Posting this here in case there's anyone else out there who doesn't use Apple devices, but needs to create an Apple ID and access the Apple app store.
I eventually succeeded in creating an Apple ID via the Create Your Apple ID web interface. (It seems Apple didn't like something about the phone number I was initially using to confirm my account… but not sure what.)
After that, however, I faced a new problem.
I want to use ipatool to extract iOS software package distributions from the Apple app store, but after authenticating, ipatool was giving me errors like the following…
$ ipatool search "keywords on app store"
ERR error="you have not used this Apple ID on the app store before"
It seems Apple really wants to prevent me from accessing the app store until it thinks I have an actual Apple device linked to my account. (Eesh, what control-freakery .)
So then I tried logging in to my new Apple ID on the web, and browsing the web interface for iOS apps on https://apps.apple.com … but this still didn't enable ipatool to work.
However, I eventually discovered a solution.
I visited https://music.apple.com, and used my new Apple ID to sign in, and… then ipatool started working with my Apple ID.
Happy hacking.
Answer from Dan Lenski on Stack ExchangeVideos
Hi all,
I am currently on an Android phone and am planning to buy an iPhone in the near future. In preparation, I have started to make a new iCloud account, but it seems certain things like mail can only be fully set up on an Apple device, and I do not currently own one.
Is there any way around this or can I not fully complete the setup until I get an Apple device?
All of my friends in one group have an iPhone so they usually just create a shared album and add all the photos for any trips or parties to that new shared album. I have a Pixel 7 Pro with no other Apple devices at all. I've tried now two separate times a few months apart to get an AppleID with two separate emails and both instances I've run in to the same unhelpful error messages.
Your account cannot be created at this time
This Apple Account is either not valid or not supported.
Security code error: Verification codes cannot be sent to this phone number at this time.
The first one happens after I successfully entering the security code from my email, then enter the security code sent to my phone number, then this message pops up with no further details.
I tried already resetting the password for both emails and my phone number separately thinking I might've accidentally made my account earlier and resetting the password should do it but that's not the case. If I try resetting with my email I get the 2ndmessage, if I try resetting with my phone number I get the 3rd message.
Does anyone have any idea how to get around this problem? Any input onto what I might be doing wrong?Has anyone had success signing up for an AppleID without Apple devices?
Any help at all is greatly appreciated, this is extremely frustrating.
Was given an iPad (Mini, cellular model) recently as a gift. Would like to create an Apple ID for it but don't want to give them my mobile phone number. I understand it's required for authentication and 2FA (why SMS instead of OTP app based in 2021, I have no idea), but since cellular iPad's don't have phone functionality, I can't use the number from the sim card I insert in it.
I was thinking of virtual numbers, but have no experience with them don't know if they're safe. My limited search-fu on DDG and Startpage yielded results that ranged from rather suspect to extremely expensive. Maybe I'm searching wrong?
All I need is a number that can receive text messages from Apple. Preferably cheap, private (meaning not shared with a gazillion people like the free options) and privacy respecting. Ideally, something where I can just log into a web interface on a browser to check messages. I don't mind paying (preferably cheap), and I don't mind if it's a US number (I don't live there) since I can just create the Apple ID while tunneling to a US server and buy US App Store gift cards for payments.
What are my options?
Thanks.