I'm 79 years old with arthritic hands. How can I use 2FA without having to type with a microscopic keyboard?

Question

I'm 79 years old with arthritic hands. How can I use 2FA without having to type with a microscopic keyboard?

For about a year on the iPhone, and now on the iPad mini, I'm being pestered and bullied about every hour and every day to "verify my account." I can sign in, get my account locked, do more tap dancing on the Windows PC, and finally the pestering stops for the day. The next morning, it starts all over again. I'm ready to toss these devices and switch to Android which have multiple 2FA methods available. All I can find for Apple is "how to activate 2FA." I tried 2FA on my first iPhone (iPhone 11), and had to do it more than a dozen times the first 2 hours out of the box. I also had cataracts then and couldn't see well. It was excruciating.

Will activating 2FA stop this daily harassment? How long will verification last?
Is there a 2FA method available that does not require typing on a microscopic keyboard?
Why is my biometric not considered a valid factor?

Thank you

iPhone SE, iOS 18

Posted on Jul 12, 2025 4:38 PM

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Answer 1

Phil0124

Level 10

212,981 points

Jul 13, 2025 7:57 AM in response to DaveOnFidalgo

What verification are you being asked for exactly?

Hard to say wether Apple’s 2FA will stop that without knowing what is happening exactly.

2FA will require a 6 digit Pin when you log with your account for the first time on a new device, or untrusted web browser on an Apple Website. This should be a rare occurrence, unless you sign in to your account frequently on different devices or web browsers. They keyboard used for the code is usually just the number pad on an iPhone.

Biometric access is used for your iPhone. When logging into to your account in a way that requires 2FA, the biometric option is not yet available, because it’s either a new device not yet completely set up, or y our signing in to a website from an untrusted web browser that does not yet have access to your biometric access.

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