Yep, all devices up-to-date. The option is there on iOS but says that it's not available yet for my Apple ID.
Ah well, at least I know that I need to disable Two Step Verification first before I can enable Two Factor Authentication.
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Turn on two-factor again after turning it off but no option now?
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Ah well, at least I know that I need to disable Two Step Verification first before I can enable Two Factor Authentication.
Yep. Gonna try my wife's account later. Wonder if she will be allowed. (Update: it was there but not yet available for her ID).
The only thing I see that kinda defeating is if someone uses your device or Mac you can generate the passcode on that device. So if I'm in my office, walk away from my device/macbook and someone chooses to login to iCloud, they can generate the code locally. I keep my iPhone in my pocket at all times and under two-step they would need that device for the passcode.
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It's basically:
- Easier to use.
- More Secure.
- No longer has recovery key, there's a process that you can go through to get back into your account if locked out.
- It sends 6 digit codes rather than 4.
- You can generate a code on a trusted device.
- It's able to show the location of a log in attempt directly in a notification with the option to allow or Don't Allow a device.
Ohhh... I know that.. I was asking if two factor authentication and two-step verification are different?
I just called Apple Support to ask them about switching from Verification to Authentication. They said the sole requirement is the OS you are running. I turned off Two-Step Verification online and once it had gone through, I had the option on my iPhone running 9.3 beta 5 to set up Two-Factor Authentication, which I did.
WARNING! If you do this you will have to re-authenticate all your devices (including Apple Watch from its app). This worked fine except for on my MBA where I had to sign out (deleting Photo Library and iCloud Drive local docs etc.) and sign back in. It wouldn't accept my 6-digit code. I had to restart before it let me back in. Scary stuff for a second but everything is now working again.
On devices not running iOS 9+ or OS X 10.11+ you use your iCloud password and add the 6-digit code to the end each time you sign in.
The benefits of Two-Factor Authentication (as stusgt67 has said) are that it is stronger (6 digit over 4), there are no Trusted Devices (all your devices are act as trusted devices automatically), you can recover your password from Apple Support using personal info such as payment details and history etc. There is also a cool screen showing where a login attempt is being made from.
Overall it seems like a smoother system and probably more future-proof. If you have some spare time and don't mind troubleshooting any issues that arise in the switchover I would recommend it.
WARNING! If you do this you will have to re-authenticate all your devices (including Apple Watch from its app). This worked fine except for on my MBA where I had to sign out (deleting Photo Library and iCloud Drive local docs etc.) and sign back in. It wouldn't accept my 6-digit code. I had to restart before it let me back in. Scary stuff for a second but everything is now working again.
On devices not running iOS 9+ or OS X 10.11+ you use your iCloud password and add the 6-digit code to the end each time you sign in.
The benefits of Two-Factor Authentication (as stusgt67 has said) are that it is stronger (6 digit over 4), there are no Trusted Devices (all your devices are act as trusted devices automatically), you can recover your password from Apple Support using personal info such as payment details and history etc. There is also a cool screen showing where a login attempt is being made from.
Overall it seems like a smoother system and probably more future-proof. If you have some spare time and don't mind troubleshooting any issues that arise in the switchover I would recommend it.
Ok so I'm wondering now if I have two step enabled, if I disable it, if it will prompt me for two factor again. I don't wanna do it unless apple support tells me for sure it will.
If you have iOS 9 or OS X 10.11 you should be fine. It's not necessary, so if you don't feel like doing it, don't do it
Plus you can always go back to Two-Step Verification.
If you have iOS 9 or OS X 10.11 you should be fine. It's not necessary, so if you don't feel like doing it, don't do it
Plus you can always go back to Two-Step Verification.
I'm running the most recent iOS 9/OS X betas. I originally had two factor, turned it off and now it defaulted to two step. I'm afraid of now turning that off of it wont offer me two factor again.
If you were offered it before, you'll be offered it again. I specifically asked Support if there was any waiting period and they said no.
ok so you're telling me, if i was originally offered two factor but now using two step, if i turn two step off....i will immediately be offered two factor again on my account with no waiting period?
EDIT: ok so i just did it. i was immediately offered two-step again online on the manage my ID website, but indeed was offered two factor from my iPhone 6 running iOS 9.3 beta 5. so I'm now back on it. thanks skwood for the heads up!
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If you have iOS 9 or OS X 10.11 you should be fine. It's not necessary, so if you don't feel like doing it, don't do it
Plus you can always go back to Two-Step Verification.
Yes but in my wife's case, two-step is only available on the manage AppleID website. On her iOS devices (although she meets all the requirements) two-factor errors out with her ID is not yet available.
I switched two factor off a few days ago.
I have just tried to switch it back on but it will not have it.
I can however still get two step. I tried switching two step off and activating two factor, but still no joy.
I have just tried to switch it back on but it will not have it.
I can however still get two step. I tried switching two step off and activating two factor, but still no joy.
Maybe we need to try again on iOS 9.3 today, could be a weird bug? - both devices should say it's available in that case.
Hope so. My iPhone and Macbook work fine, but my wife's iPhone and iPad still won't enable it.
Two Factor Authentication is now available for all iCloud accounts! It's in the iOS 9.3 Release Notes.
Edit: Enabled and all working!
Edit: Enabled and all working!
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I jave a problem with my wife's iPad and iPhone. After the 9.3 update it does allow for the setup of two factor. However on either device it says other devices are not yet available for two factor and should I continue.... if I continue it complains about not having a credit card on file.
She is under the family account as an adult so there is a card on file. I also tried to logout of iCloud on one of the devices but it still will not go through. Any help??
She is under the family account as an adult so there is a card on file. I also tried to logout of iCloud on one of the devices but it still will not go through. Any help??