A strong password is the first step to securing your online accounts from unauthorized access. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection. Two-factor authentication in iCloud or Apple ID is a permanent action. Once you set up or use 2FA in your iCloud account, there’s no going back. The security mechanism cannot be turned off, deactivated, or disabled—either temporarily or permanently.
You’ll need to provide a six-digit verification code after entering your password whenever you sign in to Apple ID on a browser or new device. 2FA codes are sent to your phone number and devices connected to your Apple/iCloud account. But what happens when you lose your phone or Apple device?
It can be difficult to access your iCloud account without 2FA, but it’s not impossible. In this tutorial, we’ll show how to bypass two-factor authentication in iCloud.
How to Bypass Two-Factor Authentication iCloud
As mentioned earlier, It’s not impossible to bypass iCloud’s two-factor authentication. However, the process can be quite daunting and time-consuming. To access your iCloud account without a 2FA code, you’ll need to prove to Apple that you own the account.
All you need is your email address, phone number, and your iCloud credit card details. You may need to initiate an account recovery process if you don’t have this information.
Add Another Trusted Phone Number
Adding a new phone number to Apple ID is one easy way to regain access to your account. You aren’t exactly bypassing the two-factor authentication system by doing this. Rather, you’re creating a new medium to receive 2FA codes.
This is the easiest way to access your Apple account if you lose the (primary/old) phone number where you receive 2FA codes.
Add Trusted Phone Number on iPhone or iPad
You can only add a trusted phone number from an Apple device linked to your Apple ID. Here’s how to add a trusted phone number from an iPhone or iPad:
- Go to your Settings and select your Apple ID name, and select Password & Security.
- Select Edit in the “Trusted Phone Number” section, select Add a Trusted Phone Number, and enter your iPhone or iPad’s passcode to continue.
- Select your country code and enter your phone number. Apple will send a verification code to the number you provided. Select how you want to receive the code (Text Message or Phone Call) and select Send.
Enter the verification code and wait for Apple to link the phone number to your account. You should now get 2FA codes on the new number when you attempt to sign in to Apple ID on the web or unrecognized devices.
Add Trusted Phone Number on a Mac
Follow these steps to add a trusted phone number to your iCloud account on a Mac desktop or computer.
- Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > Password & Security and select Edit in the “Trusted Phone Numbers” row.
- Select the plus icon.
- Enter your Mac’s password and select Allow.
- Select your country code, enter your phone number in the dialog box, select how you want to verify the phone number (text message or phone call), and select Continue.
When you next sign in on the web or a non-Apple device, you should get a 2FA code on the newly-added trusted phone number.
Provide Credit Card Information
Your credit card details may get you access to your iCloud account, especially if you can’t access your trusted phone number(s) and Apple devices.
- Select Didn’t get a verification code? on the two-factor authentication page.
- Select More Options.
- Enter the phone number that receives the two-factor authentication codes and select Continue.
This helps Apple confirm that the iCloud or Apple ID account truly belongs to you. If you don’t remember the phone number, you’ll need to either reset your Apple ID password or initiate an account recovery process. Jump to the # section to learn more. Otherwise, proceed to step # to continue to recover your Apple ID.
- Select the Continue button and Apple will proffer recovery solutions based on your selection.
If you select “Is your device offline?”, Apple will list steps to get a verification code from devices connected to your iCloud account.
Selecting the “Can’t use your phone number?” option will refer you to the page with instructions to update your phone number on Apple devices.
You’ll have to recover your Apple ID if you no longer have your phone number or Apple devices. Select Continue in the “Don’t have access to any of your Apple devices or your phone number?” section, and follow the prompts below.
- Select Continue anyway to proceed.
- Apple will send a verification code to your email address. Enter the code and select Continue. Otherwise, select Can’t use this email address? if you use a different email address. You’ll be prompted to enter details of the (credit) card connected to your Apple ID.
- Select Don’t have access to this card if you no longer have the credit card.
- Select Continue to proceed.
- Enter your phone number on the next page if you can’t provide the verification code (sent to your email address) or credit card information. Select how you want to receive account recovery instructions—via text message or phone call—when Apple verifies your identity.
Apple says the verification process could take a few days or longer—depending on the information you provide. The more info you provide, the shorter the “wait time.” So, verifying your identity with your iCloud credit card is a quicker way to bypass iCloud two-factor authentication and regain access to your account.
