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How to solve this 2FA problem with Apple TV?

2 votes
1 answer
184 views
Family uses a 4th gen Apple TV at home. (The device, not the streaming service that was stupidly given the same name.) I make movie/TV show purchases through the Apple TV using our family Apple ID. I also log in to the iTunes app on my iPhone to check that ID's account balance before making a purchase through the Apple TV hardware - at least I used to when I still could. I periodically add to this balance using gift cards. Despite refusing to enable the 2FA feature for years, somehow it got activated for the account. And it got linked to my spouse's phone number. Apple is really persistent about trying to lock users into this horrible feature, and employs dark patterns in its device interfaces to trick users into enabling it, which is probably what happened to me at some point. So now I cannot even manage the family Apple ID I have been managing for years. I tried to change the 2FA phone number to my own once, but it did not work (due to reasons I can't recall). And even if it's possible to change the phone number, I don't want 2FA at all unless it can accept *either* of our phone numbers for verification. I can't purchase any content or even check the account balance unless my spouse is also beside me, so I can borrow the (incorrectly linked) iPhone. This is incredibly disempowering and frustrating, and has already prevented me from making purchases on several occasions. (I miss the days of DVDs.) Is there a way to either: - Make both phone numbers work for 2FA verification - Disable 2FA for this Apple ID altogether (Note that any proposed solutions should work for both Apple TV purchases and iTunes app login.)
Asked by Mentalist (1360 rep)
Apr 12, 2025, 09:36 AM
Last activity: Apr 13, 2025, 01:07 PM