How Do You Create an Apple ID Without a Phone Number?

While you must need a phone number to create an Apple ID, there are no conditions for the number to come from a mobile carrier. You may use virtual numbers, burner phones, or disposable phone numbers to create Apple ID without compromising your privacy and Apple services usage.

A virtual phone number operates over the internet and is not tied to a specific physical location or hardware device. Service providers sell these phone numbers to individuals requiring privacy and businesses planning to expand internationally without a physical office.

Calilio offers virtual numbers from 100+ countries that you can access from any device, including a laptop, smartphone, and tablet, and from anywhere in the world - all you need is a reliable internet connection.

Follow these steps to get a virtual number for Apple ID registration.

1. Sign up and create a Calilio account.
2. Pick a pricing plan.
3. Once logged in, go to Settings.
4. Click My Numbers and tap Purchase Number.
5. Choose a country and select your desired phone number.
6. Enter the virtual number to create your Apple ID.
7. You will receive an OTP on your Calilio number.
8. Enter the OTP to activate your Apple ID.

Note: Your phone number may take several hours to a few days to activate.

A burner phone, or prepaid phone, comes with a contact number that you can use temporarily. These phones are infamous for wrong reasons, such as misuse in abduction and prank calls. However, you can also use a burner phone number to create an Apple ID without using your personal number.

You can buy burner phones from a retail store or online ecommerce sites like Walmart and Amazon - you do not need to provide your personal information. They come with a specific prepaid plan for a particular time, but you can buy and use a refill if you want to keep using them.

To register your Apple ID with a burner phone, follow the steps below.

• Get a burner phone online or from a nearby retail store.
• Enter the number associated with the burner phone.
• Start signing up for your Apple ID.
• Enter the OTP you receive on your burner phone.
• Enter the OTP and finish your Apple ID registration.

Disposable phone numbers are temporary contact numbers that can be used for SMS verification. A disposable number functions like a regular phone number - you can receive calls and SMS on it and thus, can create an Apple ID without using your personal number.

Hushed or TextNow are popular temporary phone number apps that allow you to get a disposable number.

• Install a temporary number app from the app store.
• Sign up with a service plan.
• Buy a disposable number from the app.
• Enter the number for Apple ID registration.
• You will receive an OTP on the app.
• Enter the OTP to verify your Apple ID.

Upon verification, you can use your new Apple ID to sign in to the App Store to download games and applications, and use other Apple services such as iCloud.

You can create a new Apple ID using your Gmail or any other third-party email without providing a phone number. This method works best when setting up a new Apple ID on an iPhone or through the Apple Music website.

Open Settings and tap Sign in to your iPhone.

• Tap “Don't have an Apple ID?” and choose Create Apple ID.
• Enter your name and birthdate, then tap Continue.
• Select Use your current email address (e.g., Gmail, Outlook).
• Create a password and continue through the prompts.

At the phone number step, check if there's a Skip option. If yes, tap it to continue without a number. If the skip option is not shown, then enter any valid-format number (not your real one), then tap Continue. When the verification fails, choose Did not get a code → Verify later → Continue.

A phone number verification is important to create an Apple ID since Apple uses contact numbers for security, verification, and two-factor authentication. While your unique contact number strengthens your device’s security, it also invites potential threats of being scammed and hacked. Using a virtual number, temporary number or burner phone can be the best option to create an Apple ID without your phone number.