Setting up new iPhone? Be Mindful About Apple’s Two-Factor Authentication

In the vast majority of cases, two-factor authentication is a strongly recommended security feature.

That being said, there are a few things you should note about 2FA — especially while setting up your new iPhone.

What is 2FA?

Basically, 2FA is another way to protect your Apple ID and the sensitive data stored on it.

Essentially, when 2FA is enabled, you’ll need an additional verification code to login to your Apple ID on a new device or via a browser. That authentication code will pop up on a trusted device or your trusted cell phone number.

But if you lose access to either of those options, you may run into trouble accessing your account.

2FA During Setup Problem, when you own only one Apple Device

Calling this a “problem” may be a bit of a stretch, but it’s certainly something to keep in mind.

Basically, if you turn on two-factor authentication when you’re setting up a new iOS device, you’ll never be able to disable it on your particular Apple ID account.

Even if you find 2FA annoying, this isn’t all that big of a deal. But it sort of banks on the fact that you’ll always own at least two Apple devices or never lose access to your trusted number.

If you want to avoid any issues, just skip enabling 2FA when setting up a new iPhone, iPad, Mac or another device.

Similarly, Apple IDs that you create when setting up a new device cannot turn off 2FA.

If you don’t have an Apple account but have acquired an Apple device, create an Apple ID online on Apple’s website.

Again, 2FA is still a good idea. So if you haven’t enabled it already, you should do so.

To preserve the ability to turn it off, go to the Apple ID website and switch it on by clicking the Edit button in the Security section.

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A Good Failsafe

If you are particularly concerned about losing access to your trusted phone number, an excellent failsafe option may be Google Voice.

It’s a Google service, so there are obviously privacy concerns. But it’s a good way always to have access to an unchanging phone number.

Basically, it’s a free phone number offered by Google that lets you text, call and receive voicemails from any smartphone, computer or browser.

It’s also incredibly easy to set up.

• Go to the Google Voice website.
• Sign into your Google account.
• Accept Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
• Look for a phone number that you want. You can search by area code or city.
• When you find one that you like, click on Select and follow the instructions.

If you plan on using this as your primary Apple account number, make sure to update the trusted phone number associated with your Apple ID.

Additional Tips About 2FA Before Setting up New iPhone

There are two extremely important tips you should keep in mind.

For one, make sure to write down your trusted phone number somewhere safe. And always update the trusted phone number on your Apple ID with your most current number.

But there are also some additional things related to 2FA that are worth noting.

You May Not Need Your Trusted Phone

First and foremost, if you don’t have access to your trusted phone number or any trusted devices, don’t panic. You may still be able to start account recovery and get back into your Apple ID.

That’s because you only need to know the trusted phone number associated with your account. You don’t need access to the actual device to start account recovery.

Find My iPhone Doesn’t Require 2FA

If you lost or had a device stolen and need to find it, you won’t need to authenticate 2FA to do so.

That’s because 2FA isn’t required when logging into Find My iPhone on an iOS device. (It’s still required when using the iCloud browser site, however.)

Just borrow a friend’s or family member’s iOS device, open the Find My iPhone app, and log in with your Apple ID and password.

You Don’t Need to Be Online

If internet access is a concern when attempting to use 2FA, don’t worry — you actually don’t need an internet connection to authenticate.

Basically, Apple uses a key generator to create 2FA codes related to your account. You can try it yourself: turn your device on Airplane Mode and follow the steps below.

• Open the Settings app on an iOS device
• Tap on Apple ID
• Find and tap on Password & Security
• Finally, tap on Get Verification Code

Keep Your Other Apps in Mind

It’s not just an Apple ID that allows for 2FA. There are a variety of popular third-party apps that let you enable the extra security.

If you’re switching to a new phone and lose access to your current one, this can be a problem.

As such, you should always keep your old device until you fully set up your new one.

You may also consider a third-party authentication app like OTP Auth or Authy, which allow you to generate a one-time passcode to get back into 2FA-protected accounts.

You Should Still Enable It

Two-factor authentication is not a perfectly secure system. And for some users, it can also be a bit tedious or annoying.

Despite all of that, we strongly recommend that you enable it. While it’s not foolproof, it goes a long way in protecting your account and any sensitive data.

Mike Peterson

Mike is a freelance journalist from San Diego, California.

While he primarily covers Apple and consumer technology, he has past experience writing about public safety, local government, and education for a variety of publications.

He’s worn quite a few hats in the journalism field, including writer, editor, and news designer.