It happens to the best of us. Maybe you forgot the password to an account you made a decade ago with an email address that doesn’t even exist anymore. Or perhaps you’re moving to a new country and realized, quite painfully, that the App Store is region-locked. You’re sitting there staring at your iPhone, wondering, how do I get a new apple id without turning my digital life into a smoldering crater? Honestly, it’s not as scary as it sounds, but there are definitely some "gotchas" that Apple doesn't exactly put in bold letters on their support pages.
Most people think they’re stuck. They think one device equals one ID forever. Wrong. You can pivot, but you have to be methodical. If you just start clicking buttons, you might end up losing years of photos or, worse, getting locked out of your own hardware thanks to Activation Lock.
The Reality of Starting Fresh
Apple really wants you to have just one identity. Their entire ecosystem—iCloud, iMessage, Keychain, and those expensive subscriptions—is built on the idea that you are one person with one login. When you ask how do I get a new apple id, you’re essentially telling the system you want to be a new person.
This creates a bit of friction.
If you have a bunch of paid apps on your old account, they aren't coming with you. Period. Apple doesn't "merge" accounts. If you bought Final Cut Pro or Minecraft on account A, account B is going to have to buy them again unless you set up Family Sharing, which is a clever little workaround we’ll get into later. You’ve got to weigh the cost of your data against the convenience of a clean slate.
Making the ID on the Web (The Easiest Path)
If you’re currently logged into a Mac or an iPhone, don’t try to create the new account through the Settings app first. It gets messy. The cleanest way is to head over to the official Apple ID portal.
You’ll need a valid email address that hasn't been used for an Apple service before. This is where people trip up. You can't use an old @icloud.com address that was an alias. It needs to be a fresh Gmail, Outlook, or whatever you use. You also need a phone number. Apple is strict about two-factor authentication (2FA) now. You can use the same phone number for multiple Apple IDs, which is a lifesaver, but don't lose access to that number or you're basically toast.
Setting Up via iPhone or iPad
Maybe you don't have a computer handy. Fine. If you're setting up a brand-new device, just select "Forgot password or don't have an Apple ID?" during the setup screen. Then tap "Create a Free Apple ID."
But what if you're already using the phone?
You have to sign out of the old one first. This is the danger zone. When you go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, the phone is going to ask if you want to keep a copy of your data on the device. Say yes. Keep your contacts, keep your keychain, keep your health data. If you don't, when you sign in with the new ID, your phone will be as empty as a desert. Once you're signed out, the option to "Sign in to your iPhone" appears, and that's where you'll find the link to create a new account.
The Nightmare of Activation Lock
We have to talk about Activation Lock because it ruins lives. Seriously. If you are trying to "get a new Apple ID" because you bought a used phone and it's asking for someone else's password, you aren't looking for a new ID—you're looking for a miracle.
Apple’s security is ironclad. If "Find My" is turned on, that hardware is tethered to that specific Apple ID. You cannot simply create a new ID to bypass this. You need the original owner to remove the device from their account. If you're the original owner and you're just starting fresh, make sure you turn off "Find My" before you go nuking your old account.
What About My Photos and Messages?
This is where things get "kinda" complicated. iCloud Photos are synced, not stored. If you sign out of Account A and sign into Account B, your phone will eventually want to sync with Account B's empty cloud.
If you chose to "Keep a copy" on your device during the sign-out process, your photos stay in the local library. When you sign into the new ID, iCloud will ask if you want to Merge the data. Tap Merge. Now, all those old photos are being uploaded to the new account's storage. Just remember that the free 5GB Apple gives you will disappear in about four seconds if you have a massive library. You’ll probably need to pony up for iCloud+ pretty quickly.
iMessage is different. Your old conversations are tied to the old ID. While they might stay on your phone for a while, once you start a new thread, it’s coming from a new "address." Your friends will see two different chat bubbles for you. It’s annoying. There's no way around it.
The Family Sharing Loophole
If you’re starting a new ID because you want a different email or a fresh start, but you don't want to lose $200 worth of apps and movies, use Family Sharing.
- Keep the old account alive (don't delete it).
- Set up the new Apple ID.
- Invite the new ID to a "Family Group" led by the old ID.
- Enable "Purchase Sharing."
Now, the new ID can download all the stuff the old ID paid for. It’s a bit of a "zombie account" situation, but it saves you money.
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Regional Issues and the App Store
Sometimes people ask how do I get a new apple id because they moved from London to New York. The App Store is notoriously difficult about regions. You can change the region of an existing account, but you have to cancel all your subscriptions and spend every last cent of your store credit first. Sometimes it's just easier to make a second ID for the new country.
Just know that switching between IDs on one device to update apps is a massive pain. The phone will constantly nag you for the password of the "other" account every time an app needs an update. It’s a friction-filled existence.
Verification is Not Optional
Apple has ramped up their fraud detection. If you try to create a new ID using a VPN or a "burner" VoIP number, they will likely flag the account immediately. Use a real carrier number. Use your real name.
They also care about your birthday. If you set the age to under 13, the account gets locked into a "Child Account" status, which requires a "Family Organizer" to manage. Don't mess that up unless you want to be calling Apple Support and uploading birth certificates.
Essential Next Steps
Getting the account is just step one. To make sure it actually works and stays secure, you need to do a few things immediately after the "Account Created" screen disappears.
- Generate a Recovery Key: Since you're starting fresh, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign-In & Security > Account Recovery. Set up a Recovery Contact or a Recovery Key. If you lose access to this new account, and you don't have these, Apple cannot—and will not—help you.
- Check Your iCloud Backup: Make sure it’s actually turned on for the new account. It often defaults to 'off' for certain large categories like Photos if you don't have enough space.
- Update Your Emergency Card: Your Medical ID and emergency contacts are often tied to your Apple ID profile. Re-fill that info in the Health app.
- Verify Your Email: You’ll get a code. Enter it. If you don't verify the email within the first few hours, some services like FaceTime might just stop working without telling you why.
Basically, getting a new Apple ID is a digital "move." You’re packing up your boxes and moving into a new house. Some things fit, some things have to be thrown away, and the paperwork is a bit of a slog. But once you're in, it’s a clean slate. Just keep that password somewhere safe—preferably not just on a sticky note.