A few things. The support tech was blatantly incorrect The issue is the phone number in relation to Apple's account system, it may have been used with multiple accounts or for one reason or another its blacklisted from account creation. When talking to support, you can request a senior advisor at anytime and it will likely result in you being connected with someone who can actually fix your issue, especially in a case like this. There is nothing you can do to fix this support has to fix it on their end, unless you would be willing to create the account with a different phone number. Answer from Kregelt on reddit.com
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 120636
If you can’t create an Apple Account or see “your account cannot be created at this time” - Apple Support
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.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › first time apple user here. can't create a new account.
r/applehelp on Reddit: First time Apple user here. Can't create a new account.
December 6, 2024 -

I'm honestly dumbfounded. I have a brand new iPad 10th gen. Long time Android user, so this is my first apple product ever. Get started on setting up my iPad, all is going well until it asks me to sign in. Obviously, I don't have an account, so I click through to try and create one.

Enter my email, create a password, etc. all good. Then I get to the 2fa screen. Enter my phone number to get a code and I'm hit with the error message "Your account could not be created." Weird. So I try it a few more times and even try using my girlfriend's phone number. None of that works.

Go online and some people have had similar issues. Someone suggested going to music.apple.com to create an account and then sign in on the iPad. I tried that, and while I was able to create an account, trying to sign in on the iPad with this account gives me a similar issue. As soon as I enter my password it makes me enter a phone number for 2fa. "Verification codes can't be sent to this phone number at this time. Please try again later."

I'm starting to get aggravated, so I finally give in and call support. We talk for a while and she suggests that I go to account.apple.com and sign in there. I do this and it once again asks for a phone number to use 2fa. Lo and behold, this time it actually takes my phone number and actually sends me a code. I enter the code and it takes me to a disclaimer screen of some kind telling me by signing into this website, Apple records usage, etc.

It has a blue button at the bottom that says 'continue' obviously I hit that button, but absolutely nothing happens. I figure it may just be loading, so I give it maybe 30 seconds before I hit it again. Still nothing happens. I decide to try the same process on my computer. I get to the same screen with the same button at the bottom. I click it and...... nothing happens. It's obvious that the button isn't even trying to do anything because Chrome isn't even trying to load anything.

Finally the support tech tells me (in what I believe is an attempt to make this another tech's problem) that since I just got the iPad today, an account can't be signed into this iPad for 24 hours. (What???????) Told me to call again tomorrow. I actually got the iPad yesterday, but I wasn't about to argue with her since she obviously has no idea what's going on lol.

So here I am with a brand new iPad that can't be used and support is no help whatsoever.

Top answer
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A few things. The support tech was blatantly incorrect The issue is the phone number in relation to Apple's account system, it may have been used with multiple accounts or for one reason or another its blacklisted from account creation. When talking to support, you can request a senior advisor at anytime and it will likely result in you being connected with someone who can actually fix your issue, especially in a case like this. There is nothing you can do to fix this support has to fix it on their end, unless you would be willing to create the account with a different phone number.
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You just got bad timing. Issue started from 4-5 Dec. I can not login to my account with phone verification code as well... it says "can't be sent at this time. try later". And support said same about 24hrs, but it did not helped of course. To be honest smells like service failure or hacker attack.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 105034
Using your phone number for Apple Account instead of an email address - Apple Support
Follow the onscreen instructions to create your Apple Account, and use a phone number instead of an email address. If you no longer use the primary phone number that’s associated with your Apple Account, or you no longer have access to it, you can change it.
People also ask
Can you create an Apple ID without a phone number?

Yes, you can create an Apple ID without a phone number. When createing a new Apple ID, you can select Use your current email address or Get a free iCloud email address. Then you don't need to enter your phone number.

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magfone.com
magfone.com › home › resource › repair ios › your account cannot be created at this time? fixed!
Your Account Cannot Be Created at This Time? Fixed!
How to create a new Apple ID and transfer everything?

In fact, you cannot transfer everything from an Apple ID to a new one directly. But you can download and save the data from iCloud. Then you can sync them to your new Apple ID.

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magfone.com
magfone.com › home › resource › repair ios › your account cannot be created at this time? fixed!
Your Account Cannot Be Created at This Time? Fixed!
Can I create an Apple ID using a browser?
Yes, you can create an Apple ID through a browser by visiting Apple’s ID creation page. This can sometimes bypass issues found on devices.
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tuneskit.com
tuneskit.com › home › fix iphone issues › your account cannot be created at this time? 12 fixes for you now
[12 Ways] How to Fix Cannot Create Apple ID at This Time?
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MagFone
magfone.com › home › resource › repair ios › your account cannot be created at this time? fixed!
Your Account Cannot Be Created at This Time? Fixed!
August 13, 2024 - Case 1. When you forgot your Apple ... or phone number used to create an account is unavailable or can't be used, try a different email address or phone....
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255188579
Invalid phone number while creating Apple ID
Problem: Setting up an Apple watch for a child with a standalone account (i.e. not associated with an iPhone plan), when upon submission of my phone number as a recovery number, an error message that reads "Invalid Phone Number" presents and forward progress on setup is ended. After 4 grueling days of troubleshooting with Apple, then my cellular service provider, it was the latter that recommended that, at the stage of Apple ID creation in which a phone number is requested, deleting the pre-populated phone number (my own), re-typing it in, then submitting it.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 108647
How to create a new Apple Account - Apple Support
1 month ago - Your phone number can help to verify your identity and recover your account if needed. If you enter a payment method, you won’t be charged until you make a purchase. Open the App Store and tap the My Account button.
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TunesKit
tuneskit.com › home › fix iphone issues › your account cannot be created at this time? 12 fixes for you now
[12 Ways] How to Fix Cannot Create Apple ID at This Time?
March 19, 2025 - Step 1: Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). Step 2: Click Sign In at the top. Step 3: Select Create Apple ID. Step 4: Enter your personal details, email, and password. Step 5: Provide your phone number for verification.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › your account cannot be created at this time.
r/applehelp on Reddit: Your account cannot be created at this time.
October 5, 2023 -

