Apple two factor authentication forces you to have Apple products

[VLADN1234]

Hello, I have a problem with Apple which forces me to activate the tow factor authentication (2FA) which in terms requires me to have an MAC and an iPhone in order for this to work. The story is that I have an Apple developer account which was needed in order to be able to publish an App on Apple Play store, a thing that was dealt with by a third party company. All went well, but this year, I was required to edit the admins that have access to the developer account and, after logging in, when clicking on my account, I get the message: 

Your Apple ID needs to be updated.

Before you can continue, you’ll need to update the following information associated with your Apple ID

 

I have read through the setup page: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915 

 

Two-factor Authentication

Your Apple ID currently has two-step verification turned on, but two-factor authentication is required. After you turn on two-factor authentication, signing in to your developer account will require both your password and access to your trusted devices or trusted phone number.

To learn more, see the support page. If you have any questions, contact us.

 

I wrote to them on the contact link above and did not get any reply after 2 weeks.

 

I can't find anywhere an option to avoid the 2FA or to make it on Android devices.

Except for the obvious solution of buying a MAC and an iPhone, is there another way of resolving this?

 

Looking forward to receiving suggestions.

[Tamesh16]

4 minutes ago, VLADN1234 said:

phone number

so this only works on iphones, or just any phone ?

[Princess Luna]

4 minutes ago, VLADN1234 said:

Except for the obvious solution of buying a MAC and an iPhone, is there another way of resolving this?

Get a second hand iPod Touch? I didn't know that they locked 2FA this hard, if an Apple device is needed you'll need one even if borrowed no matter what.

[VLADN1234]

Just now, Tamesh16 said:

so this only works on iphones, or just any phone ?

You need an iphone iOS 10.3 or later.

[Tamesh16]

Just now, Princess Luna said:

Get a second hand iPod Touch

my question though is if he is publishing to apple store wont he need a device to atleast test the apps before publishing ?

[VLADN1234]

1 minute ago, Princess Luna said:

Get a second hand iPod Touch? I didn't know that they locked 2FA this hard, if an Apple device is needed you'll need one even if borrowed no matter what.

Well...I would like to avoid any type of cash since this is for work... and my boss doesn't want to spend any money, plus, I would need a MAC as well, if I read correctly.

[Princess Luna]

Just now, Tamesh16 said:

my question though is if he is publishing to apple store wont he need a device to atleast test the apps before publishing ?

His contractor probably had a device for test purposes, but doesn't mean he has to own one... it's understandable situation and if you ask me whoever hired him and now needs the adm settings edited should be the one providing him with means to do it.

[VLADN1234]

1 minute ago, Tamesh16 said:

my question though is if he is publishing to apple store wont he need a device to atleast test the apps before publishing ?

The app developers (third party company) does this on our behalf. So, not my problem

[Tamesh16]

1 minute ago, VLADN1234 said:

not my problem

 

2 minutes ago, VLADN1234 said:

my boss doesn't want to spend any money

your circumstance does seem quite selective, but two factor authentication shouldnt be this complicated, especially since its forcing you to buy their products 

[VLADN1234]

1 minute ago, Tamesh16 said:

 

your circumstance does seem quite selective, but two factor authentication shouldnt be this complicated, especially since its forcing you to buy their products 

I agree... it shouldn't be complicated and, for developer accounts, it shouldn't be mandatory, in my opinion.

 

And coming back to your quotes, Yes. my boss doesn't want to spend any dime and I have to resolve the issue somehow...

[dalekphalm]

While I don't have a developer account, I do own an iPhone personally, and at work I have a business account for MDM related purposes.

 

I've never had an issue with 2FA - using email has always been a fallback option. Is this not the case with you?

[harryk]

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915

 

Based on the language on Apple's website, I don't think you need a device to use 2fa, you can use a "trusted phone number". But you will need a device to set up 2fa.

 

No guarantee this will work but find a trustworthy friend who owns a Mac. Setup a new user login and sign in with your Apple ID. You should then be able to set up 2fa. After checking that it works and you can use your phone number to receive the verification code you can delete the user login on your friends Mac. 

 

Apple's developer program essentially requires you to own a Mac. Xcode only runs on MacOS and the EULA requires an authenticated Mac in order to publish to the App Store.

[VLADN1234]

Thank you all for your support. It seems that there is no way around it.

 

I have already added the trusted phone number, on my Android phone and this doesn't help with the 2fa unfortunately.

 

Will an MAC OS emulator work?

[VLADN1234]

So.. I found an iPhone 5 and when I reached the Password & Security there is no Two-Factor Authentication button and I checked, I have iOS 10.3.

 

Does this mean that the iPhone 5 is not compatible with 2fa?

[NineEyeRon]

12 minutes ago, VLADN1234 said:

So.. I found an iPhone 5 and when I reached the Password & Security there is no Two-Factor Authentication button and I checked, I have iOS 10.3.

 

Does this mean that the iPhone 5 is not compatible with 2fa?

I think iOS 13 has to come out first.

[VLADN1234]

33 minutes ago, NineEyeRon said:

I think iOS 13 has to come out first.

I am sorry, but I don't agree. I don't have and won't be able to update to iOS 13 with this iPhone 5... they stopped support for it a long time ago.

[Sauron]

Don't you know anyone with a recent iphone who could help you out?

[VLADN1234]

20 minutes ago, Sauron said:

Don't you know anyone with a recent iphone who could help you out?

If I knew, I would have not started this thread...

[NineEyeRon]

1 hour ago, VLADN1234 said:

I am sorry, but I don't agree. I don't have and won't be able to update to iOS 13 with this iPhone 5... they stopped support for it a long time ago.

 

Maybe iOS 13 has to come out first, before they issue updates for older OS to include this feature?

[harryk]

3 hours ago, NineEyeRon said:

 

Maybe iOS 13 has to come out first, before they issue updates for older OS to include this feature?

You're thinking of the wrong feature, this thread is about 2fa which has been around for years

 

6 hours ago, VLADN1234 said:

So.. I found an iPhone 5 and when I reached the Password & Security there is no Two-Factor Authentication button and I checked, I have iOS 10.3.

 

Does this mean that the iPhone 5 is not compatible with 2fa?

Hmmm, should be there. A couple things you can try:

- Check if there are any updates available, looks like 10.3.3 is the latest version supported for iPhone 5

- Make sure a passcode is enabled, according to Apple's documentation you need to have a passcode in order to setup 2fa

- Try signing out of iCloud on the iPhone and then signing back in again

- Do a factory reset and setup the iPhone as if new, the setup process should ask you to enable 2fa\

 

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205075

[stevieb]

On 5/24/2019 at 5:29 PM, Tamesh16 said:

my question though is if he is publishing to apple store wont he need a device to atleast test the apps before publishing ?

If he is publishing to Apple store he will already own a Mac as you need to develop using Xcode. 

 

 

[VLADN1234]

12 hours ago, stevieb said:

If he is publishing to Apple store he will already own a Mac as you need to develop using Xcode. 

 

 

As mentioned earlier in this thread, the app developers (third party company) does this on our behalf.

[Ashley MLP Fangirl]

you don't. you can use the phone number attached to your Apple ID to get a code.

[VLADN1234]

6 hours ago, firelighter487 said:

you don't. you can use the phone number attached to your Apple ID to get a code.

Sorry, but to which question are you replying?

 

I already have the 2 factor verification (with phone number) linked.

[Curious Pineapple]

20 hours ago, stevieb said:

If he is publishing to Apple store he will already own a Mac as you need to develop using Xcode. 

 

 

Xamarin....