Create and manage an Apple Account using a phone number instead of an email address

When you create a new Apple Account in China mainland or India, you can use your mobile phone number to sign in to your Apple Account.

Here’s how it works

Any time you set up an iPhone or iPad, you have the option to sign in to your existing Apple Account or create a new account. If you create a new Apple Account on an iPhone in iOS 11 or later, you can use your mobile phone number to sign in to your Apple Account in China mainland and India. If you live in China mainland, use your (+86) mobile phone number. If you live in India, use your (+91) number. Depending on your carrier, you might also be able to create a new account with a mobile phone number on some Android devices, smart TVs, and streaming devices. Just choose Create Your Apple Account from the Apple Account sign-in screen and follow the instructions to create your new account.

Once your account is created, you can use it to sign in on any Apple device or service. Whenever you sign in on a new device, app, or service, you’ll enter your mobile phone number — including the country code — and your password. Be sure to use the same Apple Account everywhere you sign in so that your Apple devices and services work together seamlessly.

What you need

Here’s what you need to use your mobile phone number to sign in to your Apple Account:

• iPhone or iPad with iOS 11 or later

• Mac with macOS High Sierra or later

• Apple Watch with watchOS 4 or later

• Apple TV with tvOS 11 or later

• Apple.com, iCloud.com, and other Apple web properties*

• Apple services on third-party devices

Account security

Depending on where you created your account and how much personal information is associated with it, account security requirements might vary. When using an Apple device, it’s best to use two-factor authentication. In some cases, you might be prompted to review or upgrade your security when signing in on an Apple device or an Apple website.

Messages from Apple

Since there isn’t an email address associated with a mobile phone number-based Apple Account, communications from Apple come to you through Messages on your iPhone or iPad and account.apple.com.

To make sure that you receive important account-related messages on your iPhone or iPad, sign in on iCloud, Messages, and FaceTime with your phone number and Apple Account password. If you sign in on iCloud on an iPhone or iPad without a SIM card, you can’t use FaceTime and Messages. You can always see your messages from Apple on account.apple.com.

Change your Apple Account phone number to a different mobile phone number

Depending on the country or region that you live in and how you created your Apple Account, you might be able to change your primary Apple Account phone number to a different mobile phone number from your Apple Account page, or on your iPhone or iPad.

If your new mobile phone number is already connected to your Apple Account as a Messages phone number, shared phone number, or trusted phone number, then you don’t need to verify it.

Didn’t get a code? In some cases, your trusted phone number can be automatically verified in the background on your iPhone. It’s one less thing to do, and your account is still protected with two-factor authentication.

Change your Apple Account phone number to an email address

You might be prompted to change your Apple Account phone number to an email address if you no longer own the mobile phone number being used to sign in to your Apple Account. You can also change your Apple Account phone number to an email address to make sign in and recovery easier.

1. Sign out of every Apple service and device that uses your Apple Account, except the one you’re using to change your Apple Account phone number.

2. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security.

3. Next to Email & Phone Numbers, tap Edit.

4. Tap Delete next to your phone number and follow the instructions.

5. After you enter the email address that you want to use to sign in to your Apple Account, a verification code is sent to you at that address. Enter the verification code from the text into the fields provided.

6. Sign back in to your Apple Account on all Apple services.

If you move to a different country or region

You can change your Apple Account phone number to a new mobile phone number or an email address. Make sure that the mobile phone number can be verified by SMS. First, change your Apple Account country or region. Then follow the steps to change your Apple Account phone number to a new mobile phone number or to an email address.

If someone else uses your phone number to sign in to their Apple Account

It’s possible that someone who previously owned your phone number is still using that number to sign in to their Apple Account. In this case, you aren’t able to use your phone number to sign in to your own Apple Account. You can still sign in with the email addresses on file in your Apple Account.

The previous owner of your phone number cannot access any of your account information or use your number for iMessage and FaceTime. It’s simply how they sign in to their own, separate Apple Account.

In order for you to use your phone number to sign in to your Apple Account, the previous owner of your phone number would have to remove it from their Apple Account.