How to Create an Apple ID in 2026: 10 Steps With Pictures

Need an Apple ID to download apps, use iCloud or set up a new iPhone? It’s free, and you don’t need a credit card.

Apple now calls it an “Apple Account.” Same thing, new name. We opened Apple’s sign-up page on October 29, 2026 and took a picture of every part of the form. Each picture has a red box and a numbered arrow on the exact box to fill in. Just follow the numbers 1 to 10.

1. Create it on a computer in 10 steps

This works on any computer, including a Windows PC or a Chromebook. It also works in the web browser on an Android phone.

Step 1: Open the sign-up page

Go to account.apple.com. Near the top right, under the black menu bar, click Create Your Apple Account.

Steps 2 to 6: Fill in the top of the form

A form called “Create Your Apple Account” opens. Click each box and type:

• Step 2. Your first and last name.
• Step 3. Check the country. It should say United States if you live in the US. This decides which App Store you get, so pick where you actually live.
• Step 4. Your birthday. Click Month, Day and Year one at a time and pick from the list.
• Step 5. Your email address. This becomes your Apple ID, the name you’ll log in with.
• Step 6. Make up a password and type it again in the box below. It needs at least 8 characters, with a capital letter, a small letter and a number.

Write the password down somewhere safe. You’ll need it every time you set up a new phone.

Steps 7 and 8: Phone number and emails

Scroll down a little.

• Step 7. Type your cell phone number. Leave the country code at +1 if you’re in the US. Apple will text a code to this number in a minute, so use a phone that’s in your hand.
• Step 8. These two boxes are ticked already. They mean “send me Apple ads by email.” Click them to remove the ticks if you don’t want those emails. It doesn’t change anything else.

Steps 9 and 10: Type the code and click Continue

• Step 9. Look at the wobbly letters in the small picture on the left. Type them into the box next to it. Can’t read them? Click New Code for a different picture.
• Step 10. Click the blue Continue button at the bottom.

The last two screens: confirm the codes

• Apple emails you a 6-digit code. Open your email, find the message from Apple, and type the code into the screen. No email? Check your spam or junk folder.
• Then Apple texts a 6-digit code to your phone. Type that in too.

That’s it. Your Apple ID is ready, and you can sign in with it on any iPhone, iPad or Mac.

We stopped at Step 10 so we didn’t create a test account. The two code screens after it are just a box for each code.

2. Doing it on an iPhone or iPad instead

Setting up a new iPhone? It asks you the same questions, one screen at a time:

• Open the Settings app (the grey gear).
• Tap Sign in to your iPhone at the very top.
• Tap Don’t have an Apple Account? and then Create Apple Account.
• Fill in the same things as Steps 2 to 7 above: name, birthday, email, password and phone. Tap Next after each screen, then type the codes Apple sends.

On a Mac, open System Settings and click Sign in at the top left. The rest is the same.

3. Mistakes that block sign-up

• “This email is already in use.” You (or someone in your family) made an Apple ID with that email before. Go back to account.apple.com, click Sign In, then Forgot password? to get back into the old one.
• The text code never comes. Check the phone number for a typo. Wait a full minute, then ask for a new code. Some prepaid and internet phone numbers can’t get Apple’s texts. A regular cell number works best.
• Birthday under 13. Apple won’t let children make their own account. A parent sets one up through Family Sharing instead.

4. Quick answers