Unable to create Apple ID: 'Your account cannot be created

I’m helping a friend set up a new Apple ID before they purchase a new iPhone. We’ve gone through the usual steps, including verifying both the email address and the phone number. However, when entering the verification code sent to the phone number, we receive the error:


“Your account cannot be created” or “Your account cannot be created at this time.”

Because I live in a country where contacting Apple Support directly is difficult—and Apple no longer offers support by email—I’m unsure how to proceed.


If anyone has experienced this issue or knows of any possible solutions, I’d appreciate your guidance. Thank you in advance.

Posted on Dec 3, 2025 5:20 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 3, 2025 7:10 AM

If you are creating a new account, check Apple’s list of solutions for seeing that message —> If you can’t create an Apple Account or see “your account cannot be created at this time” - Apple Support


If it’s not a problem with your connection to Apple then it may be a problem with your data entry. “At this time" is unfortunately a somewhat vague Apple catch-all error message. It could mean that you cannot connect to the Apple service you need to use, or it could mean there is something invalid or missing in your information entry and once you correct that, _then_ it is time. ;-)


- Check if the problem actually is at Apple’s end of things and if there’s an issue with Apple's servers: Apple - Support - System Status

- Completely remove (don’t just disable) any VPN you are using.


If those do not resolve the issue, there is probably something Apple doesn’t like about your information. Check what you are doing is valid (such as when creating an account all your information is consistent for the country in which you are creating the account) and has ALL the information required (scroll down to see if there’s more off the bottom of a page). Confer with Apple's documentation about the action you are trying to do.


If you still have problems, contact official Apple Support:


For help with Apple ID issues, click here ➞ https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=cups&PGF=PGF63005


Click here --> Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support Select your country, then a product. If you don't see one that handles your issue then keep experimenting with selections until you reach one that gets you a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.


or:


Contact Apple for support and service --> "See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world."

Click here --> Contact Apple Support - Apple Support


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 3, 2025 7:10 AM in response to Lutenantfire

If you are creating a new account, check Apple’s list of solutions for seeing that message —> If you can’t create an Apple Account or see “your account cannot be created at this time” - Apple Support


If it’s not a problem with your connection to Apple then it may be a problem with your data entry. “At this time" is unfortunately a somewhat vague Apple catch-all error message. It could mean that you cannot connect to the Apple service you need to use, or it could mean there is something invalid or missing in your information entry and once you correct that, _then_ it is time. ;-)


- Check if the problem actually is at Apple’s end of things and if there’s an issue with Apple's servers: Apple - Support - System Status

- Completely remove (don’t just disable) any VPN you are using.


If those do not resolve the issue, there is probably something Apple doesn’t like about your information. Check what you are doing is valid (such as when creating an account all your information is consistent for the country in which you are creating the account) and has ALL the information required (scroll down to see if there’s more off the bottom of a page). Confer with Apple's documentation about the action you are trying to do.


If you still have problems, contact official Apple Support:


For help with Apple ID issues, click here ➞ https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=cups&PGF=PGF63005


Click here --> Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support Select your country, then a product. If you don't see one that handles your issue then keep experimenting with selections until you reach one that gets you a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.


or:


Contact Apple for support and service --> "See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world."

Click here --> Contact Apple Support - Apple Support


Dec 3, 2025 6:43 AM in response to Lutenantfire

Where did you apply for an Apple Account? Without a device your friend should have applied on the website. If you tried on your personal device then that may be the reason it won’t go through.


How to create a new Apple Account - Apple Support


If you can’t create an Apple Account or see “your account cannot be created at this time” - Apple Support


https://account.apple.com/account#


See if these links to Apple Support documents help.

Unable to create Apple ID: 'Your account cannot be created

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