If you can’t create an Apple Account or see “your account cannot be created at this time”

Find out what to do if you can’t create an Apple Account. You can try again later, or try a different way to create an Apple Account.

If this isn’t the first Apple Account you’ve tried to create

If you already have an Apple Account and you’re trying to create additional accounts, there are alternatives depending on what you’re trying to do.

• If you’re trying to create an account because you’ve forgotten your Apple Account password, reset your password.

• If you’re trying to create an Apple Account and see a message that says the email address or phone number is unavailable or can’t be used, an Apple Account already exists that uses it. Try a different email address or phone number, or reset your password for that account.

• If you’re trying to create an Apple Account for a child, use Family Sharing to create an Apple Account for a child instead.

• If you’re trying to set up multiple accounts for a business or employees, use a Managed Apple Account in Apple Business Manager, or let users create their own accounts.

If you still need help

If you can’t create your Apple Account, there are some things you can try.

Use an Apple device or app

If you have an Apple device, use that to create your account in Settings or System Preferences. If you have a Windows PC or Android device, try creating your account on the web at account.apple.com.

Update to the latest software

Your Apple device or Apple app may not be up to date.

• Update to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS

• Update to the latest version of macOS

• On a Windows PC or Android phone, update your operating system and check for the latest updates to Apple’s apps

If this is your first Apple Account

If you can still see “your account cannot be created at this time” on a device with up-to-date software, get suggestions on what to try next.

Check your internet connection

Make sure you can open web pages in your device’s web browser. If you can open web pages, try again later to create an Apple Account. You may want to switch to mobile data or a different Wi-Fi network, if available. You can also check Apple’s System Status page to see if there’s an outage in your country or region.