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Apple Watch Can Display Apple ID Verification Codes Starting in watchOS 6

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Apr 12, 2001
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Starting in watchOS 6, the Apple Watch has become a trusted device for Apple ID authentication purposes.

apple-watch-apple-id-verification-code-watchos-6.jpg

When you or someone else signs in to your Apple ID on a new device or browser, the Apple Watch will automatically alert you, complete with an approximate location of the person. If the sign-in attempt is allowed, a six-digit verification code will then appear to be entered on the new device or browser.

Something I haven't seen before watchOS 6: the Apple Watch can now receive and display Apple ID Verification Codes as a trusted device for 2-factor authentication. pic.twitter.com/Oin8AbYEDc - Jeremy Horwitz (@horwitz) June 10, 2019
Click to expand...

This functionality has been available on iPhones and iPads since iOS 9, and on Macs since OS X El Capitan, for Apple ID accounts with two-factor authentication enabled. Now, users simply have one more option in the Apple Watch.

Article Link: Apple Watch Can Display Apple ID Verification Codes Starting in watchOS 6
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/06/10/apple-watch-apple-id-verification-code-watchos6/
P

PastaPrimav

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Nov 6, 2017
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It is unbelievable how annoying they've managed to make 2-factor authentication.

I have never ever once logged in as myself on a "foreign" machine that is not one that is owned by me and under my exclusive control, yet I'm forced to deal with Apple's 2-factor all the time. Seemingly every time I log in to my developer account or any Apple domain in Safari. "Trust" this browser? Yeah, my ass. Until the very next time I log in.

What we need is an authentication-free experience when we've sufficiently proven that we are in fact the person using the machine. Unlocking the Mac with Apple Watch should be the key. After that, I should not be forced to provide authentication of any kind, (unless I opt to enable app per app in settings).

It is absurd that they haven't taken the steps to embrace this more. Unlocking with Apple Watch is more than enough to prove that it is my sitting at the machine, and I shouldn't need to enter passwords anywhere, let alone deal with 2-factor.
 
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K

konqerror

macrumors 68020
Dec 31, 2013
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PastaPrimav said:
It is absurd that they haven't taken the steps to embrace this more. Unlocking with Apple Watch is more than enough to prove that it is my sitting at the machine, and I shouldn't need to enter passwords anywhere, let alone deal with 2-factor.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Microsoft managed to do this far better for years now. You sign in once through Windows Hello and it handles native Windows sign-ins and Microsoft properties through Edge. The latest update of Windows 10 extends this to third-party sites via FIDO2. All TPM bound so it's like a dongle.

Apple is the only company who requires you to type in a stupid number, everybody else, Microsoft, Google, Duo, just have you press OK on the authentication notification.
 
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Zachari

Zachari

macrumors 6502
Feb 8, 2012
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PastaPrimav said:
It is unbelievable how annoying they've managed to make 2-factor authentication.

I have never ever once logged in as myself on a "foreign" machine that is not one that is owned by me and under my exclusive control, yet I'm forced to deal with Apple's 2-factor all the time. Seemingly every time I log in to my developer account or any Apple domain in Safari. "Trust" this browser? Yeah, my ass. Until the very next time I log in.

What we need is an authentication-free experience when we've sufficiently proven that we are in fact the person using the machine. Unlocking the Mac with Apple Watch should be the key. After that, I should not be forced to provide authentication of any kind, (unless I opt to enable app per app in settings).

It is absurd that they haven't taken the steps to embrace this more. Unlocking with Apple Watch is more than enough to prove that it is my sitting at the machine, and I shouldn't need to enter passwords anywhere, let alone deal with 2-factor.
Click to expand...

You are spot on friend. They need to get this in check, or even integrate it into Sign in with Apple.
 
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macduke

macduke

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Jun 27, 2007
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So I can pay for stuff with my Apple Watch without having to do anything and use it to unlock my Mac, but I have to punch in a code I read off my wrist? Why can't it just send a signal to my device to approve it? Better yet, why can't being on your Mac and signed into iCloud on a logged-in device (past the passcode/login screen) already be enough authorization to sign in to a website? I thought Apple was all about ease of use and having proprietary system integration in their apps. At the least it should work with Safari.

BeyondtheTech said:
About friggin' time.

Will it also do parental approvals for family purchases?
Click to expand...
Would also be great for approving/denying additional time on their iPad.
 
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Crowbot

Crowbot

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May 29, 2018
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I know it’s been a bit annoying but, honestly, I’d rather err on the side of security. But I’m happy to see the Watch as a trusted device.
 
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nburwell

nburwell

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May 6, 2008
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Finally! Very much overdue. I never understood why I couldn't get the Apple ID verification code on my Watch when it goes to my iPhone and iPad.
 
Mac 128

Mac 128

macrumors 603
Apr 16, 2015
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nburwell said:
Finally! Very much overdue. I never understood why I couldn't get the Apple ID verification code on my Watch when it goes to my iPhone and iPad.
Click to expand...

