topic Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:03:44 GMT

Having the phone number as a fallback really kills the added security that an authentication app offers. I would like to remove my phone number as a backup, and instead have one time codes if I need them. Is there any way to do this? even if I don't have a backup I would rather re-create my account then have the phone number as a secondary 2FA option.

Click on My Account at the top of the program screen. Cl...

DoninGA — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:03:46 GMT

Click on My Account at the top of the program screen. Click on Account Settings. Click on Security. Make any changes needed in the Security section.

This does not help. The only option is to remove 2FA alto...

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:03:47 GMT

This does not help. The only option is to remove 2FA altogether and I do not want to do that. I would like to remove only my phone as an option, and leave the authentication app in place.

Apparently not. You must have a phone number for the 2 s...

DoninGA — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:03:48 GMT

Apparently not. You must have a phone number for the 2 step verification.
See this TurboTax support FAQ - <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902682-what-is-two-step-verification">https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902682-what-is-two-step-verification</a>

Not a good idea but you could enter a fake number but tha...

Critter — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:03:50 GMT

Not a good idea but you could enter a fake number but that only leaves you with one valid option.

Phone numbers must be verified by text or voice call, so...

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:03:51 GMT

Phone numbers must be verified by text or voice call, so not really an option

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

werwer — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 20:32:36 GMT

This is hilariously bad. Intuit is obviously just requiring phone numbers so they can scrape information from people instead of giving them actual TOTP or Yubikey / Google Titan based MFA.

Cool way to ruin your MFA Intuit! Fix this dumbass garbage!

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

crash345u — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 16:58:27 GMT

The OP is correct.

There SHOULD be a way of having the option to ONLY use an Authenticator app for 2FA.

SMS 2FA is outdated and NOT secure.

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

bluedeb — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:14:42 GMT

@crash345u You are posting on a old post that has already been answered. No need for that.

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

crash345u — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:28:52 GMT

How do we request TT correct the security flaw?

The post may have been answered but the problem has not been resolved.

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

bluedeb — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:36:45 GMT

@crash345u How do you know its still a problem? If you are having a problem post your own question so someone can help you or give you the information you need. Jumping on old posts can get ignored.

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

vgg91 — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 19:20:35 GMT

is there an update to this? doesn't seem to be resolved. I can't find a way to remove phone number from 2fa even though I've added auth app. google and intuit search leads you straight to this thread, so would be good to add updated information

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

CatinaT1 — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:50:21 GMT

Please explain what you are specifically trying to do.

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

vgg91 — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:52:42 GMT

I specifically trying to do exactly what is described in this thread. therefore I posted in this thread instead of repeating the same question in new thread. not sure what I could add:

Having the phone number as a fallback really kills the added security that an authentication app offers. I would like to remove my phone number as a backup, and instead have one time codes if I need them. Is there any way to do this?

After recent cyber attacks on telecommunication even FBI warned to stop using SMS. As others have already pointed out in this thread you can only increase security if phone number is removed from 2FA in favor of authenticator app.

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

CatinaT1 — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:35:48 GMT

We can't help you with this in the community.

Please call TurboTax Customer service.  Here is a link:  Turbo Tax Customer Service

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

leviton11 — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:10:45 GMT

I called support and they had no clue what the problem even is.

TurboTax needs to provide the use the authenticator app as the SOLE method for authenticating. Keeping the use of texting a code is a joke.

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

leviton11 — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:11:07 GMT

any answers?

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

CatinaT1 — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:18:14 GMT

You should be able to do this. Do you not have access to the phone number currently associated with your account?

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

leviton11 — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:22:47 GMT

Yes I have access to my phone and that phone number.

That is not the point.

I do NOT want a phone to be able to receive a code that allows access to my account.

I want access to my account to be restricted to ONLY the use of the authenticator app.

Re: Remove phone from two factor authentication and only have authentication app

CatinaT1 — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:31:14 GMT

This is what I'm finding.

You can turn off the "opt-in" 2-step verification and switch to an authenticator, but you cannot completely remove a phone number from your account's "Multi-Factor Authentication" (MFA) safety net.

If you are already logged into TurboTax:

Look at the sidebar menu on the left (you may need to scroll down).
Select Intuit Account.
On the "Welcome" screen, select Sign-in & security.
Find the section labeled 2-step verification.
Toggle the switch to Off.
Enter your password to confirm. This stops the "every time" login codes.

To switch to an Authenticator App (like Google Authenticator or Authy).

In the same Sign-in & security menu, select Authenticator.
Follow the prompts to set up your app.
Once the app is verified, it becomes your primary way to get codes, effectively "removing" the phone number's role in the 2FA process.