I just bought an iPhone SE2 and after coming home tried to create an Apple ID. It's my first Apple product, so, it's the first time i try to create an AppleID. I tried to do so on my new device (both in app store and in settings), on my 2 non-apple laptops in different browsers (Firefox, Firefox developer edition, Microsoft Edge, Safari on iPhone) and always got same message: "Your account cannot be created at this time." I even tried to create it on my old android device.

What might be causing this problem and is there a way to fix it?

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worked when change from phone call to text message
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Still having issues trying to create one: went through icloud.com, the apple.appleid., nothing. ANy suggestions? have all Mac products.
Find elsewhere
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Stack Exchange
apple.stackexchange.com › questions › 468796 › is-there-a-way-to-set-up-a-new-apple-id-without-a-phone
two factor authentication - Is there a way to set up a new apple ID without a phone? - Ask Different
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You can use the same phone number for two different Apple IDs. If you want anonymity, you'll want to acquire a second phone number.

In the example you provided, since your computer is registered to show your SMS numbers then the computer is one of the "2nd factors" alongside the phone. If you don't want SMS 2FA you'll have to set up a security key.

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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255708740
I can't create Apple ID. - Apple Community
Using an Apple device to create ...tsupport.apple.com. Hope this helps! ... If it’s not a problem with your connection to Apple then it may be a problem with your data entry....
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/ios › why cant i make an apple id
r/ios on Reddit: Why cant I make an apple id
August 12, 2025 - I'm in Japan, and I was able to create an Apple account on my iPhone 4S without a phone number. However, it's not possible to do it a second time. In that case, you can create a second Apple account by completely resetting the device with 3uTools. ... I could have created one in iOS6 if I had the certificate installed, but since I don't have a phone number I can't use the App Store, so it's better to create an ID on the website (lol).
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Twilio
twilio.com › en-us › blog › insights › best-practices › cannot-verify-phone-number-apple-id
Why can't I verify my phone number for Apple ID? | Twilio
July 1, 2025 - Verification like two-factor authentication (2FA) is crucial when setting up your new phone. Without it, bad actors can get your Apple ID and make purchases, change your settings, and access personal information.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254055469
Creating Apple ID is asking for a Phone Number!
That was back in the days when there was less safety and security on your account · On a new account, as Eric Root said, two factor authentication is standard enabled, and you cannot make a new account without providing your phone number to keep your apple id safe with two factor authentication.
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JustAnswer
justanswer.com › mac-computers › pn3i6-not-able-create-apple-id-phone-number-code.html
I am not able to create an Apple ID, the phone number code isn't working. I'm trying to create an Apple id. 6 times now.
I accidentally entered my phone number incorrectly, sorry about that. ... To ensure I can reach you at the correct number, please contact our Customer Service team at either (****) ****-**** or 1(****) ****-****. Provide them with the updated ...
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Quora
quora.com › I-cant-create-my-Apple-ID-It-still-tells-me-it-cant-be-created-at-this-time-What-do-I-do
I can't create my Apple ID. It still tells me it can't be created at this time. What do I do? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): Thanks for the A2A. First, make sure you have a working Internet connection. Once you have established that, make sure the email address you are using is a). valid; and b). not already in use by Apple as an Apple ID.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254602236
How to create an apple ID without phone number?
It is not possible to create an Apple ID without providing a phone number. ... "Confirm your phone number. This can help to verify your identity and recover your account if needed."
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 251773868
Why need phone number to register Apple ID - Apple Community
I don't want to use my primary Apple ID in the forums, so why I can't create a 2nd Apple ID without providing a phone number during account setup. On top of that the sign up form is broken. Enter a new phone number. Be sure to enter a phone number you can always access.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255558378
Couldn't create Apple ID: You cannot use … - Apple Community
Phone number not valid when creating an Apple ID when i creating apple id it says that phone number is not valid [Re-Titled by Moderator] 2101 1 · Your request could not be completed at this time. I was trying to create a new appleid but not matter what I try it always says that my account cannot ...
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FoneGeek
fonegeek.com › iphone-issues › your-account-cannot-be-created-at-this-time.html
11 Ways to Fix Your Account Cannot Be Created At This Time
Also, go to Settings > General > Language & Region to ensure the correct country/region is selected. After adjusting these settings, restart your device and try signing up again. Occasionally, Apple may run into issues while verifying your phone number during Apple ID setup.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 111001
Sign in to your Apple Account on the web or in your device settings - Apple Support
3 days ago - If prompted, enter the six-digit verification code sent to your trusted device or phone number to complete sign-in. ... * To sign in with another Apple device, Bluetooth must be turned on for both devices and both devices need compatible software.