Creating an Apple ID on your device or online

You can create a new Apple ID directly on an iPhone or iPad, on a Mac, or through Apple's website. The fastest route depends on what device you have in front of you right now. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security, then tap "Create Apple ID". On a Mac, open System Settings > [Your Name], click "Create Apple ID", and follow the prompts. On any computer, visit appleid.apple.com, click "Create your Apple ID", and enter your information there.

Whichever route you choose, you will need an email address (which becomes your Apple ID username), a password, a birth date, and a phone number for account recovery. Apple will send a verification code to your email and phone number to confirm you own both. The whole process takes about five minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • You can create an Apple ID on an iPhone, Mac, or at appleid.apple.com, and the process is the same on all three.
  • You need a working email address, a strong password, your birth date, and a phone number that can receive text messages or calls.
  • Apple sends verification codes to both your email and phone to confirm the account is real.
  • Once created, your Apple ID works across all Apple devices and services including iCloud, the App Store, Apple Music, and iCloud Mail.

What information you need before you start

Gather these four things before you open Settings or visit the website. First, an email address — this becomes your Apple ID username and is how you sign into everything Apple. You can use an existing Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo account, or create a new one. Second, a strong password — Apple requires at least eight characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol. Write it down somewhere safe.

Third, your birth date — Apple asks this during signup and uses it to verify your identity if you ever need to reset your password. Fourth, a phone number that can receive text messages or phone calls. This is your recovery method if you forget your password or lose access to your email. If you do not have a phone number, you can use a trusted email address instead, but a phone number is faster for recovery.

Creating an Apple ID on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the screen. If you see "Sign in with your Apple ID", tap that instead. Scroll down and tap "Password & Security", then tap "Create Apple ID". You will see a screen asking for your first name, last name, email address, and birth date. Enter these details exactly as you want them to appear on your account.

Next, create a password that is at least eight characters long and includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol. Tap "Next". Apple will ask you to verify your email address by entering a code it sends to your inbox. Check your email, copy the code, and paste it into the field on your phone. Then Apple will send a verification code to your phone number — enter that code as well. Once both codes are verified, your Apple ID is active and ready to use.

Creating an Apple ID on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings". Click your name at the top of the sidebar, or if you do not see your name, click "Sign in" and then "Create Apple ID". Enter your first name, last name, email address, and birth date. Create a password that meets Apple's requirements: at least eight characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and a symbol.

Click "Continue". Apple will send a verification code to your email address — check your inbox and enter the code when prompted. Then Apple will send a code to your phone number. Enter that code as well. Once both are verified, your Apple ID is created and your Mac is signed in. You can now use the App Store, iCloud, and other Apple services on this computer.

Creating an Apple ID on the web

Open a web browser and go to appleid.apple.com. Click "Create your Apple ID" in the upper right corner. Enter your first name, last name, email address, and birth date. Choose whether you want to use your email address as your Apple ID or create a new one — most people use their existing email. Create a password with at least eight characters, including uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and a symbol.

Click "Continue". Apple will send a verification code to your email address. Check your inbox, copy the code, and paste it into the field on the website. Then Apple will send a code to your phone number — enter that code as well. Once both codes are verified, your Apple ID is created. You can now sign into any Apple device or service using this email address and password.

What to do after your Apple ID is created

Your new Apple ID is immediately ready to use. On an iPhone or iPad, you can open the App Store and download apps. On a Mac, you can sign into the App Store and download software. On any device, you can set up iCloud to back up your photos, contacts, and documents. You can also use your Apple ID to sign into Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, or any other Apple service.

If you want to add a recovery email address or phone number, go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with your new Apple ID, and click "Account" in the sidebar. Under "Security", you can add a trusted phone number or recovery email. This makes it easier to regain access if you forget your password. You can also turn on two-factor authentication here, which adds an extra layer of security to your account.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you do not receive a verification code, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes Apple's emails end up there. Wait a few minutes and try requesting the code again. If your email address is already in use, Apple will tell you during signup. This means someone else has already created an Apple ID with that email. You can either use a different email address or recover the existing account by clicking "Forgot Apple ID or password" on the signin screen.

If you enter the wrong birth date, you cannot change it after the account is created — you will need to create a new Apple ID with the correct date. If you forget your password, go to appleid.apple.com, click "Forgot Apple ID or password", enter your Apple ID email address, and follow the prompts to reset it using your recovery phone number or email. If you cannot access your recovery methods, you will need to contact Apple Support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a phone number as my Apple ID instead of an email?

No, your Apple ID must be an email address. You can use any email account — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or a new one you create. The phone number is only for account recovery and verification during signup.

What if I already have an Apple ID but want to create a second one?

You can create as many Apple IDs as you want, each with a different email address. Sign out of your current Apple ID in Settings, then follow the steps to create a new one. Keep track of which email goes with which account so you do not get confused later.

Do I need to provide a credit card when I create an Apple ID?

No, you can create an Apple ID without a payment method. If you want to download free apps from the App Store, you do not need a card. You only need to add a card if you want to buy apps, music, movies, or subscribe to services like Apple Music.

Can I change my Apple ID email address after I create it?

Yes, you can change it later by going to appleid.apple.com, signing in, clicking "Account", and then "Edit" next to your email address. Apple will send verification codes to both your old and new email to confirm the change.

What happens if I forget my Apple ID password?

Go to appleid.apple.com, click "Forgot Apple ID or password", enter your Apple ID email, and choose to reset it using your phone number or recovery email. Apple will send a code to whichever method you choose. Enter the code and create a new password.