I’m trying to set up my dad’s very first iPhone. He’s never had an Apple ID. When I enter his Hotmail address it won’t accept it and says it’s already taken. What does this mean ? He only has this address I don’t want to set up another one.
From: Change your Apple ID - Apple Support
"If you see a message that the email address you want to use isn't available or is already in use, check that you or a family member aren't already using that email address with a different Apple ID. If a family member is using that email address, remove it from their account then try to use it."
Apple isn't very specific as to re-using email addresses but it may be that one was used as a notification address for an account another person set up.
As I said, the documentation isn't very detailed about email address use. One can certainly use a Hotmail address for an ID (my wife does).
Refer to this document for ways to contact Apple --> Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support
Select your country (also look for "other" regions), 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 by telephone --> Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
Thanks for your help but he’s never had an Apple ID in his life nor has anyone used his hotmail address for an Apple id (as far as I know) . There’s no family (except for me!) so who could have used his address ? I certainly haven’t. It’s so frustrating as I’m trying to make his life easier with an iPhone instead of his old android thing.
hotmail adress not accepted
