Although Double Factor Authentication has been around for a long time, many Apple users do not know it yet, or they stayed with the previous two-step verification, which although it may seem the same, are two different security mechanisms. Two-Factor Authentication now becomes a must-have for some new features in macOS Sierra, iOS 10, and watchOS 3, such as unlocking your Mac with the Apple Watch. That is why we show you how you can configure it and start using these new functions as soon as they are available to everyone.
Turn off XNUMX-Step Verification
The first thing you will have to do is disable Two-Step Verification if you had it enabled. Go to your Apple account page (link here) and in the Security section, deactivate Two-Step Verification. You will have to configure the security responses again, but it is a process that only takes a minute.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication on your Mac
Go to the system preferences panel and In the iCloud section, click on "Account details", together below your profile picture.
Inside the "Security" tab you will see, at the bottom, the option "Configure two-factor authentication", click on that button to start the configuration process. Click again on the "Configure" button that appears in the new window and follow the steps of the procedure until the end. Once finished, you will have Two Factor Authentication activated in your account, and your Mac as a trusted device. You will have to verify the rest of the devices from your Mac to add them as trusted devices.
Set up Two Factor Authentication from your iPhone or iPad
The process is practically identical to the one described earlier on the Mac. Enter the system preferences, go to the iCloud section and click on your account, where the profile photo is. Then choose the "Password and security" section, and you will see the "Two-factor authentication" section, which in my case is already activated because I did it before on the Mac. Follow the steps until the end and you will have the security method activated.
How does Two Factor Authentication work?
When you want to enter your iCloud account, Apple, or add any new device to your account, you will always have to verify it before from one of your trusted devices. To do this, on your trusted devices, a window like the one you see will appear, in which Not only does it tell you that someone is trying to enter your account, but they also show you the location, and if you accept, they will give you a verification code necessary to add that new device or enter your Apple account.. A safer way to protect your account that is highly recommended to use, so if you haven't already activated it, this is the ideal time for it.
