Use your mobile phone number as your Apple ID

When you create a new Apple ID in China mainland or India, you can use your mobile phone number as your Apple ID user name.

Here's how it works

Any time you set up an iPhone or iPad, you have the option to sign in with your existing Apple ID or create a new account. If you create a new Apple ID on an iPhone in iOS 11 or later, you can use your mobile phone number as your Apple ID user name in China mainland and India. If you live in China mainland, use your (+86) mobile phone number. If you live in India, use your (+91) number. Depending on your carrier, you might also be able to create a new account with a mobile phone number on some Android devices, smart TVs, and streaming devices. Just choose Create Your Apple ID from the Apple ID sign-in screen and follow the instructions to create your new account.

Once your account is created, you can use it to sign in to any Apple device or service. Whenever you sign in to a new device, app, or service, you’ll enter your mobile phone number—including the country code—and your password. Be sure to use the same Apple ID everywhere you sign in so that your Apple devices and services work together seamlessly.

What you need

Here's what you need to use your mobile phone number as your Apple ID user name:

• iPhone or iPad with iOS 11 or later

• Mac with macOS High Sierra or later

• Apple Watch with watchOS 4 or later

• Apple TV with tvOS 11 or later

• Apple.com, iCloud.com, and other Apple web properties*

• Apple services on third-party devices

Account security

Depending on where you created your account and how much personal information is associated with it, account security requirements might vary. When using an Apple device, it's best to use two-factor authentication. In some cases, you might be prompted to review or upgrade your security when signing in on an Apple device or an Apple website.

Messages from Apple

Since there isn't an email address associated with a mobile phone number-based Apple ID, communications from Apple come to you through Messages on your iPhone or iPad and appleid.apple.com.

To make sure that you receive important account-related messages on your iPhone or iPad, sign in to iCloud, Messages, and FaceTime with your phone number Apple ID. If you sign in to iCloud on an iPhone or iPad without a SIM card, you can't use FaceTime and Messages. You can always see your messages from Apple on appleid.apple.com.

Change your Apple ID to a different mobile phone number

Depending on the country or region that you live in and how you created your Apple ID, you might be able to change your Apple ID to a different mobile phone number from your Apple ID account page, or on your iPhone or iPad.

If your new mobile phone number is already connected to your Apple ID as a Messages phone number, shared phone number, or trusted phone number, then you don't need to verify it.

Didn't get a code? In some cases, your trusted phone number can be automatically verified in the background on your iPhone. It’s one less thing to do, and your account is still protected with two-factor authentication.

Change your Apple ID to an email address

You may be prompted to change your Apple ID user name to an email address if you no longer own the mobile phone number being used as your Apple ID. You can also change your Apple ID user name from a mobile phone number to an email address to make sign in and recovery easier.

1. Sign out of every Apple service and device that uses your Apple ID, except the one you're using to change your Apple ID.

2. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security.

3. Next to Email & Phone Numbers, tap Edit.

4. Tap Delete next to your phone number and follow the instructions.

5. After you enter the email address that you want to use as your Apple ID, a verification code is sent to you at that address. Enter the verification code from the text into the fields provided.

6. Sign back in to all Apple services with your new Apple ID.

If you move to a different country or region

You can change your Apple ID user name to a new mobile phone number or an email address. Make sure that the mobile phone number can be verified by SMS. First, change your Apple ID country or region. Then follow the steps to change your Apple ID to a new mobile phone number or to an email address.

If someone else uses your phone number as their Apple ID

It’s possible that someone who previously owned your phone number is still using that number as their Apple ID user name. In this case, you aren’t able to use your phone number to sign in to your own Apple ID. You can still sign in with the email addresses on file in your Apple ID account.

The previous owner of your phone number cannot access any of your account information or use your number for iMessage and FaceTime. It’s simply the Apple ID user name that they use to sign in to their own account.

In order for you to use your phone number to sign in to your Apple ID, the previous owner of your phone number would have to change their Apple ID user name to a different mobile phone number or email address.