How to Create a New Apple ID: Complete Step-by-Step 2026

Apple ID creation is free: No cost · Minimum age requirement: 13 years old · Information needed: Email address and phone number · Number of Apple IDs allowed per person: Unlimited

The table above summarizes key facts about Apple ID creation, with official sources confirming each requirement.

How to create a new Apple ID?

Create Apple ID on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the App Store. Tap your account icon (or the My Account button). Then tap Create New Apple Account (Apple account creation guide).
2. If the option isn’t visible, make sure you are signed out of iCloud (Apple Support).
3. Enter your email address, create a strong password, and select your country or region (Apple account creation page).
4. Confirm your phone number for verification (Apple account creation page). You will not be charged until you make a purchase (Apple Support).
5. Check your email for a verification message and verify your email address (Apple account creation page).

The first time you create an Apple ID on an iPhone, the process takes about two minutes. The email you use becomes your Apple ID sign-in (Apple account creation page).

Create Apple ID on Mac

• Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Sign in, then choose Don’t have an Account? (Apple account creation page).
• Follow the same email, password, and phone number steps.
• Verify your email to complete the process.

The Mac method mirrors the iOS flow. You can also create an Apple ID directly from the Apple Music or Apple TV app (Apple account creation page).

Create Apple ID on Android

• Open a browser on your Android device and go to account.apple.com.
• Select Create Your Apple Account (Apple account creation page).
• Enter your email, password, country, and phone number.
• Verify your email and phone number.

Apple’s website works on any device — no iPhone needed (Apple account creation page). This is the best route if you don’t own an Apple device.

Create Apple ID without a device

• Use any computer or tablet browser at account.apple.com (Apple account creation page).
• Alternatively, use a friend’s iPhone — sign out of their Apple ID first, then follow the iPhone steps.

Creating from scratch without an Apple device is straightforward. The web portal is designed for exactly this situation.

The pattern is clear: Apple offers four distinct creation paths, but each requires an email and a phone number. No path works without both.

Can I have two Apple IDs with one phone number?

How many Apple IDs can use the same phone number?

• Apple allows you to use the same phone number for multiple Apple IDs (Apple Support).
• There is no published limit, but each account must have a unique email (Apple Support).

That means you could, in theory, create dozens of Apple IDs all linked to one phone number. Apple uses the number for identity recovery and two-factor authentication — not as a unique identifier for each account.

Limitations of sharing a phone number across accounts

• If you use the same number for many accounts, you may eventually hit an undisclosed limit (Apple Support does not specify).
• Repeated verification requests to the same number can feel redundant and may raise security flags (YouTube tutorial).

The trade-off: convenience of one number vs. potential block if you overuse it.

What to do if you forget an Apple ID tied to your number

• Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your phone number for account recovery (Apple Support).
• Apple will send a verification code to that number, allowing you to retrieve the associated Apple ID.

This is the safety net: as long as you control the phone number, you can recover any ID linked to it.

The key takeaway: you can share a phone number across multiple Apple IDs, but be mindful of potential limits.

Why won’t Apple let me create a new Apple ID?

Age restrictions

• Apple blocks creation if you are under 13 (Apple Support).
• In some regions, the minimum age may be higher (e.g., 16 in the EU).

Age is verified based on the date of birth you enter. There’s no way around this — Apple enforces it strictly (Apple Support).

Phone number already used too many times

• If your phone number has been used for a high number of accounts, it may be flagged (Apple Support does not disclose the limit).
• This can result in a “This phone number has been used too many times” error.

Apple appears to have a hidden threshold. Using a different phone number often resolves this (Verizon Support suggests trying a different number).

Device restrictions or jailbroken devices

• Creating from a jailbroken or modified device can fail (Apple Support does not officially support jailbroken devices).
• Apple’s system may detect tampering and block the creation attempt.

If you’re using a non-standard device, try the web portal instead.

Server issues or temporary blocks

• Trying too many times in a short period may trigger a temporary block (Apple Support advises waiting 24 hours).
• Server outages on Apple’s side can also prevent creation.

Wait a day and try again. If the problem persists, contact Apple Support directly.

The implication: most creation failures stem from either age restrictions or phone number limits. The fix is almost always a different email, a different number, or a 24-hour wait.

Can I create an Apple ID with just an email?

Email-only requirement vs. phone number

• As of 2025, Apple requires a phone number for verification in most regions (Apple Support).
• You must provide an email address that will become the Apple ID (Apple account creation page).

