and entering it.

If your trusted phone number changes

With two-factor authentication, if your trusted phone number changes (if you get a new phone number instead of changing your phone model), you need to change it.

If you have multiple trusted devices registered, it’s not that big of a problem, but if you only have one, you may not receive the verification code and you may not be able to obtain it.

In addition, if the phone number has changed, the password is unknown and the device cannot be used due to some trouble, the account recovery procedure may be required.

If you can reset your password, you don’t need to recover your account, but if you can’t reset it, you will have to wait a few days to recover your account.

Please note that if you do not know your password when changing models and you need to recover your account, you may not be able to transfer your data.

If you don’t have a trusted device handy

This is a possible phenomenon for users who switched from iPhone to Android, but it is also possible that there is no reliable device even if the Apple ID remains.

In that case, as long as your trusted phone number hasn’t changed, you can get the verification code if you really need it.

You can get it by phone or SMS, so tap “Have you received a confirmation code?” and try to get it by phone or SMS.

summary

What did you think? Once set up, two-factor authentication cannot be turned off.

It is possible to cancel only if you have unintentionally updated, but it is difficult to notice because there is only a two-week grace period, and it is difficult to deal with it during that period.

We recommend that users using security questions security be careful not to unintentionally update after updating iOS.