Padlock with looping arrow symbolizing repeated two-factor prompts
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is supposed to add one extra step. When your Mac keeps asking again and again (or approvals never “stick”), it usually means your sign-in session can’t be saved reliably.

It feels like a security problem, but it’s often a storage, time, or network trust problem.

Below is the “why” first, then the practical fixes—starting with the safest and fastest.

1. Why repeated 2FA happens on a Mac (the short version)

Most “2FA loops” come down to one of these:

  • Cookies or site data aren’t being saved (cleared automatically, blocked, or corrupted), so the service treats you as new every time.
  • Your Mac’s time is off, which can break token validation and make sessions look invalid.
  • A VPN, proxy, firewall, or Private Relay-style feature changes your IP/location mid-session, so the risk engine asks for verification again.
  • Multiple browsers or profiles are competing (you sign in in one place, confirm in another, then the original session no longer matches).
  • Security software or content blockers block scripts or storage used to complete the “remember this device” step.

Good news: you can usually fix it without weakening your account security.

2. Confirm the basics that make 2FA “stick” (time, updates, one browser)

Clock and sync symbol indicating automatic time settings
Start with the boring checks—they solve a surprising number of loops.

  • Make sure Date & Time are set automatically on your Mac. Even a few minutes off can cause repeated verification.
  • Update macOS and your browser. Session handling and cookie storage bugs do get patched.
  • Pick one browser for the whole sign-in (including entering the password and the 2FA code). Avoid switching between Safari/Chrome/Firefox mid-flow.
  • Turn off “auto-clear on quit” temporarily if your browser clears cookies/history at exit. You can turn it back on after you stabilize the login.

If the prompts stop after this, the cause was usually time drift or a session mismatch.

3. Fix cookie/session storage problems (without doing a full browser reset)

Repeated 2FA often means the site can’t write or read the cookie/storage that proves your device is trusted.

  • Try a Private/Incognito window once. If it works there, an extension or existing site data is the likely culprit.
  • Disable content blockers and privacy extensions for the sign-in domain (ad blockers, script blockers, tracker blockers). Re-enable afterward.
  • Clear site data for just that service (not “all time, everything”). This removes the broken session while keeping the rest of your browsing intact.
  • Allow cookies for that site, especially if you use “block cross-site tracking” or strict anti-tracking modes. Many sign-in flows use a small set of related domains.

After clearing only the affected site data, sign in again and complete 2FA in the same browser window.

4. Stop network changes that trigger “new device” checks (VPN, relays, captive Wi‑Fi)

Network routes switching under a shield for connection stability
2FA risk systems are sensitive to network identity changes. If your IP/location shifts during login, you can get stuck in a verify-again cycle.

  • Temporarily pause VPN/proxy for the sign-in, then re-enable once you’re fully signed in.
  • Avoid switching networks mid-login (Wi‑Fi to hotspot, or office Wi‑Fi to home Wi‑Fi).
  • Check for captive portals (hotel/coffee shop Wi‑Fi that needs a web acceptance step). Open any site in a browser and complete the portal first.
  • Try a different network once if your current one is filtered (work/school networks can break verification endpoints).

If turning off the VPN fixes it, you don’t need to abandon the VPN—just exclude the login moment (or set the VPN to a stable region/server).

5. When “Approve this sign-in” arrives but the Mac still loops

This is usually a mismatch between the device you approve on and the session that requested approval.

  • Approve immediately (don’t let the request sit while you refresh or open new tabs).
  • Don’t request multiple codes. Each new code can invalidate the previous one.
  • Close extra login tabs so there’s only one active sign-in flow.
  • Make sure you’re signing into the same account (personal vs work accounts can look nearly identical in the moment).

If you keep getting prompted after a successful approval, go back to sections 3 and 4—something is preventing the session from being saved.

6. Safety checks if the prompts feel suspicious

Sometimes repeated prompts are caused by real repeated sign-in attempts (you or someone else).

  • Check your account’s recent sign-in/activity page and look for unfamiliar locations/devices.
  • Change your password if anything looks off, then sign out of other sessions.
  • Review trusted devices and remove old ones you no longer use.
  • Keep 2FA on. The goal is to stabilize it, not disable it.

If you see sign-ins you can’t explain, treat it as a security incident first, convenience second.

Final thoughts

On a Mac, endless 2FA prompts are most often a cookie/session storage issue, time drift, or a network identity change (VPN/proxy/Wi‑Fi). Fix those and 2FA usually returns to being a one-time step.

If nothing helps, try one clean browser profile (or a different browser) just to confirm whether the problem is local to your current profile.