How to Register an iTunes App Store Account without Credit Card

by Simon Ng on April 14, 2009



iTunes LogoBefore you can download iPhone apps from App Stor, as you should know, you’ll need to register an iTunes App Store account with a credit card number. For certain reasons, you may not have credit card or you do not want to disclose your credit card information.

So, is there any way to register an iTunes App Store account without credit card?

Definitely. It’s not a mandate to provide your credit card information to register an App Store account. You can follow the step-by-step instruction to setup the account:

1. First, launch iTunes and go to iTunes Store.

2. Next, scroll to the bottom of iTunes Store homepage and select your country.

iTunes Store - Select Country

Note: If your country does not support registration of account without credit card, please try to register it on US app store.

3. Click “App Store” to access the iPhone App Store

iTunes Store - App Store

4. Next, select any free iPhone application and click “Get App”. Make sure you should only download free application.

iTunes Store - Download free application

5. Once you try to download the free app, iTunes will request you to sign-in. As you do not have any iTunes account, click “Create new account” button to register.

iTunes Store - Create New Account

6. Click “Continue” button to proceed.

iTunes Store - Start to create new account

7. Next, read through the iTunes terms and condition. Agree it and click “Continue”.

8. Follow the instruction to fill in the email address, password, security question and birthday. Then click “Continue”.

iTunes Store - Fill in account information

9. Okay, here comes to the important part. You’ll be prompted to select the payment method of your iTunes account. Click on “None” checkbox and iTunes will no longer need you to provide the credit card information. Simply fill out your name, address and phone number to continue.

iTunes Store - Select none for Payment

10. Next, iTunes prompts you to verify your account. Click “Done” and check your registered email account. You should get and email from iTunes Store.

iTunes Store - Verify Account

11. In your mailbox, you should find an email similar to the following. Click the link and iTunes will prompt you to sign-in with your account name and password.

iTunes Store - Email

12. Congratulation! Once you login, you have successfully registered the iTunes account without using credit card.

iTunes Store - Register Account Complete

Note: Please note that you can only download free iPhone applications with the account. If you want to purchase paid apps, you’ll need to register the account with credit card.

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{ 95 comments… read them below or add one }

1 DLJF April 18, 2009 at 11:23 pm

Hi, I cant seem to verify my email when they send me the link for verification. Keep getting errors like they cannot open iTunes and all that. Any help available?

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2 Ashok April 25, 2009 at 10:36 am

How to download or register to itunes??

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3 Simon Ng April 25, 2009 at 11:31 am

@Ashok, you can download iTunes via this link. When you try to download any iPhone application from App Store, you’ll be prompted for registration.

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4 Mathias1211 May 19, 2009 at 7:11 pm

Your apple ID was entered incorrectly! Even tough I type in the correct password and username. Did I do something wrong??

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5 Re May 30, 2009 at 11:59 pm

Worked very well!
Thank you@
note: you need to have an post office number

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6 Karategal fosho February 16, 2010 at 12:15 am

I cant do tis it is hard what the Hell guys suck fuckin bitches

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7 Emma June 2, 2009 at 1:33 am

hey

look i get the email and everything but when ever i click the link under the email it takes me to a different itunes page and it doesnt involve verification at all!!!!

please some one help me!!! i want to talk to my friends back in SA i have not spoken to them in ages!!

thanks to any one that can help me

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8 emeraude June 27, 2009 at 10:34 pm

it worked for me too , thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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9 Glenn Javier July 7, 2009 at 10:21 pm

can you help me.
I followed the guide up to the part where I need to verify mu email.

when I checked my email I didn’t receive any confirmations from the iStore.
what should I do?
thanks!

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10 Mina Antonopoulos July 9, 2009 at 6:33 am

I have exactly the same problem…The confirmation email does not appear in my inbox.
What should I do? A little help please..!

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11 Phillip Cheung July 13, 2009 at 8:09 pm

simon thx you for posting. I’m having problems though with trying to not put my credit card details. I’ve access the Australian version and it has no ‘none’ on the selection list of the credit cards. I accessed the U.S version and still no ‘none’. can you please respond to this. I make Podcast with a friend and can’t download it off itunes.

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12 Simon Ng July 14, 2009 at 1:03 am

@Phillip, this method only works for iTunes App Store. I think you’re referring to iTunes store, right? Then this may not work for you.

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13 Meme July 18, 2009 at 4:01 am

I did try it but when I reached the credit card step I didn’t fine *None*
and it was the app store not the iTunes store

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14 Mega August 1, 2009 at 1:54 pm

Hi….

Superb!!! This methods help me alot.