You’ll get instructions to recover your account via text message or phone call when Apple verifies that you own the account.
2FA Can’t Stop You
Contacting Apple via chat or phone call won’t expedite the account recovery process because Apple Support representatives aren’t trained to verify users’ identities. They can only guide you through the steps.
If you don’t have your credit card details, fill out the contact form, and wait for Apple to send you account recovery instructions (via text or phone calls) after verifying your identity. Go through this Apple Support document to learn more about the two-factor authentication system.
FAQs
Once you enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your iCloud account, you cannot turn it off. Therefore, there is no way to bypass two-factor authentication for iCloud. Nevertheless, you have some options if you don't have your phone or trusted device available.
Can you bypass iCloud two-factor authentication? ›
Password reset
One of the easiest and, therefore, most common ways to bypass two-factor authentication is by simply utilizing the password reset function of websites and applications.
How to get into your iCloud account without verification code? ›
If you still can't sign in
If you can't sign in, reset your password, or receive verification codes, you can request account recovery to regain access to your account. Account recovery might take a few days or longer, depending on the specific account information you can provide to verify your identity.
How do I log into iCloud without two step verification? ›
The easiest way to turn off two-factor verification is with your iPhone.
- On your iPhone, open Settings.
- Tap your name and select Password & Security.
- Above the Trusted Phone Number, click Edit.
- Tap the red minus (-) icon to remove your phone number.
- Tap Done.
Even though 2FA offers better security than 1FA, brute force can help attackers get around it. Brute-force attacks are possible if the 2FA authentication screen does not enforce account lockouts for a predetermined number of bad attempts.
Can iCloud with 2FA be hacked? ›
With two-factor authentication enabled, a hacker would have to know your Apple ID/password AND have access to your device to get your two-factor code in order to compromise your iCloud account.
How do I turn off 2 step verification without signing in? ›
First off, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Two-factor authentication on your browser-based Facebook account. You'll find a list of your authorized devices where you won't need to use a login code.
Can I get my Apple ID verification code sent to my email? ›
You can see this option when you sign in to appleid.apple.com. Before you can use a new or updated Apple ID, we'll send you a verification email to make sure that the email address belongs to you.
Can you get two factor authentication on Apple ID without phone? ›
If you don't have an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, you can update your Apple ID or create a new Apple ID with two-factor authentication enabled on the web. You'll need to verify both an email address and a phone number to enable two-factor authentication on this Apple ID.
What happens to 2 step verification if I lost my phone? ›
If your lost phone has Google Authenticator on it, you need to secure your accounts connected to the app by logging in with an alternate method, and resetting the 2FA settings. You should also erase your phone remotely if possible. You can then add Google Authenticator to a new phone and re-link it to your accounts.
If your device with 2FA (two factor authentication) is lost, broken, or stolen, you should and most likely have to change your passwords, set up 2FA again, and get new verification codes.
How do hackers defeat 2 factor authentication? ›
Through a modern attack method called consent phishing, hackers can pose as legitimate OAuth login pages and request whichever level of access they need from a user. If granted these permissions, the hacker can successfully bypass the need for any MFA verification, potentially enabling a full account takeover.
How do I refuse two-factor authentication? ›
Turn off 2-Step Verification
- On your Android phone or tablet, open your device's Settings app Google. Manage your Google Account.
- At the top, tap Security.
- Under "Signing in to Google," tap 2-Step Verification. You might need to sign in.
- Tap Turn off.
- Confirm by tapping Turn off.
2FA can be vulnerable to several attacks from hackers because a user can accidentally approve access to a request issued by a hacker without acknowledging it. This is because the user may not receive push notifications by the app notifying them of what is being approved.
Will I know if someone hacked my iCloud? ›
Signs that your Apple ID has been compromised
Your password no longer works, you don't recognize some or all of your account details, or your device was locked or placed in Lost Mode by someone other than you.
Can someone log into your iCloud and see your messages? ›
Normally, when someone signs into your Apple ID, your iMessages will not be accessed until the Apple ID is logged on the same Apple device. However, they have the ability to send iMessages with your Apple ID's name. Therefore, they can see both the text messages and iMessages.
