Apple ID: what it is, how to create one, and what to do when the password doesn't work
Apple ID is the single account you use to sign in to the App Store, iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime and Find My. It's created for free directly on the phone (Settings → Sign in to your iPhone → Don't have an Apple ID?) or at account.apple.com. You can recover your password at iforgot.apple.com or in Settings → your name → Sign-In & Security. Two-factor authentication is mandatory today and protects your account even if your password leaks. The most important rule when buying second-hand: the phone must be signed out of the original Apple ID, otherwise Activation Lock will lock it and it becomes unusable. Every iPhone we sell is handed over completely signed out and with its content erased, so you create or sign in with your own Apple ID the first time you turn it on.
Apple ID is the single account you use to sign in to the App Store, iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime and Find My. It's created for free directly on the phone (Settings → Sign in to your iPhone → Don't have an Apple ID?) or at account.apple.com. You can recover your password at iforgot.apple.com or in Settings → your name → Sign-In & Security. Two-factor authentication is mandatory today and protects your account even if your password leaks. The most important rule when buying second-hand: the phone must be signed out of the original Apple ID, otherwise Activation Lock will lock it and it becomes unusable. Every iPhone we sell is handed over completely signed out and with its content erased, so you create or sign in with your own Apple ID the first time you turn it on.
In this article
- What Apple ID actually is
- How to create an Apple ID directly on your iPhone
- How to recover a forgotten password
- Two-factor authentication: why not to turn it off
- How to sign out of Apple ID before selling a phone
- Activation Lock: what to watch for when buying second-hand
- Common misconceptions about Apple ID
What Apple ID actually is
Apple ID is your single identity across Apple devices. It's an email address plus a password, behind which sit your App Store purchases, iCloud backups, photos, contacts, calendar, iMessage, FaceTime, subscriptions and Find My.
You can use one account on an iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch at the same time, and data syncs between them. Conversely, one device can only be signed in to a single Apple ID for iCloud at any given time — that's why you need to sign out of the previous account when changing phones.
How to create an Apple ID directly on your iPhone
1. Open Settings and tap Sign in to your iPhone
This row is right at the top, above the other items.
2. Choose Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it?
Then tap Create Apple ID.
3. Enter your name and date of birth
Your date of birth affects age restrictions in the App Store and can't be freely changed later — fill it in correctly.
4. Use your email address
You can use an existing email, or have an icloud.com address created for you. Use an inbox you have long-term access to — it's also used to recover your password.
5. Choose a strong password
At least 8 characters, upper and lower case letters and a number. Don't reuse a password you have elsewhere.
6. Verify your phone number
The number is used for two-factor authentication. You'll receive an SMS with a code.
7. Confirm your email
A verification code arrives in your inbox. Once entered, the account is ready and you're signed in immediately.
How to recover a forgotten password
The process differs depending on whether you have a signed-in Apple device to hand.
- You have a signed-in iPhone or iPad: Settings → your name → Sign-In & Security → Change Password. Confirm with your screen lock code and enter your new password straight away. The fastest route.
- You don't have any device to hand: Open iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID and go through verification via your phone number. The code arrives by SMS.
- You don't even have access to that number: Apple starts an account recovery process. It takes several days and is a security measure that can't be sped up. While you wait, the account remains functional on devices already signed in.
- You have a recovery contact set up: A trusted family member generates a code for you in the Settings app, which you use to confirm the recovery within a few minutes. We recommend setting this contact up in advance.
Two-factor authentication: why not to turn it off
Two-factor authentication means a password alone isn't enough to sign in on a new device — you also need a six-digit code that appears on a trusted device or arrives by SMS. It's turned on automatically for new accounts, and Apple doesn't let you permanently disable it once set up.
It's the strongest protection for your photos, backups and payments. Anyone who gets hold of your password can't get into your account without access to your phone or your number. In Settings → your name → Sign-In & Security, check that your current phone number is listed — after changing numbers, this is the most common source of trouble.
How to sign out of Apple ID before selling a phone
The most important step, and one that's often forgotten. Without signing out, the phone stays tied to Activation Lock and the new owner won't be able to use it.
1. Back up your data
Settings → your name → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now. Or via a computer.
2. Unpair your Apple Watch
If you've paired one, unpair it in the Watch app — otherwise the watch will remain locked.
3. Sign out of Apple ID
Settings → your name → all the way down to Sign Out. Enter your Apple ID password, which also turns off Find My.
4. Erase all content
Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings. The phone restarts to the welcome screen.
5. Confirm the lock is gone
After turning it on, the phone must end up on the Hello screen and must not ask for the previous account's password.
Activation Lock: what to watch for when buying second-hand
- What Activation Lock does: It ties the phone to the previous owner's Apple ID. Without their password, the phone can't be activated after being erased — it becomes an unusable brick. No repair shop can bypass it.
- How to spot a locked unit: When turned on, the phone asks for the previous owner's Apple ID and password instead of the standard setup assistant. There's no point buying such a phone.
- Checking before you buy: Ask for the phone to be erased and turned back on when you collect it. It must boot to the Hello welcome screen with no other account attached.
- How we handle it: Every iPhone is fully signed out, erased and tested before sale. You receive it in factory-reset condition, so you create or sign in with your own Apple ID the first time you turn it on. Every phone comes with a 2-year warranty.
Common misconceptions about Apple ID
- "Apple ID is the same as iCloud": It isn't. Apple ID is the account, iCloud is one of the services this account unlocks. iCloud storage has its own plans; Apple ID itself is free.
- "The whole family shares one account": Don't do this. A shared account means shared photos, messages and location. The correct solution is Family Sharing — everyone has their own Apple ID, but purchases are still shared.
- "Changing my password will lose my purchases": It won't. Purchases, apps and backups are tied to the account, not the password.
- "You can delete an Apple ID and reuse the same email": After deleting an account, the email address is only released to a limited extent, and purchases are gone for good. Think it through carefully.