Availability of two-factor authentication in iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan

Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security for your Apple ID designed to ensure that you're the only person who can access your account, even if someone knows your password. 

Who can turn on two-factor authentication?

Account security is a priority at Apple. Our goal is to make the enhanced security of two-factor authentication so integrated and easy to use that we can offer it to virtually everyone that uses our products. To ensure the best experience possible, we're rolling out two-factor authentication gradually. 

Two-factor authentication is now available to iCloud users with at least one device that's using iOS 9 or OS X El Capitan. Here are the recommended system requirements for all devices that you use with your Apple ID:

  • iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 9
  • Mac with OS X El Capitan and iTunes 12.3
  • Apple Watch with watchOS 2
  • Apple TV (4th generation) with tvOS
  • Windows PC with iCloud for Windows 5 and iTunes 12.3.3

We also recommend that you have a valid credit card on file in your account. This information may be requested to help verify your identity if you forget your password.

Please note that while the vast majority of iCloud users can now turn on two-factor authentication, certain account types may still be ineligible at Apple’s discretion.

Turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID

There are two ways to turn on two-factor authentication.

Set up from a new device

If you're setting up a new device and two-factor authentication, and you meet all the recommended system requirements, you might see these screens after you sign in during setup assistant.

 

To proceed, tap Continue and enter a phone number that can be used to receive verification codes when signing in on a new device. After you verify this phone number, two-factor authentication will turn on automatically.

Set up from a device you're already using

If you're not setting up a new device, make sure that you’re using iOS 9 or later or OS X El Capitan or later on your iOS device or Mac and follow these steps to turn on two-factor authentication.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

  1. Go to Settings > iCloud > tap your Apple ID.
  2. Tap Security.
  3. At the bottom of your screen, look for a button that says Turn on Two-Factor Authentication.

On your Mac:

  1. Go to Apple () menu > System Preferences > iCloud > Account Details.
  2. Click Security.
  3. At the bottom of your screen, look for a button that says Turn on Two-Factor Authentication.

If you don’t meet the recommended system requirements on all the devices you use with your Apple ID, or if you don’t have a valid credit card on file, you'll receive a related warning message. Read the message before proceeding and consider updating your devices or adding credit card information to your account to ensure the best possible experience when signing in or resetting your password.

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