How to Create an Apple ID

Technology
1

Your Apple ID is your entry ticket to just about everything iPhone. You need it to sign in and make purchases at the iTunes Store, the App Store, the iBook Store, and the online Apple Store, as well as to sign in and set up iCloud, Apple’s remote syncing and storage service.

Chances are you created an Apple ID when your phone was activated at the Apple Store or the retailer where you bought your iPhone or if you activated your iPhone yourself, you may have created one as part of the Setup Assistant procedure. If you skipped that step, make sure your iPhone is connected to the Internet and create an Apple ID by doing the following:

  1. On the Home screen, tap Settings→iCloud.

  2. Tap Get a Free Apple ID.The Create an Apple ID screen opens.

  3. Scroll through the rotor to choose your birth date.You have to be at least 13 years of age to create an Apple ID and if you are between 13 and 18, you have to have parental consent.

  4. Tap Next, and then enter your first and last name in the fields.

  5. Tap Next. This screen establishes the e-mail address that will be used with your Apple ID. You can do one of the following:

  • Use your current email address: Type in the e-mail address you want to use as your Apple ID.

  • Get a free iCloud email address: Choose this and you then create an e-mail address that will have an @icloud.com suffix. You cannot change your iCloud e-mail address after you create it, so choose carefully.

  1. Tap Create to confirm your choice.If someone else already uses that ID, you’ll be asked if it’s yours or to cancel to create another choice.

  2. Create a password that has at least eight characters and contains at least one each of upper and lower case letters. Tap Next.

  3. Add three security questions.Select a question from the options and then type in the answer. Tap Next to go to the next question.

  4. Add an optional Rescue Email (different than the iCloud address you created) that will be used if you forget your password.

  5. Turn on or off e-mail updates, which are communications from Apple about software updates and new products and services.

  6. Tap Agree to agree to the Terms and Conditions of your iCloud e-mail and Apple ID.Your account is created and you are automatically signed in.

  7. Tap next.

  8. You are asked if iCloud can use your location; it is suggested you tap OK, as it will be needed to activate Find my iPhone.

  9. Tap the features you want to use with iCloud.

  10. Make note of your @icloud.com e-mail address and keep your password in a safe place.

  11. Press the Home button to return to the Home screen.

If you are more comfortable working from a computer, you can create your Apple ID from the iCloud System Preferences on a Mac or the iCloud Control Panel for Windows on a computer with Windows 7 or 8.