1. Prepare iMac/Macbook with Safari
Goal: You want to prepare your device for the UHH 2FA process before you register your device with the 2FA app of the University of Hamburg.
Note
How you need to prepare your Apple device running macOS for 2-factor authentication (2FA) basically depends on your default browser.
Safari
If you use Safari as your browser and haven't prepared your device yet, please continue reading on this page. If you have already activated iCloud Keychain, skip this step and go directly to the instruction for device registration with the 2FA app of the University of Hamburg in Safari.
Chrome
If you are using Chrome, you do not need to prepare your device separately, but can directly register your Apple device using this instruction.
Mozilla Firefox
Since Verion 122 Firefox now supports creating and using passkeys stored in the iCloud Keychain on macOS.
Other
Please note that UHH 2FA authentication with an Apple device is currently not yet supported by the following browsers:
- Opera (all versions)
- Internet Explorer
If you use one of these browsers in your everyday life, please choose a different procedure to authenticate with UHH-IT services using 2FA in the future.
Photo: UHH
Starting point:
- You have not yet prepared your device for 2FA.
- You are using a Mac or MacBook with operating system macOS 10.15 ("Catalina") or higher.
- You are using the Safari browser in version 14 or higher.
- You have not yet activated the iCloud Keychain.
- You know the Apple ID associated with the device you want to register.
Photo: UHH
2FA on an Apple device with macOS and Safari as browser requires the use of the iCloud Keychain.
The iCloud Keychain stores passwords and other security information and synchronizes this data with all devices linked via the same Apple ID.
Photo: UHH
To get to the iCloud Keychain settings, first open the System Preferences. To do so, click the Apple icon in the top navigation bar and then select the second entry "System Preferences".
Photo: UHH
To get to the iCloud settings, first access your profile settings. To do this, click on your profile picture in the upper left corner of the system settings (shown as a gray-white icon in the screenshot). To the right, you will usually see your name, which you entered when setting up the device.
Photo: UHH
Click "iCloud" in the profile settings.
Photo: UHH
You can activate the iCloud Keychain via the button at "Password and Settings". If the button is blue, you have successfully activated the iCloud Keychain.
Photo: UHH
Done! Now you have prepared all devices linked to your Apple ID for two-factor authentication.
You can now register your device as a second factor with the 2FA app of the University of Hamburg.