How do I reset my 2 step verification without email? ›
Keep in mind, deleting or reinstalling WhatsApp won't disable or reset the PIN for two-step verification. You'll need to wait 7 days to reset the PIN if: You didn't provide an email address to reset the PIN.
How do I verify my Apple ID if can't access verification code? ›
If you use security questions with your Apple ID, or if you don't have access to a trusted device or phone number, go to iforgot.apple.com. Then you can unlock your account with your existing password or reset your password.
How do I verify my Apple ID if I changed my phone number? ›
Go to Settings > [your name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email. Next to Reachable At, tap Edit. Tap Delete next to your phone number and follow the instructions. After you enter the mobile phone number that you want to use as your Apple ID, a verification code is sent to you at that number.
What happens if I don't get my Apple ID verification email? ›
Resend the email
To resend the verification email, sign in to your Apple ID account page. Click Resend next to the email address that you want to verify, and we'll send an email to that address.
If you didn't save your backup codes, and you've lost the phone that you use for 2-factor authentication – try calling your phone network to transfer your old number over to a new phone. You'll need a new SIM card for that, and it could take a day or two for it to activate.
How do I pass two step verification on Apple ID? ›
Enter a trusted phone number, a phone number where you want to receive verification codes for two-factor authentication (it can be the number for your iPhone). You can choose to receive the codes by text message or automated phone call. Tap Next. Enter the verification code sent to your trusted phone number.
Why can't I turn off Two-factor authentication on my iPhone? ›
Quick tip: If you want to, you can now turn on two-factor authentication in the Settings app of your iPhone (you can find it by tapping your name at the top of Settings, then Password & Security). But be aware, once two-factor authentication becomes permanent on your iPhone, you can't turn it off.
What is secret key for two-factor authentication? ›
The secret key for two-factor authentication (which is a form of multi-factor authentication) is a unique 16 character alphanumeric code that is required during the set up of the PIN generating tools. The secret key is issued for the first time when you log on to the CommCell environment.
What is the most common trick hackers use to get user information? ›
Phishing is the most common hacking technique. All of our inboxes and text messaging apps are filled with phishing messages daily.
What is better than 2 factor authentication? ›
MFA is more secure than 2FA. But many companies still use 2FA for two reasons. One, it's cheaper and easier to setup. Most software suites support 2FA, but not all of them support MFA.
Which authentication factor is strongest? ›
The Inherence Factor is often said to be the strongest of all authentication factors. The Inherence Factor asks the user to confirm their identity by presenting evidence inherent to their unique features.
What is the weakest authentication factor? ›
The first factor of authentication (something you know, such as password or PIN) is the weakest factor. Why? it makes sense when we say that humans/users are the weakest factor in any system from security point of view as we humans forget, make mistakes and break easily.
How do people get their iCloud hacked? ›
Beware: iCloud can be hacked with spying apps
To use them, the person needs access to the target's device to download and install a spying app. These apps prey on the “spy's” insecurities, ensure that their worries are reasonable, and then lie about the activity being safe and legal. It is not.
What happens if someone hacks your iCloud? ›
The hacker would give your Apple ID and password to the spyware provider, who would then use it to access your account and download a copy of all your data synced from your iPhone to iCloud. This data is then formatted for the hacker into an easy-to-read report and will be updated every time your phone syncs to iCloud.
If someone knew your Apple ID or your iCloud username/password, they might be able to access your data and information. Some security and privacy measures include determining what of your information you want to be accessible from in the cloud or changing the password to your iCloud account.
Can I see my wife's text messages on iCloud? ›
All you need to do is log into their iCloud account and access the backup files directly. The only downside here is that this only works if they have an iPhone; if they have an Android device, this won't work for you.
Can you get two-factor authentication on Apple ID without phone? ›
If you don't have an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, you can update your Apple ID or create a new Apple ID with two-factor authentication enabled on the web. You'll need to verify both an email address and a phone number to enable two-factor authentication on this Apple ID.
What happens if you don t have your phone for two-factor authentication? ›
If you've lost access to your primary phone, you can verify it's you with: Another phone signed in to your Google Account. Another phone number you've added in the 2-Step Verification section of your Google Account.
How does two-factor authentication work if you lose your Iphone? ›
If you didn't save your backup codes, and you've lost the phone that you use for 2-factor authentication – try calling your phone network to transfer your old number over to a new phone. You'll need a new SIM card for that, and it could take a day or two for it to activate.
