How To Fix: “Account Cannot Be Created at This Time” When Creating a New Apple ID

You’re trying to set up a new Apple ID — maybe for a family member, a new device, or a second account — and suddenly you see this frustrating message:

“Your account cannot be created at this time.”

Don’t worry. This is a common issue, and it usually has a simple fix. Let’s go step by step through why it happens and how to get around it.

Why You’re Seeing This Error

When Apple says “Account cannot be created at this time,” it means one of a few things is happening behind the scenes:

1. Apple’s servers are busy or down (rare, but possible).
2. You’ve created too many accounts from the same device or network recently.
3. Your connection or region settings are causing a mismatch.
4. Verification or date-of-birth info doesn’t meet Apple’s requirements.
5. There’s a temporary block on your IP address or device from Apple’s systems.

Let’s fix it one by one.

Step 1: Check Apple’s System Status

Before you do anything else, go to Apple’s official System Status page.

Look for “Apple ID” in the list.

• If it’s green, Apple’s servers are fine — move on to the next step.
• If it’s yellow or red, wait a few hours and try again later.

Sometimes the issue isn’t you — it’s Apple’s servers.

Step 2: Wait 24 Hours if You Created Too Many Accounts

Apple only allows three Apple IDs to be created per device.
If you’ve already created multiple Apple IDs from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you’ll hit a limit.

Fix:

• Wait 24 hours, or
• Use a different device (like another iPhone, iPad, or computer), or
• Create the account using a web browser instead (see next step).

Step 3: Try Creating Your Apple ID on the Web

If creating an Apple ID from Settings or the App Store doesn’t work, try doing it directly online:

👉 Create your Apple ID here

Steps:

1. Go to the link above.
2. Enter your name, date of birth, and a new email address.
3. Choose a strong password.
4. Verify your email with the code Apple sends.
5. Sign in on your device once the account is confirmed.

Creating it via the website often avoids temporary blocks tied to devices or apps.

Step 4: Check Your Internet Connection and VPN

Sometimes Apple blocks certain IP addresses or regions temporarily.

Fixes:

• Turn off your VPN (if you’re using one).
• Switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data (or vice versa).
• Restart your router or try a different network.

Apple’s system might flag shared or masked IPs as suspicious.

Step 5: Make Sure Your Date of Birth Is Correct

Apple doesn’t let users under 13 create an Apple ID without Family Sharing.
If you accidentally entered the wrong date of birth, the system will stop you.

Fix:

• Go back and double-check that your date of birth makes you at least 13 years old.
• If setting up a child account, do it through Family Sharing on an adult’s device instead.

Step 6: Try Signing Out of iCloud and Restarting

If you’re creating an Apple ID from your device and it’s glitching, do a quick reset:

1. Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign Out.
2. Restart your iPhone or iPad.
3. Go back to Settings > Sign in to your iPhone, then tap Don’t have an Apple ID? and try again.

This often clears stuck sessions that trigger the error.

Step 7: Update Your Software

Outdated versions of iOS or iPadOS can sometimes cause unexpected sign-in bugs.

Fix:

• Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
• Install any available update, then try again.

Step 8: Try a Different Email Address

If you’ve already used the same email address for another Apple ID — even if it’s deleted — Apple might block it from reuse.

Try signing up with a different email provider, like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo, just to test if that’s the issue.

Step 9: Contact Apple Support (If All Else Fails)

If none of these steps work, it’s time to reach out to Apple directly.

Go to support.apple.com/apple-id and choose “Apple ID Account Setup & Recovery.”
Explain that you’re getting the “Account cannot be created at this time” message. They can manually clear a block or help verify your information.

Quick Recap

Final Tip

Once your new Apple ID is created, verify it right away.
Open your email and confirm your account before signing in on your devices, this prevents future login issues or lockouts.

In short:

“Account cannot be created at this time” usually means Apple’s system needs a breather — not that you’ve done something wrong.
Try from a browser, wait a bit, switch networks, and you’ll likely be up and running in minutes.