Fix: This Apple ID Is Not Valid or Supported

If you are receiving an “Apple ID is not valid or supported” message, know that there are a couple of things you can do. While this message can be rather frustrating, especially if your device was working just fine before you received this message. When it comes to this message, there may be a couple of reasons users are receiving it. However, what’s going to be crucial for users is why they are seeing it. Let me explain. 

Keeping this in mind, I’m going to cover why users may receive this message, while also going over some ideas toward a solution. How much of a headache this experience can be for a user is really going to depend on whether or not it’s their Apple ID that is giving them problems. If you purchased the device from another individual or anyone that’s not an Apple Authorized Retailer, there may be certain issues that can only be solved by contacting Apple Support. Keep reading to find out more.

Why Does it Say Apple ID Not Valid or Supported?

Typically, if you are seeing this error, it means the data that you have entered is incorrect. Whether you have accidentally entered either your username or password incorrectly, there’s some form of static going on wherein Apple is unable to identify the credentials of your account. One solution for this is going to be using the iCloud website, you can ensure that you recover the correct Apple ID and password.

Normally, a user only needs to enter their Apple ID when signing into a device for the first time. However, there may be times when your device asks again for your Apple ID and password. If you enter the wrong Apple ID/password, or you purchased the device from someone else and forgot to sign out of their Apple ID, this is when trouble starts to arise. There are a couple of things you can do, however. 

How Do You Fix This Apple ID is Either Not Valid or Not Supported? 

Check iCloud

If you find yourself getting an Apple ID is not valid or supported message, one of the first things you can do is double check your information. While there are a number of ways to sign into iCloud, I think the quickest way to check your own information will be using the iCloud website.

That’s essentially all there is to it. If you are able to find your valid Apple ID, then you should be good to go. Once you have your Apple ID again, you will also be able to reset the password. Armed with this information, you should have no problems logging into anything that needs your Apple ID. Additionally, you can also check out this guide by Jeff Butts, which covers how to find your Apple ID on several different devices. 

Check your Email

If you’re still having issues finding your valid Apple ID, you can also try searching your email for any information regarding your Apple ID. If you received any emails from Apple, these messages may have information regarding your account. Try searching your email for messages from Apple to see if you are able to find your Apple ID through this route.

Ask the Original Owner

If you bought an Apple device from an individual or third-party, it’s possible that their Apple ID and information is still in association with the account. You can either attempt to sign them out, or you can ask them for the information so that you can move on with what you need to do. 

Of course, if you can’t contact the original owner, you may consider wiping the device. There are also ways to factory reset your iPhone, iPad and Mac, but you will likely need your Apple ID and password. You can give it a try to see if you have any luck, but if you purchased your device from a third-party and there’s still an Apple ID attached to it, you may want to see the next option. 

Talk to Apple Support

Should none of these options work for you, it may be best to simply contact Apple Support. An Apple Specialist will be able to help you with your problem, including being able to retrieve your Apple ID and password. However, note that you will have to provide proof that you are the owner of the device. If you bought the device from someone, you will have to provide Apple with enough information to prove that the device is yours.

How Do I Validate my Apple ID? 

If you’re looking to verify your Apple ID, this will occur whenever you first sign in to a new device with your ID. This process involves confirming your identity not only with a password, but with a six-digit verification code as well. There will be a number of ways to receive this code. If you are signing into something, you will get a verification code on your device, through a text or a phone call, or your trusted device will generate a code. You then enter this code that you received into the box as shown. 

Why is My Email Not Supported for Apple ID? 

For those that are receiving a message that says your email is unsupported, it means that the email address already has an Apple ID associated with it. This means that the email is tied to another Apple ID in some facet: it doesn’t necessarily have to be the primary email associated with the Apple ID. If you still want to use this email address, you will need to find what Apple ID it is associated with, and then remove it if you are able. 

Those looking to remove an email associated with an Apple ID, follow these steps: 

1. Navigate to this official Apple ID website.
2. Enter your Apple ID and password. 
3. Once logged in, click Personal Information.
4. Scroll down to Reachable At and click it.
   
5. This will pull up emails associated with your Apple ID. You cannot delete your primary email, but you can delete the others by clicking the minus button next to the email and then hitting Remove. 

If the email you are attempting to use is not associated with an Apple ID, you should also ensure that it isn’t the primary email for an Apple ID. If the email address is already the primary email for an Apple ID, you will not be able to create a new ID with that email. You can check this by attempting to change your password on iCloud using the steps above. 

How to Delete an Apple ID

After all this, if you find that the solution may be to delete an Apple ID, this is certainly an option. Before requesting the deletion of an Apple ID, however, you should take a couple of precautions. First, ensure that you back up any data that you store in iCloud. You should also check your active subscriptions, and also pay off any loan installments you may have with Apple Pay Later. It may also be a good idea to sign out of any accounts associated with that email. 

Once you are done, you simply sign in with your Apple ID at this official Apple website and then select “Request to delete your account”. This will put you through the process of deleting your Apple ID.  You will be given a unique alphanumeric code that you will need to hold on to during this process. Apple will then begin the process of deleting your Apple ID, which includes providing proof that the Apple ID is yours. 

What To Do If Apple ID is Not Valid or Supported

If you find that you’re running into a situation where Apple is telling you that your Apple ID is not valid or supported, you do have a couple of options. The important thing to remember is that you’re likely without the correct information. It’s likely either an issue with your Apple ID username or your password. As mentioned, if you are experiencing these issues because you purchased the device from someone else, contacting Apple Support is likely going to be your fastest solution. If it’s a matter of simply forgetting the name of your Apple ID, try one of the methods above before contacting Apple Support. 

At the end of the day, you’re going to need to be able to properly use your Apple ID for just about everything: it’s a crucial bit of information to have. Of course, when it comes to iCloud, we have other solutions as well. For example, knowing how to change the email address of your iCloud account can be rather important for some users. Concerning Apple ID, some users may want to know what to do if they are receiving a “We cannot process your request” error. Remember that just because you’re having an issue, it doesn’t mean that a solution isn’t too far behind.