(iOS 17) How to Automatically Delete iPhone Verification Codes

This article will show you how to Automatically Delete iPhone Verification Codes. Apple recently unveiled iOS 17 and talked about a lot of its cool new features on stage. But iOS 17’s real potential lies in the fact that besides the features that were announced, many other cool features were not. One of these features lets you have your verification codes and one-time passwords (OTPs) for different app logins and orders automatically deleted.

We can’t keep track of or manage all of the one-time passwords and verification codes we get on our iPhones. We all felt frustrated when we saw so many secret codes lying around in plain sight on the Messages and Mail apps. No longer, though, because iOS 17 has come to our rescue. With iOS 17, you no longer have to deal with the hassle of keeping track of verification codes one by one. Follow this guide to set up automatic deletion for OTPs and two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.

his will let you get your inbox back and focus on what really matters. We know how annoying it is when the One-Time Passwords (OTPs) from different apps fill up the Messages and Mail app. Lastly, iOS 17 gives iPhone users the option to have one-time verification codes automatically deleted after they have been entered into a website or app using the autofill feature. In this hands-on guide, we’ll show you how to Automatically Delete iPhone Verification Codes. So, without further ado, let’s begin!

What is Verification Codes Clean Up on iOS 17?

With iOS 17, Apple is making it easier to deal with one-time passwords and verification codes that you may get on your phone often for logging into an app or website. The new feature is an automatic tool for cleaning up that can be used to get rid of verification codes that have already been used to log in to an app or service. The Verification Codes Clean Up tool is in the iOS settings and can be used to delete messages from the Messages and Mail apps on your iPhone that have verification codes in them.

For those who don’t know, Autofill on iOS 17 now lets you enter codes you get in an email on the Mail app. The new Clean Up tool will only work if you enter verification codes on apps that use the iOS Autofill feature. If you manually enter a verification code by opening the Messages or Mail apps and typing it in, iOS won’t delete it on its own. By deleting messages with verification codes, you can make room in your inboxes on both apps for more important messages.

Why should you automatically delete iPhone verification codes?

1. Security: Verification codes are often used for two-factor authentication (2FA) to enhance account security. By automatically deleting these codes after use, you reduce the risk of someone accessing them later and potentially compromising your accounts.
2. Privacy: Verification codes can sometimes contain sensitive information. Deleting them immediately ensures that no one with physical access to your device can see or misuse these codes.
3. Clutter Reduction: Over time, if you don’t delete verification codes, they can accumulate and clutter your device’s storage, making it harder to find other important information.
4. Efficiency: Manually deleting each verification code can be time-consuming. With automatic deletion, you save time and effort.
5. Automated Workflow: When verification codes are automatically deleted, it streamlines your workflow. You don’t need to remember to clear them, making the process more seamless.
6. Preventing Reuse: Some verification codes are meant for one-time use. Automatic deletion prevents accidental reuse of old codes.

How to Automatically Delete iPhone Verification Codes

1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Scroll down and tap Passwords.
3. Use Face ID, Touch ID, or your device’s passcode to prove your identity.
4. Tap on Passwords Options.
5. Turn on the switch for Automatically Clean Up Verification Codes.
6. That’s it! Use AutoFill to enter verification codes, and your device will now remove them immediately.

How long do iPhone verification codes last?

1. SMS verification codes for iPhones have a brief duration, about 5 minutes.
2. Short time enhances security, as codes expire fast and deter unauthorized use.
3. Obtain a fresh code if the current one expires.
4. Security measures may change with updates, thus refer to latest official info for accuracy.

Common Issues with Accumulated Verification Codes

1. Expired Codes Causing Confusion:
   • When multiple verification codes accumulate, it becomes challenging to distinguish between the active and expired ones.
   • Users might mistakenly attempt to use an already expired code, resulting in frustration and login delays.
2. Reduced Security:
   • Verification codes are designed to be short-lived for security reasons.
   • Accumulated codes can potentially be used by unauthorized individuals if they manage to get hold of an older code that hasn’t been used yet.
3. Difficulty in Code Retrieval:
   • With numerous codes in the queue, it can be difficult to locate the most recent code when needed.
   • Users might spend more time searching for the right code than necessary, causing inconvenience.

Conclusion

With iOS 17, you can tell your iPhone to delete 2FA text messages on its own. This seems like a small change, but it turns out to be very useful. Here’s how to set up iOS 17 to automatically delete iPhone verification codes. But iOS 17’s ability to automatically delete used iPhone verification codes is a useful feature that you’ll probably use often, if not every day. Of course, it’s best to set up as many accounts as you can with verification codes that don’t come from SMS. However, this feature will be useful for services that don’t offer 2FA through a dedicated app that generates authentication codes.

Questions and Answers