Can someone who has NO Apple products get an iCloud account?

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Can someone who has NO Apple products get an iCloud account?

Can someone who has NO Apple products get an iCloud account? I cannot find a clear answer.

Now with the just-announced iWorks Beta for iCloud, I'm wondering if non-Apple product users will have access to it, similar to the way that anyone can use Google Docs?

It would make my life easier if anyone could qualify for a limited account and we could share our work. It would probably lead to more Mac, iPhone, and iPad sales as well.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 19, 2013 11:05 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 19, 2013 11:41 AM in response to planetgazer

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4436

See the "How do I sign up for iCloud?" section.

You can sign into an EXISTING iCloud account using the iCloud Control Panel for Windows, but there is no way to create an iCloud account from a PC.

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Answer 2

planetgazer Author

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Jul 19, 2013 1:28 PM in response to Brandon2184

Thanks Brandon2184. I would say that is the definitive answer. I doesn't specifically say that you cannot get an iCloud account without owning an Apple product but by the rules of logic, it is clear that an Apple product is required.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this discussion! What an awesome resource!

pvonk, the next time I am near an Apple Store, I will go in and test their knowledge of the subject. I will also ask my Windows and Linux friends to go in and ask the same question.

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Answer 3

randers4

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Jul 19, 2013 11:41 AM in response to planetgazer

This article gives the minimum system requirements for iCloud: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4759. What it doesn't clarify is that you can't create an account on a PC. This is shown in step 2 of this guide: http://www.apple.com/icloud/setup/pc.html, where it says you enter the ID you used to create the account; meaning, it must first be created on an iOS device or Mac. If you don't, when you try to create it on a PC you will get an error message saying you entered a valid Apple ID, but not an iCloud ID.

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Answer 4

randers4

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Jul 19, 2013 1:37 PM in response to planetgazer

If you're look for a definitive statement from Apple… from http://www.apple.com/icloud/setup/pc.html:

"Note: To create an iCloud account you need an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5 or later, or a Mac with OS X Lion v10.7.5 or later."

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Answer 5

planetgazer Author

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Jul 19, 2013 11:35 AM in response to randers4

Thanks. Too bad. I think they are missing an opportunity. Thanks for the info. I assumed that was the case but I could not find anything definitive on it. Do you have a source for that?

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Answer 6

planetgazer Author

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Jul 19, 2013 1:15 PM in response to pvonk

I'm not looking for an iCloud account for me. I already have one. I was hoping that non-Apple product users that I work with on various projects could get an iCloud account and use iWorks on iCloud when it comes online in the Fall.

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Answer 7

stedman1

Level 10

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Jul 19, 2013 11:39 AM in response to planetgazer

An iCoud account can be established on a Windows computer as shown in the Apple article below.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4759

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Answer 8

randers4

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Jul 19, 2013 2:05 PM in response to planetgazer

I'm not at home ad I'm try to do this on mmy phone. Here's the link again:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1455

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Answer 9

randers4

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Jul 19, 2013 11:26 AM in response to planetgazer

No. An iCloud account can only be created on an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) running iOS 5 or higher, or on a Mac running OS X Lion or higher.

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Answer 10

pvonk

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Jul 19, 2013 12:31 PM in response to planetgazer

Try at an Apple store - ask if they can create an icloud account for you. There have been other users who were able to do this.

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Answer 11

planetgazer Author

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Jul 19, 2013 1:18 PM in response to randers4

I seem to have uncovered an interesting flaw (or is that a fly?) in the ointment. 😁

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Answer 12

planetgazer Author

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Jul 19, 2013 1:23 PM in response to stedman1

stedman1, that is only about system requirments and how to connect to an existing iClould account using a PC, which I have done in the past. I was somewhat quirky, by the way.

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Answer 13

planetgazer Author

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Jul 19, 2013 1:43 PM in response to randers4

I didn't see that note on the link. Had to copy and paste and delete the final colon because the active link includes the colon and that's a dead end.

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Answer 14

planetgazer Author

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Jul 19, 2013 2:16 PM in response to randers4

Way to go randers4! That IS difinitive! A round of drinks for everyone and randers4 gets a double shot!

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Answer 15

randers4

Level 9

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Jul 19, 2013 2:19 PM in response to planetgazer

We could all use one in this heat… at least where I am.

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