Two-factor authentication

If you created your 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.

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID is available in iOS 9, iPadOS 13, OS X 10.11, or later. If you previously created an Apple ID account without two-factor authentication, follow these steps to turn on two-factor authentication:

  1. Go to Settings  > [your name] > Sign-In & Security.

  2. Tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication, then follow the online instructions.

Two-factor authentication helps prevent others from accessing your Apple ID account (even if they know your Apple ID password), and certain features in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS require the security of two-factor authentication. When two-factor authentication is on, only you can access your account by using a trusted device. When you sign in to a new device for the first time, you need to provide two pieces of information—your Apple ID password and the six-digit verification code that’s automatically sent to your phone number or displayed on your trusted devices. By entering the code, you verify that you trust the new device.