How To Resolve “This Apple ID Has Not Yet Been Used With the iTunes Store” Error
Troubleshooting Apple ID Activation Errors in the App Store
If you’ve ever hit that wall where right after creating a new Apple ID, you try to download an app or media, and it throws up some message about your account not being used in the iTunes Store yet — yeah, I’ve been there. It’s pretty annoying, especially since it feels like a weird glitch that won’t go away. Usually, it’s not a problem with your device, but more about account setup quirks or regional weirdness. Here’s what finally worked for me, after quite the wrestling match with Apple’s setup process.
Start with the basics: Internet and updates
First, make sure your connection is solid. Apple is pretty particular about network stability when activating accounts. Mine was acting flaky, so I toggled Wi-Fi off and back on, and switched to cellular data because Wi-Fi was acting sluggish. Turns out, a flaky or slow internet connection can cause weird authentication errors. Don’t underestimate how much your network stability impacts this process.
Next, check if your device’s software is current. Apple often patches bugs related to account activation in updates. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap Download and Install. After that, I usually restart my device — sometimes it seems like the process only really kicks in after a reboot. Keeping your device on the latest version isn’t just for cool new features — it helps keep Apple’s servers happy and your account in sync.
Digging into your Apple ID settings
Open Settings, tap your Apple ID banner at the top (your name), then look for Media & Purchases. Tap on it, then go to View Account. You might need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your password — don’t worry, it’s standard. When your account info loads, check the Country/Region setting. Tap on it and, trust me, try selecting a different country from the menu. Crazy, I know, but it’s a trick that’s helped a lot of people (including me). Sometimes regional restrictions or server quirks in your home country cause activation issues, and switching regions resets things enough to get around that.
Once you switch to a different country — it can be any country, really — you’ll be prompted to accept the terms & conditions. After that, you’ll be asked to set up your billing info. Here’s the kicker: if you don’t want to add a card, select the None option at the bottom of the payment methods list. That’s important, because some regions may require a payment method to proceed, even if you’re just activating an account for free. Once you’ve done this, proceed, and see if your account activates.
Address details and billing info—don’t skip this part
This is where people tend to get snagged. You absolutely have to fill out your billing info correctly—street address, city, postcode, country. If any detail is off, Apple’s servers will reject it and you won’t get past activation. I screwed this up initially because I just put a made-up ZIP code, and it kept bouncing back. Double-check everything here, including the phone number—you might need a real active number that can receive texts or calls. Sometimes Apple will contact you for verification if they sense something’s off.
After entering the details accurately, hit Done. Often, this is enough to push the activation through. I’ve found that a proper regional setup with verified info unlocks a lot of doorblocks. No tricks — just proper info.
Final tips: Wait and reboot
Once done, I try downloading a free app or media straight away. On my older iPhone, it seemed like the system needed a few moments or a restart to kick things into gear. If it’s still not working, try restarting the device entirely, toggle Wi-Fi off/on again, or do a full reboot. Sometimes, lingering network issues or cached data can cause authentication chaos, and a fresh restart fixes that.
If you’re still stuck, go back and double-check every detail—especially the address, region, and region-specific restrictions. Also, verify if your device is running the latest iOS or iPadOS. Outdated software can cause these weird glitches. If your device is on an old version, updating might resolve the problem.
Another thing that helped me was checking the Apple System Status page. Sometimes, Apple’s servers are just overwhelmed or down, and trying to activate during an outage is doomed. If the services are marked gray or showing trouble, patience might be the best move — they usually get fixed pretty fast.
One thing I also learned is that some Macs hide activation options in obscure menus—like in Security & Privacy > Misc under the Boot menu, where toggling Allow Booting from External Media can sometimes help bypass activation roadblocks. Not sure if that’s relevant on all Macs, but if every other option’s failed, it might be worth poking around there.
It’s honestly frustrating, especially late at night when you just want the thing to work. But if you verify your address, keep your software up to date, and stay patient with Apple’s servers and regional quirks, it usually sorts itself out. In the end, it’s often just a matter of pushing through each step, rebooting, and trying again. Hope this helped — it took me way too long to figure all this out, and I figured sharing the pain might save someone else a weekend.