How to create a new Apple ID on your iPhone or iPad

(Image credit: iMore)

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Create a new Apple ID on iPhone or iPad
Sign into iCloud with an existing Apple ID
Sign out of iCloud

If you haven't already got one, you'll need to create an Apple ID to get the most from your iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV. Think of it like an Apple accounts — it's the core of your place in the Apple ecosystem, linking you to services like iCloud and Find My, as well as authenticating subscriptions like Apple Music and Apple TV Plus.

Thankfully, creating an Apple ID is a simple job, and once your Apple ID setup is complete you'll be ready to save data in the cloud, sync information across devices, download and purchase apps, games, movies, music, and TV shows, and do much more. Secured by two-factor authentication, creating an Apple ID is not a step you can skip on your journey to Apple mastery.

Here's how to set up an Apple ID on your Apple device, whether you have the latest iPhone 14 or an older Apple device.

How to create a new Apple ID on your iPhone or iPad

Launch the Settings app
Tap Sign in to your iPhone at the top of the screen

Create a new Apple ID on iPhone by showing: Launch Settings, tap Sign In (Image credit: iMore)

Tap Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it?
Tap Create Apple ID when the window pops up

Create a new Apple ID on iPhone by showing: Tap Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it?, then tap Create Apple ID (Image credit: iMore)

Enter your first and last name, then select your birthday
Tap Next

Create a new Apple ID on iPhone by showing: Enter your first and last name, then select your birthday, then tap Next (Image credit: iMore)

Type the email address you want to use or get a new iCloud email address by tapping Don't have an email address?
Tap Next

Create a new Apple ID on iPhone by showing: Type in the email you want to use or create a new iCloud email, choose if you want Apple News & Announcement emails, then tap Next (Image credit: iMore)

Create a password
Tap Next
Input your phone number and select whether you want to receive a text message or phone call for identity verification
Tap Next
Enter the verification code that was sent to you
Tap Next

Create a new Apple ID on iPhone by showing: Create a password, verify the password, input a phone number to get a verification code, input the verification code (Image credit: iMore)

Agree to the Terms and Conditions by tapping Agree
Tap Agree again to confirm

Create a new Apple ID on iPhone by showing: Agree to the terms and conditions, tap Agree again to confirm (Image credit: iMore)

If prompted, tap Merge or Don't Merge to sync iCloud data from Safari, reminders, contacts and calendars
If prompted, tap OK to confirm Find My iPhone is turned on

Sign into iCloud with an existing Apple ID on your iPhone or iPad

How to sign in to iCloud with an existing Apple ID on your iPhone or iPad

Sign in to iCloud with an existing Apple ID on iPhone by showing: Launch Settings, tap Sign In, enter your email and password for Apple ID, tap Next

Launch Settings

Tap Sign in to your iPhone at the top of the screen

Enter the email address and password associated with your Apple ID

Tap Next

If you have two-factor authentication enabled, input the verification code

Enter your iPhone passcode if you have one set up

Select whether you want to Merge or Don't Merge your iCloud data with what is locally on the device

For further customization of your iCloud apps and services, tap iCloud and choose what you want to enable

How to sign out of iCloud on your iPhone or iPad

Open Settings
Tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen
Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out

Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone by showing: Launch Settings, tap your Apple ID at the top, scroll down and tap Sign Out (Image credit: iMore)

Enter the password associated with your Apple ID
Tap Turn Off when asked if you want to disable Find My iPhone
Select which data you want to keep a copy of on your iPhone and toggle On
Tap Sign Out in the upper right corner

Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone by showing: Select the data that you want to keep a local copy of on your device, then tap Sign Out, then tap Sign Out again to confirm (Image credit: iMore)

Get the most out of your devices with an Apple ID

An Apple ID is essential to get the most from your Apple device, including downloading Apps and using the Apple ecosystem to its fullest.

If you own multiple Apple devices, an Apple ID allows you to use Handoff, one of my favorite features. With Handoff, you can start something on one device, like your iPad, and quickly pick things up from your iPhone or Mac.

Even the best iPhone out there, the newest iPhone 14 Pro, won't be as efficient or useful without an Apple ID, so create one today!

John-Anthony Disotto is the How To Editor of iMore, ensuring you can get the most from your Apple products and helping fix things when your technology isn’t behaving itself.

Living in Scotland, where he worked for Apple as a technician focused on iOS and iPhone repairs at the Genius Bar, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself in his ability to complete his Apple Watch activity rings.

John-Anthony has previously worked in editorial for collectable TCG websites and graduated from The University of Strathclyde where he won the Scottish Student Journalism Award for Website of the Year as Editor-in-Chief of his university paper. He is also an avid film geek, having previously written film reviews and received the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019.

John-Anthony also loves to tinker with other non-Apple technology and enjoys playing around with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.

In his spare time, John-Anthony can be found watching any sport under the sun from football to darts, taking the term “Lego house” far too literally as he runs out of space to display any more plastic bricks, or chilling on the couch with his French Bulldog, Kermit.