IPhone 4s type your password followed by the verification code shown on your other devices

Most people who own Apple hardware have different generations of equipment in use. And because the company’s gear can last a long time, you can wind up with some old equipment—like an ancient Apple TV or Mac that’s being used to serve up video or what have you.

Apple has shifted aggressively to require two-factor authentication (2FA) with Apple ID accounts as a way of deterring account hijacking. This is admirable, though it has some adverse side effects for people who have multiple Apple IDs for historical or other purposes. (I wrote a couple of years ago and other tricks to manage that.)

But 2FA and outdated versions of Apple TV, iOS, and macOS don’t mix. You try to log in on those devices with your Apple ID and popups with codes may appear on other devices, but there’s no way to enter it on the piece of equipment from which you’re trying to log in.

Fortunately, there’s a simple workaround:

  1. Log in with your Apple ID and password as normal.

  2. Get the six-digit authentication code from one of your trusted devices associated with the Apple ID.

  3. Back on the original device, log in again, but this time add the six-digit code at the end of the password. (Don’t put a space or anything else between the password or after the code.)

You can also generate a verification code manually:

  • In iOS, open Settings > [your account] > Password & Security and then tap Get Verification Code.

  • In macOS, go to the iCloud preference pane, click the Security tab, and then click Get Verification Code.

IPhone 4s type your password followed by the verification code shown on your other devices
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Generate a second-factor code manually.

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IPhone 4s type your password followed by the verification code shown on your other devices
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Keep your Apple ID secure and protected by using this simple guide

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Two-factor authentication of your Apple ID is an additional security feature to further secure your account. This requires you to verify your identity using any of your Apple devices before you manage your account. You also need this before you can make any purchases on the App Store or iTunes or sign in to a new device. This wikiHow teaches you how to verify your Apple ID using two-factor authentication.

  1. 1

    Go to the sign-in section on the device you want to sign in on. You can sign in using your Apple ID on a new iPhone or iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, iCloud website or Apple ID management page. Use the following steps to find the sign-in section on your device:[1] X Research source Go to source

    • iPhone & iPad:
      • Open the Settings app.
      • Tap Sign In to your iPhone/iPad.
    • Mac:
      • Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner.
      • Click System Preferences.
      • Click Sign In in the upper-right corner.
    • Apple Watch:
      • Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
      • Tap General
      • Tap Apple ID.
    • Web Browser:
      • Go to https://appleid.apple.com/ or https://www.icloud.com/.

  2. 2

    Sign in with your Apple. To sign in, enter the email address associated with your Apple ID and password when prompted.

  3. 3

    Tap Allow on your trusted device. Your trusted device is your main iPhone or iPad you use. Tap Allow on your trusted device to confirm that you are trying to log in at a different location. This also allows you to receive a verification code.

    • If you don't receive a verification code, click or tap "Didn't get a verification code?" where you are trying to sign in. Then you can click or tap the option to resend the code or text it as a text message.

  4. 4

    Note the verification code. A 6-digit verification code will appear in an alert on your trusted device or as a text message. Make a note of the 6-digit code when you see it.

  5. 5

    Enter the verification code. Enter the 6-digit code on the device you are signing into. This will verify your Apple ID and you will be signed in automatically.

  1. 1

    Open the Settings app . Tap the app icon that has two silver gears on your iPhone or iPad home screen. You can get a verification code used to log in to other devices or https://www.icloud.com/ in the Settings app.

  2. 2

    Tap your name. It's at the top of the Settings app next to your profile image.

    • On iOS 10.2 or earlier, you will need to tap iCloud first, and then tap your name.

  3. 3

    Tap Password & Security. It's the second option at the top of the Apple ID menu.

  4. 4

    Tap Get Verification Code. It's at the bottom of the Password & Security menu. A 6-digit security code will appear on-screen. Enter this 6-digit security code when asked to enter a verification code when signing in with your Apple ID.

  1. 1

    Go to https://appleid.apple.com/ in a web browser. This is the website you can use to manage your Apple ID account.

  2. 2

    Enter your Apple ID and password. To sign in, enter the email address associated with your Apple ID and click the arrow icon. Then enter your password and click the arrow icon to sign in.

  3. 3

    Enter the verification code (if two-factor authentication is activated). If you have two-factor authentication activated, check your trusted device for a verification code. Then enter the 6-digit verification code in your web browser to log in.

  4. 4

    Click Edit next to the "Security" section. It's the second section in your Apple ID web page.

  5. 5

    Click Didn't get the Email?. This is under any email addresses you have not verified. This will send a new verification email to your email address.[2] X Research source Go to source

  6. 6

    Open the verification email. Check the email that the verification email was sent to. Look for a verification email Apple.

    • If you are not receiving the verification email, check to make sure the email address is correct.

  7. 7

    Enter the verification code. Once you have the verification code from the email, enter it in the Apple ID web page.

  8. 8

    Click Verify. This will verify your email address.

  • Question

    How do you verify an Apple account?

    You simply need to use the password. If you don't have it, you can go to iforgot.apple.com.

  • Question

    How do I verify my Apple account on an iPod Touch?

    You will need another electronic device that is already signed into that account. Normally they will send a verification code to the device already signed in.

  • Question

    How do I find my verification code for Apple ID?

    It should show up in the email you registered, or you may get a text.

See more answers

Written by:

wikiHow Technology Writer

This article was written by Travis Boylls. Travis Boylls is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Travis has experience writing technology-related articles, providing software customer service, and in graphic design. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux platforms. He studied graphic design at Pikes Peak Community College. This article has been viewed 143,925 times.

Co-authors: 9

Updated: August 23, 2022

Views: 143,925

Categories: Internet

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