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15 hanson August 18, 2009 at 7:26 am

it doesnt work for me…. should it be working only for US area?? i get the email already, but when i follow the link, there is nothing there, just a blank page =(

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16 Simon Ng August 18, 2009 at 10:30 am

@hanson, which country are you trying to register? I tested the above procedures on US App Store.

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17 Peter August 27, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Can I do it from my iPhone???

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18 rls September 11, 2009 at 8:05 am

i cant verify my email ?

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19 angie September 17, 2009 at 10:25 am

thanks so much! helped me a lot.

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20 renee September 18, 2009 at 11:44 pm

thank you so much! i was struggling with this. this article really helped a lot thanks a lot again :) you rock!

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21 ben September 25, 2009 at 11:37 am

im having the same problem in that i get the verification email with the following:
‘Please click the link below to verify your account, then sign in to the iTunes Store using your new Apple ID and the password you created when you set up your account.’

however clicking on the link takes me to a generic apple/itunes page, with no login option. trying to sign in through itunes tells me i havent verified and sends me back to the above email. tried resending it but no difference.
im living in japan but only have an australian credit card so want to be able to download apps etc to my japanese [bought and connected] iphone3g. which will only let me purchase in japan itunes – is that correct?

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22 Shahab September 26, 2009 at 6:53 am

Hi, I cant verify my email when they send me the link for verification. Keep getting errors like they cannot open iTunes and all that. Help meeeeeee

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23 ben September 26, 2009 at 7:38 am

just wanted to say mine came through. to begin with nothing i couldnt verify it either [see above post], but i waited about a day and then it worked. so i guess wait a bit longer and try it again.

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24 Mae October 3, 2009 at 6:24 pm

that’s exactly what i did, but i never read any of those tips. my innocence helped me i guess haha!

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25 Patience October 9, 2009 at 9:32 am

i tried it 4 times .. but when i get 2 the payment method .. there is no “none” only the credit cards :S .. what 2 do ??

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26 casey October 10, 2009 at 1:09 am

I followed the guide in my iphone up to the part where I need to verify mu email.

when I checked my email I did receive a confirmations from the iStore but when I try to load, it take a long time and it fail to verify.
what should I do?
thanks!

Reply

27 Sully October 11, 2009 at 11:12 am

After you click on the link in your email you will get a security warning for Windows Explorer asking if you want to only deliver the content that is being sent securely…you need to click ‘NO’ on this request box. If you click ‘Yes’ the browser will hang. When you click ‘No’ if fires up iTunes and gets you to log in.

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28 sunita October 28, 2009 at 10:56 am

Hi there,
i have spent 11hours in last two nights trying to register. none of the help worked for me until i found your very easy, step by step guide. and it worked perfectly fine for me.
all the best. would be grateful if you could please acknoledge my comment.

god bless you.
take care
bye.

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29 Glaucia November 9, 2009 at 8:52 pm

Thanks a LOT! I didnt see the NONE option the first time I tried to register lol

=D

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30 JOSE PEREZ November 12, 2009 at 7:10 am

im trying to register for itunes and not getting anywhere pls assit.

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31 JOSE PEREZ November 12, 2009 at 7:12 am

hi i cant get registered to itunes pls assit me?

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32 Simon Ng November 12, 2009 at 2:38 pm

@Jose, the procedures mentioned here is iTunes App Store in U.S. So, you’ll need to select the U.S. App Store to go through the registration.

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33 CrankT December 5, 2009 at 11:22 pm

FINALLY!!! EUREKA!!! I figured it out. I was having the same problem as most. When I got the verification email I would click on link and the page would just freeze or “hang”. It had to do with the parental controls, at least for AOL. I was setting this up for my child and made him an email account. It occured to me to change the settings to general, 18 and over. Worked in just a few seconds! Hope this helps. My son was mad he could not get apps and I was even more mad for having to hear about it. Apple was ZERO help by the way. I called help desk, they could not even “understand” my problem and of course gave me an email to write to. I am still waiting to hear back. Funny how easy it is for them to take your money.

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34 Aaron December 9, 2009 at 9:08 pm

Unfortunately, I don’t get a “None” option, only the credit cards and paypal.

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35 Chris December 10, 2009 at 5:12 am

See here’s the problem. There is no “None” field button in the payments page. You HAVE to have a valid card to use the service with an American address. Otherwise, you’re hooped.

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36 Simon Ng December 12, 2009 at 1:50 am

@Chris, did you select US App Store?

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37 Jesper December 13, 2009 at 7:21 pm

I tryed in my country, and in US but none works. There are no “none”!!! does it work for you??? then you maybe can enter a account for me?

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38 Jesper December 13, 2009 at 7:17 pm

Hey, i can chose the “none” thing in oayment methods. Plz help!

