"Apple ID cannot be used for MobileMe" when setting up Find My iPhone app

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"Apple ID cannot be used for MobileMe" when setting up Find My iPhone app

Okay, folks, spent some time with MobileMe support via chat this morning. This is what I've learned. Apparently you CANNOT use an Apple ID, regardless of what format it's in (usually a full email address) AS LONG AS IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH A MOBILE ME (ME.COM ADDRESS) ACCOUNT THAT IS CLOSED OR NO LONGER ACTIVE. Unfortunately, there is no way to disassociate the two and there is no way the old MobileMe (me.com address) account can be deleted.

Apparently, I had some issue when I was trying out the MobileMe for the trial period many months ago and for some reason couldn't use my primary Apple ID (my primary email address), so I created a me.com address for the MobileMe account. Eventually, I cancelled the MobileMe account because the cost wasn't justified for the features it offered. Unfortunately, that association with my primary Apple ID is permanent and THAT is the source of the "This Apple ID canot be used for MobileMe" error. Or at least that's ONE reason for it.

The solution? Create a completely new, separate Apple ID using a valid email address from which you can receive a verification email. The address is NOT used to receive any further emails from Apple. Only to create logon credentials. Do NOT associate this email address with your current/primary Apple ID or any other Apple ID. This is what you use to set up Find My iPhone/iPad, etc. using the MobileMe setup in Settings>Mail/Contacts/Calendars as well as the Find My iPhone App (plus it's your logon to the MobileMe Find My iPhone web page).

When you log in to the MobileMe page, BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU ENTER YOUR APPLE ID IF IT'S A FULL EMAIL ADDRESS: apparently, the ID field automatically tries to change it to "userID@me.com" instead of your "userID@emaildomain.com". Just check it before and after you enter your Apple ID password and submit.

I did this and it works. Find My iPhone app and service works beautifully. Spotted my iPad right where I'm at on a map. I sent a message to my iPad via the service (which also offers the option to play a sound, lock the device or even wipe the device).

I hope this information helps SOMEONE.

Oh...interesting footnote: I was informed that APPLE IDs CANNOT BE DELETED. Even if you create a "test" Apple ID (like I did during our troubleshooting session) with some barely used email account using a weak password. That means, regardless of whether you use it or not for MobileMe/Find My iPhone, you really, really need to give it a SECURE password (if you're going to keep that email account alive). So yeah, there are a lot of dormant Apple IDs floating around out there!

iPad 64GB WiFi+3G, iOS 4, Dell XPS One A2010, HP TX2525 Tablet PC, both running WIndows 7 Ultimate

Posted on Jan 6, 2011 2:21 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 20, 2011 12:26 PM in response to mtnmedic

Wish I would have found this sooner, man what a pain in the a.ss
I already found out that I had a couple dead Apple ID's that dont work with it either for one reason or another, not sure why...none associated with mobileme.

the one I use for everything else, buying Apps, iTunes, AppleStore, etc doesnt work with FindMyiPhone and I dont have any other spare email addresses nor do I want to create any more on line as its just a waste of email that I wont ever check and makes it more of a mess.

I wish they could go ahead and delete old AppleIDs or merge them into just one simple account..aka everyone just gets a mobileme account make it a whole alot simpler.

Idk its annoying because my old old apple id is in Username format and not email address format and wont let me fix that..and its also associated with my singular email account.

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Answer 2

Jan 25, 2011 7:40 PM in response to Applexometa

I agree.

I found this 'bug' out the other day when getting ready for my new iPhone I was setting up my iPad with some new apps too and wanted to work with Find My iPhone.

Here's the deal; my main AppleID is just a simple 'Username' not a 'Email@address.com' AppleID.
I've had this since the need for AppleIDs were used for these forums and the iTunes Store, AppStore, etc.

So it works fine and well with that stuff but not with find my iphone on my iPad as it wants a full email account, either a '@me.com' or a 'email@address.com' AppleID which I did create but I think it was used as Job profile or something other along those lines (NOT used for a MobileMe account or .mac either).

And I only have access to one email now and I dont feel comfortable having multiple email addresses that I dont check or have no use for, call my simple or naive but thats just how it goes.

What I'd like to do is be able to use either AppleID for my Find My iPhone app and everything else.

And I think thats a good point, '@me.com's for all. make it a whole lot easier in my opinion.
merge all the apple accounts you created into a MobileMe, simplifies the situation and makes it easier connect to all Apple Services.

My itunes account, apple.com store account, appstore account, main AppleID for the past couple years it "Maxwell Stanley" but it does NOT work with Find My iPhone. So i created Maxwell@example.com (example.com is in place of my true email domain for privacy reasons) and that doesnt work as it statse it Cannot Be used.
My 'Maxwell Stanley" Apple ID's email associated with it was maxwell@example.com i tried changing it to max@example.com but still doesnt recognize that as an AppleID even though its associated with "Maxwell Stanley".
I event ried to use the SAME email that is associated with my 2nd AppleID 'Maxwell@example.com' with the appleid 'Maxwell Stanley' and no dice.

running out of options it seems.

Any idea on the best solution?
Thank you!

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