Both are mandatory. No phone number means no Apple ID.

Using an existing email vs. creating a new one

• You can use any active email address you already own, or create a new one (e.g., Gmail, Outlook).
• The email cannot already be linked to another Apple ID (Apple Support).

If you want a dedicated account for a specific purpose, create a fresh email first.

What if I don’t have a phone?

• Without a phone, you cannot complete the sign-up process (Apple Support).
• Apple uses the phone number for identity verification and account recovery (Apple Support).

Even if you use a landline, the verification code goes via SMS or automated call. No phone = no account.

Confirmed facts

• Apple ID creation is free. (Apple Support)
• You need a unique email and a phone number. (Apple account creation page)
• You must be at least 13 years old. (Apple Support)
• You can have multiple Apple IDs. (Apple Support)

What’s unclear

• Exact limit of phone numbers per Apple ID. (Apple Support does not specify)
• Whether using the same phone number triggers a security flag. (YouTube tutorial mentions flags but not official policy)
• Time duration for temporary blocks after repeated attempts. (Apple Support advises waiting 24 hours but doesn’t guarantee unblock)
• Whether Apple ID creation works on all browsers.
• Whether you need to verify email immediately or can delay.

How do I switch between Apple IDs on my iPhone?

Sign out of iCloud and accounts

• Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign Out (Apple Support).
• Data stored in iCloud (photos, contacts, notes) will be removed from the device unless you keep a copy (Apple Support).

Signing out is the only way to switch the primary iCloud account. For more on managing multiple accounts, see our CIBC Investor’s Edge login guide which covers similar account-switching principles.

Switch Apple ID for App Store and media purchases

• Open Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases > Sign Out (Apple Support).
• Sign in with a different Apple ID for App Store downloads while staying signed into iCloud with your main account (Apple Support).

This is the most practical setup: one ID for iCloud (personal data) and a different ID for app purchases.

Keep separate data for each Apple ID

• Data from each Apple ID is kept separate on Apple’s servers (Apple Support).
• On one device, only one iCloud account can be active at a time (Apple Support).

The catch: you can’t merge purchases or data between two Apple IDs. Switching means losing local access to the previous account’s data.

How do I create an Apple ID without an iPhone?

Create via Apple’s website

• Go to account.apple.com and select Create Your Apple Account (Apple account creation page).
• Enter your email, password, country, and phone number.
• Verify your email and phone number.

This works from any browser — Windows, Linux, Android, or Chromebook. Similar to our Google Docs Dark Mode guide, no special software is needed.

Create using a Mac or PC

• On Mac, use System Settings as described above. On a PC, use the web portal.
• No extra software is needed; the web browser is sufficient (Apple account creation page).

Mac users have the fastest experience, but PC users lose nothing by using the web.

Create using an Android device or tablet

• Open the browser on your Android device and navigate to account.apple.com (Apple account creation page).
• Follow the same creation steps as on a computer.

Android users are fully supported — you don’t need an Apple device at all.

Create using someone else’s iPhone

• Ask a friend to sign out of their Apple ID first (Apple Support).
• Then follow the iPhone steps to create your account.
• Make sure they sign back into their own account afterward.

This is a convenient one-time workaround if you’re near an iPhone but don’t own one.

The pattern: no matter the device, the core requirements never change — email, phone, and age verification. The web portal is the most universal path.

Pros and Cons of having multiple Apple IDs

“You can create a new Apple Account from the App Store, System Settings on Mac, the Apple Music or Apple TV app, or account.apple.com.”

— Apple Support documentation (Apple account creation page)

“The primary email address used during sign-up becomes the sign-in email for the Apple Account.”

— Apple Support (Apple Support)

“During sign-up, Apple sends a verification email to the supplied email address and a verification message to the supplied phone number.”

— Nuvei Documentation (Nuvei Documentation)

Two authoritative sources confirm the essential steps. Apple’s own documentation is the gold standard for this process.

For users who juggle work and personal Apple ecosystems, the trade-off is convenience versus control. Keeping separate IDs prevents data mixing but requires careful handling of credentials. If you share a phone number across multiple IDs, that’s fine — just don’t overdo it. For the average person, two accounts (personal + work) is a safe limit. Pushing beyond that without a dedicated phone number risks hitting Apple’s undisclosed flags.

For a more personalised experience, consider adjusting your Apple account settings such as navigation voice preferences, which can be changed through adjusting your Apple account settings once your Apple ID is set up.

Frequently asked questions