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39 Ghoul December 17, 2009 at 4:07 am

Issue:
There is no “none” option

Solution:
1. Click “Appstore” from main page
2. Select your free application
3. Click “Free” and “Install”
4. On the registration screen, there should be selection “none”

Good luck.

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40 Alex January 11, 2010 at 7:54 am

Hello this is awsome

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41 Xsassin January 18, 2010 at 8:26 pm

Just to add some more notes:
- If you registered yourself in a different country and want to re-register in the USA. You will have to log out and “create a new account” to change country. During the initial few steps, it will prompt you an option “to change billing address” whihc in essence is your country. Use that option and change the country before clicking on Cancel to execute the steps above.
- Once the above is done, you can then follow the steps. Pay close attention to Step 4. It was not very obvious in my iTunes but you had to click on the combo box to set off the installation and registration screen! The combo box was not written as “Get Apps” but rather “Free Apps”. Also do not click on the down arrow button next to the combo box as it does not contain the installation command. Click on the entire combo box!

Great tip Simon. Thanks a lot! Nice blog by the way.

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42 Simon Ng January 18, 2010 at 9:28 pm

@Xsassin, thanks for your note! That’s a great tip.

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43 Tim January 25, 2010 at 6:10 am

Thanks for the help, i followed the instructions and all worked well ane the app appeared in the application page,
however will not sinc with phone ??

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44 yuri January 28, 2010 at 4:24 pm

YOU ARE DEFINITELY A BIG HELP TO ME… YEAH IT WORKS WELL AND I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM ITUNE.. MORE POWER MATE.. I OWE YOU ONE

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45 vinothkumar January 31, 2010 at 4:46 pm

worked as told !!! great . . thank you so much dude .

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46 al February 6, 2010 at 12:34 pm

does this work with version 1.0.2. for ipod nano 5g

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47 akbar February 14, 2010 at 3:52 am

it works how do you now who told you

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48 KeYes February 22, 2010 at 5:29 pm

Here is an offcial way of creating the account without credit card. This is a Apple Tech Support article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2534

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49 jones February 23, 2010 at 3:31 am

the procedure for the “none” payment option to get US free apps does not work. even if it works, it is helpful only for free apps, rather than paid one. when i enter a CND credit card (any card), the system does not accept it as valid US card.

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50 Antzar7 March 6, 2010 at 2:44 pm

Does it work on itouch?

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51 Simon Ng March 7, 2010 at 12:52 am

@Antzar7,

Yes. It works for both iPhone and iPod touch.

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52 MrMBerman March 17, 2010 at 1:01 am

If you are outside the US but want to register with a working US address, zip code and phone number try this site http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/ It’s 100% free and I can verify it works. Thank you Simon.

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53 jones March 17, 2010 at 3:04 am

@MrMBerman
this is great. there is only one thing missing: 3-DIGIT SECURITY CODE. without that you cannot go next step.

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54 Anupam Chowdhury March 25, 2010 at 11:39 pm

hi………..

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55 Anupam Chowdhury March 25, 2010 at 11:40 pm

hi.i want regester in ituens.

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56 Chelie March 31, 2010 at 9:26 pm

Isn’t it all the games, ringtones n songs also need to registered iTunes first??
I live at maLaysia, could u please help me?

And one more question, can I using iPhone to download games, song and etc.. Direct??

Thank u!

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57 sunshine April 2, 2010 at 3:01 am

SUPER!! Thank you for your help. What people like me should do with out you thankss

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58 Melissa April 9, 2010 at 10:28 am

thanks soooooo much!! this was a total life saver!! love from the philippines!

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59 Kristian April 16, 2010 at 9:16 pm

I can’t find the “none” button? Any tips?

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60 adil April 20, 2010 at 5:09 pm

Dear Simon thx for the great guide it works very well.
After creating this account can i buy vouchers and redeem them to credit my account.
just to be clear can i redeem a voucher in order to credit my account with money and to be able to buy things on the store ?

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61 Simon Ng April 21, 2010 at 12:08 am

@adil,

Not sure but I think it works just like a normal iTunes account.

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62 jenny tan May 5, 2010 at 2:21 pm

Hi Simon

Do u know by agree the iTunes terms and conditions, is there any charges for that?? Total of 31 pages to go through….if u know, can tell me?

thanks
Cheers!!

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63 Simon Ng May 6, 2010 at 1:14 am

@jenny,

It’s free to register an iTunes account.

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64 Deepu_rocks May 24, 2010 at 5:47 pm

Thanks Mann!!! good job.

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65 adib Almasalma June 1, 2010 at 5:17 am

thanks a lot u r the best

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66 Nadeem June 1, 2010 at 12:15 pm

I can’t pick NONE for a option i can only pick visa mastercard or amex any one know why ?

