Daily Tip: How to set up a free iCloud account with iOS 5

New to iPhone, iPad touch, or iPad and curious how to set up one of Apple's new, free iCloud accounts? Not only is iCloud great for email, calendar, and contacts, it also lets you backup your important settings and information. Luckily, creating a new iCloud account is a very simple process.

  • Open Settings from your home screen
  • Click on Mail, Contacts, Calendars

(opens in new tab)
  • Click on Add Account...
  • Select iCloud at the top of the list
  • Click on Get a Free Apple ID

(opens in new tab)
  • Enter your location
  • Enter your date of birth

(opens in new tab)
  • A new window will now open asking you to use an existing email address or get a free @me.com address

(opens in new tab)
  • Select get a free @me.com email address

(opens in new tab)
  • Fill in all your details and select next
  • Accept the iCloud terms and conditions

(opens in new tab)
  • That's it done, you now have a new iCloud account all set up and ready to go on your iOS 5 device!

(opens in new tab)

Daily Tips range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com.

chrisoldroyd

UK editor at iMore, mobile technology lover and air conditioning design engineer.

19 Comments
  • Yes beginner for sure.
  • Yes beginner for sure.
  • Shouldn't it be an iPod Touch instead of iPad Touch? Lol.
  • Don't you have to use your iTunes account email to do this?
  • Exactly, the last thing I need is another email account. Can't we just use our current itunes email/ apple ID?
  • Don't you have to use your iTunes account email to do this?
  • Addendum to the tip:
    This doesn't work if you want to register a second account (cuts you off at DoB screen)
  • How do u get a free one if I all created 4 Apple Id s and won't let me make any more free accounts!!
  • So does annyoe know annyoe high up in the relevant department of Telecom to address this contacts issue? Feedback seems to suggest its a carrier thing (as opposed to Apple) so just curious if someone at Telecom (and 2 degrees, assuming affected as well) has been made aware of this. I know in an early iOS release (like 3 or 4 days) the voicemail stopped working for Telecom and they were able to get it fixed so really REALLY hope they can solve this one too. Not blaming Telecom as they aren't a supported carrier but preying they can work something out as I cant keep guessing who text me or is calling(camtab has made 462 comments)
  • after having to change my apple ID from what it has been since 2006 to an email account - I hooked up to the iCloud
    I am having dups in my contacts already so I do NOT trust it with my contacts, calendar or email
    I wanted location based reminders to work
    all that effort and calling apple get me a $29 bill to try to fix it
  • You are actually a excellent webmaster. The web site loading velocity is incredible. It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Also, The contents are masterwork. you have done a magnificent activity on this subject!
  • You can certainly see your expertise in the work you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.
  • It's the best time to make some plans for the long run and it's time to be happy. I have read this put up and if I could I want to recommend you some attention-grabbing issues or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to learn more things about it!
  • Hello my loved one! I wish to say that this article is amazing, great written and include almost all significant infos. I'd like to see extra posts like this .
  • I've been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this website. Studying this info So i'm satisfied to show that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I most indisputably will make certain to do not disregard this web site and give it a glance on a continuing basis.
  • Excellent post, very informative. I ponder why the other specialists of this sector do not notice this. You must proceed your writing. I am confident, you have a huge readers' base already!|What's Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely helpful and it has helped me out loads. I'm hoping to give a contribution & help different users like its aided me. Good job.
  • I do believe all of the ideas you have introduced on your post. They're very convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are very brief for novices. May just you please prolong them a bit from next time? Thank you for the post.
  • It's really a nice and helpful piece of info. I'm happy that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
  • Great Article Boss... Good Work. http://appleidwithoutccard.blogspot.in/