How to Fix iCloud Keychain Requesting Approval
If you own an Apple device such as an iPhone or iPad, sometimes a notification might appear on screen asking you to approve iCloud from another device or enter your iCloud passcode. This message can appear for some reasons. The keychain, which stores all your passwords on the device securely, might be corrupt or needs to be verified. Here is how you do it.
Verify iCloud Keychain from your Apple Device
On iPhone or iPad
Launch Settings, swipe down to iCloud, tap iCloud, then toggle off iCloud Keychain. Reboot your Apple device.
Launch Settings again, then toggle on iCloud Keychain. You will be prompted to enter your passcode. If you don’t have a passcode set up, you can do so now or use your existing code. Since I already have one, I will enter it.
This is a tricky part I discovered with Apples iCloud SMS verification. For international users, if your phone number is not accepted, do not change the country code from the US. Instead, just enter the area code followed by your phone number.
Enter your iCloud password then tap OK.
That’s it; you won’t be bothered anymore for approval request.
For OS X users, launch System Preferences, click iCloud then click Account Details. Enter your password then click OK.
Click Reset iCloud Keychain.
Enter your passcode then click Next.
Enter your phone number then click OK. Prompts to approve your device should no longer appear, well for now at least.
Check out our other articles about iCloud, such as setting up the client on Windows 10. Another important feature of iCloud for iPhone users is Find My iPhone, which makes it easy to find your device if it’s lost or stolen.
9 Comments
Leave a Reply
Owen
But how do I turn it off completely? My work computer is a Mac (OS X) and I don’t want it connected to my personal iCloud. Every day multiple times it asks me to enter my iCloud password and I click “cancel,” only to have it continue to nag me day after day.
Veronica
You have been so helpful, I’m extremely happy I stumbled onto this. Thank you!
Kara
My iCloud Keychain is already turned off, I have never turned it on. Can you tell me how to “Approve This iPhone” without the Keychain already turned off?
Barbara
My question, too!
Steph
AND MINE. Still stuck permanently on “Approve this iphone.”
Rosalyn
This is so damn nagging everytime i tries to use my News iPad it’s saying i need to aprove this iPad from another device how can i do that if i don’t have another devce that has iCloud .
Catherine Mullinax
Exactly! I don’t HAVE another ios device! This is so obnoxious
Mike H.
Apple needs to fix this – my IBM-based laptop is connected to the iCloud, but there isn’t a way to approve other devices as the iPhone is demanding. How stupid!
user543
Apple shackles users to the eco system so tightly that you have no alternative but to choose another path.