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

About friggin' time.

Will it also do parental approvals for family purchases?

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.

This is a lot better than hitting “allow” on your phone and trying to memorize it.

OR even better....hitting Allow on the same Mac you're logging in on, that wants you to prove that it is you.

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.

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.

OR even better....hitting Allow on the same Mac you're logging in on, that wants you to prove that it is you.

This is my favorite. And the code popping up in a separate window on the SAME device!!!

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.

About friggin' time.

Will it also do parental approvals for family purchases?

Would also be great for approving/denying additional time on their iPad.

Yesssss!

I have been waiting for this for quiet some time now. I am assuming the priority of this jumped up their charts with the 'Sign in With Apple' feature,

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!

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.

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.

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.