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67 Simon Ng June 3, 2010 at 11:14 pm

@Nadeem,

Try to download any free app from US App Store. After iTunes prompts you for the iTunes account, you can register an account from there. In this case, I think you can trigger the “none” option.

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68 Roei June 5, 2010 at 12:22 am

After choosing im from the US, what to enter at the address? fake stuff? and does it matter?

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69 cbi June 6, 2010 at 9:14 am

Can you sign up to another itunes account using the same email address for your main itunes account? When trying to sign up, I was told that my ID was already taken…..(by me obviously). What shall I do now?

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70 Simon Ng June 6, 2010 at 12:53 pm

You can’t use the same email address to register another iTunes account. Try to use another email address.

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71 Carla June 8, 2010 at 3:47 am

this fucking shit doesn’t work. I have gone through the apps store, used the official support site and tried to create an account using two different email adresses. I keep getting sent to the main site page, where it states that i have to download itunes, which i have done 5 times now. and it still doesnt fucking work. i’m at my wits end and have been trying to sign up without a credit card for an entire month. please help, because this is ridiculous.

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72 Nicole June 10, 2010 at 6:52 am

I also can’t pick “NONE” as an option. The only options I can pick are visa, mastercard, and paypal. Can you help me?

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73 Simon Ng June 10, 2010 at 9:19 am

@Nicole,

Did you pick a free app to download?

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74 Nicole June 10, 2010 at 12:08 pm

I tried doing it again using another email address and I can now pick “NONE” as an option. Thank you, Simon! :)

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75 Lucas June 10, 2010 at 9:40 am

Man don’t have who to create this fucking acc DIRECT on my IPhone????????????? Is supoust to have one may ……think this

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76 Nicole June 10, 2010 at 11:54 am

Yup, I also tried changing my country to US but still, no “NONE” option.

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77 wanie June 25, 2010 at 9:54 pm

hi.
i want to download app from Korea iTunes store.
i did like usual, fill in the names and what not..
and i selected none for payment.
but, it asks me for my address in korea and also phone number.
how can i register for iTunes korea? the apps i wanted to download is free of course.
can u help me?

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78 alex July 2, 2010 at 5:52 am

thanx!

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79 benelinda July 6, 2010 at 7:37 pm

Why is there no option as “none” when I try to create an new account? It is requiring me always of credit card details, paypal or discover.

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80 Simon Ng July 6, 2010 at 9:27 pm

@benelinda,

Did you select to download a free iPhone app? The “none” option is only available for free app.

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81 Help July 17, 2010 at 3:32 am

it asks me for my phonetic last name, postal code, prefecture, address and phone number what do i fill in?

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82 jonathon murphy July 17, 2010 at 9:48 pm

how do i get i tunes on my i phone for free?

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83 Sean July 20, 2010 at 9:24 am

isn’t it supposed to already be there?

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84 Bakaka July 23, 2010 at 5:37 pm

This works Great! You can do it using Itunes at PC as well…just select FREE APPS and then start download, then only create the account, there will have an option = NONE on the payment method! Cool!

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85 Still Help July 26, 2010 at 2:19 pm

but still, when making a japan itunes account, what do i fill in for the phonetic last name, postal code, prefecture, address and phone number?

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86 gopal singh July 31, 2010 at 1:27 pm

how to create new account in itune

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87 Danilo August 4, 2010 at 2:04 am

weird.

Doesn’t work for me. I’ve tried setting it to a variety of countries. I have itunes9 and there’s no option to register with no CC

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88 Ashok August 8, 2010 at 12:00 am

How to download files from computer hard disk to itune. Some video file cannot download to itune. What will be the problems?

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89 muhamed August 11, 2010 at 12:38 am

I use itunes 9.2 when going to the 2nd step ”payment method there is no “none” beside credit cards
so,please help me i want to get apps to my iphone
thanks……..

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90 Bashar August 11, 2010 at 7:54 am

Works like a charm. THANK YOU.

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91 dhillow August 11, 2010 at 12:43 pm

lush yaar maza aa gaya i m lovin it

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92 nora August 17, 2010 at 6:36 pm

It does not exist a “none” button !!
is it because i have an ipod touch ? i´ve done everything you said, but its not an opportunity to choose NONE.. did I do something wrong ??

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93 Simon Ng August 17, 2010 at 9:59 pm

@nora,

Did you try to download a free app?

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94 smile August 24, 2010 at 3:19 pm

Hey,

whenever i fill out the application thing to get an account, it says im not eligible to create an account at this time, so i got my dad to fil it out and it ccame up with the same message.

whats going on?

Reply

95 soso August 28, 2010 at 11:34 pm

hey there
i cant register an tiune app store? i don’t know why they asking me about a password but i don’t know what worng withit i need help pz? thanks

Reply

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