Why does two-step identification code take so long to arrive on new iMac?

Perform this test in an effort to advance troubleshooting. Compose a message to yourself but send it as SMS text instead of using Apple's iMessage service (which those 2FA codes don't use). Ideally you would perform that test on a non-Apple device, but you can use an iPhone. To do that with your own iPhone, start a text message as you normally would.

• A grey iMessage should be in the text field prior to typing, which is merely an indication the recipient (you) is able to receive iMessages.

Tap the blue "send" icon (up arrow) as you normally would. Then, immediately tap and hold the blue message text you just sent. A contextual menu will appear.

• If you do not tap and hold that blue message quickly enough, the correct contextual menu will not appear, so try again.

Tap Send as Text Message.

Does it take an equally long time for that message to appear on your Mac? If so it would confirm the problem lies with your cellular service provider, otherwise it suggests the problem lies with your Mac.

Presumably, you are using Safari when this problem occurs? Are you using anything that may contribute to that problem, such as a VPN?

Since they are text messages, I think the expectation is: I log into the banking website on my mac, and I expect the text to appear on my iPhone instantly. And there would be a redundant duplicate message arriving on the mac as well. Sounds like it takes 45 minutes to get the text on the iPhone as well. Have you tried a different browser? If on Windows you are using Chrome, then use Chrome on the mac too. Also, if you’re on a work computer doing this, there’s probably a delay due to the security implementation on your Mac: IT departments is delaying delivery.

banks etc will be sending sms for double auth, not iMessage. Your test shows that sms arrives as expected (when sent from an Android). So the question is: why did sms on x-day take 45 minutes to arrive? I suspect it had something to do with the sms service the bank etc were using, e.g., if they were all using Twilio and Twilio was having problems on x-day. Today, it took more than 2 minutes. Did it take as many as 45-60 again? Or has the time decreased?

Are you referring to text messages or emails? Or is it both?

if I understand correctly you are logging into a bank account - for example - on your iMac; entering a u/p, and then waiting for a code text or email to arrive? If it’s text, then sounds like it’s related to your phone carrier.

If Chrome were merely a browser like any other, it would be ok to leave it installed. The problem with Chrome is its real "payload" — that being Google's invasive information-harvesting processes that run constantly, even if you're not using Chrome, even after you quit the app. Since Google updates those processes as background tasks on its own schedule, it can be difficult to correlate poor performance to it. But you probably knew that already.

If you should want to use a different browser for troubleshooting purposes (or any reason whatsoever) Brave is a fine choice, as is Firefox, as are others I don't use as often... but Chrome might as well be a virus. It does the exact same things as a "computer virus" would, and in the exact same manner. The only real difference is that it's easy to uninstall.

Had two friends with Androids send me SMS messages. They arrived immediately after they were sent. Not on a VPN or a work computer.

That advances troubleshooting considerably, but the next step would require using your iPhone. From your followup comment it appears to have been the culprit.

Be sure to uninstall Google Chrome unless you want to invite a host of unrelated problems. Follow Google's uninstallation instructions. They are effective.

Happy to help! Something to check when troubleshooting on iPhone: do you have text message forwarding on? Is the default messaging app Messages? (Both setting are Settings>Apps>Messages)

Are you saying it takes longer to get to your iPhone if you log in with your Mac? The only thing that determines how long it would take to get to your iPhone is how long it takes for the vendor to send it.