A trusted phone number can be used to receive verification codes by text message or automated phone call. You must verify at least one trusted phone number to enroll in two-factor authentication. This can be any type of phone number you use.
How to Turn On Two-factor Authentication for Apple ID
You can enable two-factor authentication on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 9 and later, or a Mac with OS X El Capitan and later. If you create an Apple ID on the web, two-factor authentication will automatically be enabled on your account regardless of the device or OS you use.
When possible, you should use a trusted device to increase security and streamline the process. You can use the same trusted device for multiple Apple IDs that have two-factor authentication turned on. If you don't have access to your trusted device, you can get your verification code via SMS or phone call.
If you previously enabled two-step verification with a recovery key on your account and you sign in on a device running iOS 11 or macOS High Sierra, your Apple ID is automatically updated to two-factor authentication. After your account is updated, you have the option to generate a new recovery key. This option is only available if you are updating an account from two-step verification to two-factor authentication. Learn how to create a recovery key.
Two-factor authentication is the default security method for most Apple IDs. Certain Apple services and features, such as Apple Pay and Sign in with Apple, require two-factor authentication. We recommend that you use two-factor authentication and protect your device with a passcode (or login password on Mac) and Face ID or Touch ID, if your device supports it.
If you're already using two-factor authentication with your Apple ID, you can't turn it off. If you updated to two-factor authentication inadvertently, you can turn it off within two weeks of enrollment. If you do, your account is less secure and you can't use features that require a higher level of security.
To use two-factor authentication, you need at least one trusted phone number on file where you can receive verification codes. If you have a phone number that isn't associated with your trusted device, consider verifying it as an additional trusted phone number. If your iPhone is your only trusted device and it's missing or damaged, you won't be able to receive verification codes required to access your account.
A trusted device is an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, or Mac that you've already signed in to using two-factor authentication. It's a device that we know is yours and that can be used to verify your identity by displaying a verification code from Apple when you sign in on a different device or browser.
If you create a new Apple ID on a device with iOS 13.4, iPadOS 13.4, macOS 10.15.4, or later, your account automatically uses two-factor authentication. If you previously created an Apple ID account without two-factor authentication, you can turn on its extra layer of security at any time.
When you enrolled in two-factor authentication, you had to verify one trusted phone number. You should also consider adding other phone numbers you can access, such as a home phone, or a number used by a family member or close friend.
Removing a trusted device ensures that it can no longer display verification codes and that access to iCloud (and other Apple services on the device) is blocked until you sign in again with two-factor authentication.
When discussing digital security, "two-step" and "two-factor" are often used interchangeably. But confusingly, Apple offers two slightly different forms of enhanced security, called two-step authentication and two-factor authentication.
But no matter which security measure you're using, if at any point you want to switch one for the other, you can turn off the one you're currently using. However, it's becoming more common for people to switch from two-step to two-factor authentication since the latter is more advanced.
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).
If you are within that two-week window, you can turn it off by opening the confirmation email you got when you enabled two-factor authentication, locating the link that lets you return to the previous security settings, and clicking on it.
You can't turn off two-factor authentication for some accounts created in iOS 10.3 or macOS Sierra 10.12.4 and later. If you created your Apple ID in an earlier version of iOS or macOS, you can turn off two-factor authentication.
To turn off two-factor authentication, sign in to your Apple ID account page and click Edit in the Security section. Then click Turn Off Two-Factor Authentication. After you create new security questions and verify your date of birth, two-factor authentication will be turned off. If you don't see the option to turn off two-factor authentication on your Apple ID account page, that means you can't turn it off.
If someone has turned on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID without your permission, you can also turn it off from the enrollment confirmation email sent to your Apple ID or rescue email address. Click Turn Off Two-Factor Authentication at the bottom of the email to restore your Apple ID to its previous security settings and regain control of your account. The link is active for two weeks after you enroll.
If you already use two-factor authentication, you can no longer turn it off. Certain features in the latest versions of iOS and macOS require this extra level of security, which is designed to protect your information. If you recently updated your account, however, you can unenroll for a period of two weeks. 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 a higher level of security.
Apple ID two-factor authentication is one of the most common instances: it requires a secondary verification code from a trusted device in addition to your standard password when you need to verify Apple ID from a different iPhone or MacBook.
You might regularly use different devices to access your account and get tired of completing two-factor authentication a few times a day. Besides, most of us want to avoid going through the technical support process or have difficulty troubleshooting these issues on our own if we get locked out of our Apple ID during the two-factor authentication.
Pareto Security is an app you should absolutely install on your Mac if you decide to switch off two-factor authentication. Without 2FA, your Mac instantly becomes more vulnerable to malware and all kinds of security threats. Pareto Security will stay on top of your security settings, making sure you have the best possible protection enabled.
If you have a trusted phone number tied to your Apple ID account, you may receive the code on this phone number, and then turn off two-factor authentication. You can also try recovering your account and changing credentials via one of your trusted contacts (check how to add trusted contacts here: System Preferences > Apple ID > Password & Security > Account Recovery).
It isn't clear to me why you are sharing an account or how the emails relate to the issue of turning off two-factor (and it may not be something that I need to know or that is related to the issue), but the following may help. See below from Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support 2ff7e9595c
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