It should have been a high priority.

I had a friend who’s phone was stolen while on vacation in Europe last year, bought a new iPhone and tried to access iCloud to restore his contacts, and needed a verification code.

He called Apple customer support, and they told him he needed a trusted device, that his Apple Watch couldn’t be used, and that he should have brought a Mac or iPad on vacation with him. Ridiculous.

I have to wonder how many calls like that they’ve gotten.
 
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Shirasaki

Shirasaki

macrumors P6
May 16, 2015
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PastaPrimav said:
It is unbelievable how annoying they've managed to make 2-factor authentication.

I have never ever once logged in as myself on a "foreign" machine that is not one that is owned by me and under my exclusive control, yet I'm forced to deal with Apple's 2-factor all the time. Seemingly every time I log in to my developer account or any Apple domain in Safari. "Trust" this browser? Yeah, my ass. Until the very next time I log in.

What we need is an authentication-free experience when we've sufficiently proven that we are in fact the person using the machine. Unlocking the Mac with Apple Watch should be the key. After that, I should not be forced to provide authentication of any kind, (unless I opt to enable app per app in settings).

It is absurd that they haven't taken the steps to embrace this more. Unlocking with Apple Watch is more than enough to prove that it is my sitting at the machine, and I shouldn't need to enter passwords anywhere, let alone deal with 2-factor.
Click to expand...
Yes. Until now, I am still highly skeptical to even consider enabling 2FA. I see more and more cool/niche/somewhat useful features now require 2FA to work and it is designed for people to securely login their Apple ID. But, given Apple never inform user to unpair Apple Watch BEOFRE erasing their devices (thought they should’ve done this by now), I have forgot to unpair watch before erasing several times, including the first three weeks that I was exchanging my iPhone and iPad for various reasons (within 14 days window). Since I don’t have a second number, I am extremely worried that Apple will not inform me to deactivate the device on 2FA Before erasing my device and bam. The account access is locked since I have no sufficient methods to verify my identity.
kwokaaron said:
watchOS 6 looks better and better. Noise app, the app store, authentication for Mac (no need for entering password when installing apps etc) and now this!
Click to expand...
This leaves with one question: how many of those features are watch series 4 and above exclusive? Noise app is not available in watch series 3 for sure.
 
J

Jamesk811

macrumors 6502
Mar 23, 2015
341
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“Trust this browser” will only work if you don’t have any cookies blocked.

PastaPrimav said:
It is unbelievable how annoying they've managed to make 2-factor authentication.

I have never ever once logged in as myself on a "foreign" machine that is not one that is owned by me and under my exclusive control, yet I'm forced to deal with Apple's 2-factor all the time. Seemingly every time I log in to my developer account or any Apple domain in Safari. "Trust" this browser? Yeah, my ass. Until the very next time I log in.

What we need is an authentication-free experience when we've sufficiently proven that we are in fact the person using the machine. Unlocking the Mac with Apple Watch should be the key. After that, I should not be forced to provide authentication of any kind, (unless I opt to enable app per app in settings).

It is absurd that they haven't taken the steps to embrace this more. Unlocking with Apple Watch is more than enough to prove that it is my sitting at the machine, and I shouldn't need to enter passwords anywhere, let alone deal with 2-factor.
Click to expand...
 
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M

MRrainer

macrumors 68000
Aug 8, 2008
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1,113
Zurich, Switzerland
I admit I rarely log into iCloud. And even then, it's not such a big deal to enter those numbers.

We already have two different "things" at work that require TFA (via FreeOTP) and I find that for more annoying (because I use it often and the session times out after a couple of hours).
 
M

mannyvel

macrumors 65816
Mar 16, 2019
1,417
2,578
Hillsboro, OR
My Apple ID is at this point one of the more valuable logins that I have, so security things don't really bother me. Having Apple's 2FA on the watch is nice, but ideally they should also support the google authenticator style 2fa (TOTP/HOTP). It would bypass that "I lost all my apple devices" problem and is marginally less secure than the all-Apple solution.
 
A

allenvanhellen

macrumors 6502a
Dec 8, 2015
656
1,319
PastaPrimav said:
It is unbelievable how annoying they've managed to make 2-factor authentication.

I have never ever once logged in as myself on a "foreign" machine that is not one that is owned by me and under my exclusive control, yet I'm forced to deal with Apple's 2-factor all the time. Seemingly every time I log in to my developer account or any Apple domain in Safari. "Trust" this browser? Yeah, my ass. Until the very next time I log in.

What we need is an authentication-free experience when we've sufficiently proven that we are in fact the person using the machine. Unlocking the Mac with Apple Watch should be the key. After that, I should not be forced to provide authentication of any kind, (unless I opt to enable app per app in settings).

It is absurd that they haven't taken the steps to embrace this more. Unlocking with Apple Watch is more than enough to prove that it is my sitting at the machine, and I shouldn't need to enter passwords anywhere, let alone deal with 2-factor.
Click to expand...
No password at all? Are you nuts?
 
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