iCloud Difficulty

Not necessary the iPhone and Mac are always signed into same Apple ID and password on the same network , however a trusted numbers are added in two factor authentication when created from primary Mac and are verified .

The code can be displayed on the Mac desktop screen and the account can be accessed see the articles Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

Use two-factor authentication for security on your Mac, iOS devices, and iPadOS devices - Apple Support

The documents can be shared using file sharing ( use mail option the iPhone can have different mail address say example1@gmail.com and that is quite different than Apple ID signed in primary Mac ) see the article Use iCloud File Sharing to share documents with other iCloud users - Apple Support

1. The access code would be shown on all devices that are signed in to the Apple ID automatically, you don't need to go search for it. It will be on screen of all the devices logged in to your Apple ID.

2. When signing into the iCloud.com website, the requirement for the code should be only once as then you are given the option to trust the browser you are using so the code is not required again. Trust the browser and you won't need a code again.

3. There's always the option of not signing in to iCloud.com and using either iCloud for Windows or the iCloud Drive folder on a Mac directly. This will let you sign in, require the code only once, and never ask for it again as the device or computer then becomes trusted.

When iPhone and Mac are signed in with same Apple ID and password on the same network , the Mac and iPhone are at home the code appears in phone , if you turn off iPhone , what will happen still the code will appear on Mac desktop screen as location services is turned on ( it will find through IP address ) and find my Mac is also turned on .

It depends how you use the services , if Mac is at home the Mac is a primary device 2FA is originally created from Mac and not from your connected devices .

As you mentioned - but I could never set it up properly on Apple Mail.

What problems do you face in Mac , please clarify .

tightpurchaser wrote:

So, if I am on my Windows 7 and want to go into iCloud, which never installed on it correctly, I have to go to my Mac for the access code.

Yes, but again, should only be required once. After that, you can trust the web browser being used and it should not be requested again. This is something you should only need to do once. Also, you can add a phone number (landline or android device included) on which to get the code as an SMS text message or automated voice call.

What if I chose not to purchase an iPhone?

What about it?

As mentioned 2 Factor authentication is not tied to a specific device. You don't need an iPhone to use it.

There is a yellow ? in my System Tray on my Windows 7 for iCloud over which I started a thread here that went unanswered.

Does not seem to appear in your thread list.

https://discussions.apple.com/profile/tightpurchaser/subscriptions

Also, linking the email address is allows me to create, I cannot use it on Apple Mail to send and receive, subject of another unanswered thread here.

The email thread was started in a forum called "Legacy Networking". A very low traffic one and pretty unrelated to your question. So no wonder it went unanswered.

"This is something you should only need to do once." Not so.

Unless you are clearing cache, or using Private browsing so the cookie for the trust is not being saved, Yes it is so. The code should only be required once. After which you should be offered the option to trust the browser. After that, logging in to iCloud.com should not require a code.

Yes, if you clear the cache or website data from the browser it will delete the cookie for the trust setting and require a code again.

You can clear cache if you exclude that particular cookie in your web browser settings.