How to set up two-factor authentication on your Apple ID
Two-factor authentication means that signing in to your Apple ID on a new device needs both your password and a code sent to a device you already trust. Apple has switched most new accounts on to this by default, but older accounts can still have it turned off. This guide covers turning it on from an iPhone or iPad; the steps on a Mac follow the same pattern under a slightly different menu.
What you'll need: An Apple ID. An iPhone or iPad signed in with that Apple ID, running a reasonably recent version of iOS or iPadOS. A phone number you can receive a text message or call on.
Open Settings
On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap your name at the very top of the screen.
Open Sign-In & Security
On the Apple ID screen, tap Sign-In & Security.
Tap Two-Factor Authentication
Tap Two-Factor Authentication. If it already says Two-Factor Authentication is currently on, there's nothing further to do — your account is already protected.
Turn it on
If the feature is off, tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication, then tap Continue on the screen that explains what it does.
Add a trusted phone number
Enter a phone number you have access to now. Choose whether Apple should send verification codes to it by text message or by phone call, then tap Next.
Enter the verification code
Apple sends a six-digit code to the number you entered. Type it into the field that appears to confirm the number is yours.
Confirm it's switched on
Once the code is accepted, two-factor authentication is active. Go back to Sign-In & Security › Two-Factor Authentication to see it listed as on, along with the trusted phone number you added.
Variations
Open System Settings, click your name at the top of the sidebar, then click Sign-In & Security. The Two-Factor Authentication option and the steps that follow match the iPhone and iPad version.
If you don't have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to hand, you can also start this from appleid.apple.com on any browser. Sign in, then look for Sign-In and Security in the account menu — the layout differs from the device version, but the underlying steps are the same.
Once two-factor authentication is on, go back into the same Two-Factor Authentication screen and look for an option to add another number. Having a second one means you can still receive a code if you lose or replace the phone tied to the first.
Troubleshooting
This usually means the account is managed by a family organiser through Family Sharing, or one of the devices signed in with it is running software too old to support the feature. Check every device linked to the Apple ID is updated, then try again.
Check the phone has signal or a working internet connection, since codes can arrive by text or as a push notification depending on the device. If nothing turns up after a minute or so, look for a Didn't get a verification code? link and try the phone call option instead of text message.
Apple no longer allows two-factor authentication to be switched off on accounts that meet its security requirements, which now covers most accounts. If the option to turn it off genuinely still exists on yours, think carefully before using it — it removes a significant layer of protection.
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