Full 12-Step Guide to Switching to a US Apple ID on iOS (No Credit Card Required)

Switching Apple ID regions is a hurdle that iPhone users simply cannot avoid. This guide breaks the entire process down into 12 clear steps, explaining what to do at each stage and what pitfalls to avoid. Follow these steps, and you can get a working overseas Apple ID in under 15 minutes. To jump straight to the installation guide, refer to the iOS Setup Guide; if using a browser, check the Binance Official Website first; for Android, use the Binance Official App.

Overall Approach

There are two ways to switch regions:

• Route A: Switch your existing Apple ID to the US region (affects your current subscriptions).
• Route B: Register a brand new overseas Apple ID (does not affect your current account).

This guide takes Route B for a clean break. If you want to switch the region of your existing account, please refer to other dedicated articles.

Step 1: Prepare a Clean Email Address

A new Apple ID requires an email address to bind to. We recommend:

• Gmail (Most stable, universally accepted)
• iCloud (Apple's own mail, can be used when registering a new Apple ID)
• Outlook / Hotmail (As backups)

Do not use domestic Chinese email providers like QQ Mail or 163 Mail to register an overseas Apple ID, as Apple's risk control is stricter for these.

Step 2: Choose a Region

For beginners, the Hong Kong region is recommended because:

• Registration details are simple (only basic information required).
• The network environment is friendly to users in mainland China.
• The Binance app listed in the Hong Kong region is the international version (identical to the .com version).

The US region is better suited for users who need to download more US-exclusive apps. This step uses Hong Kong as the example.

Step 3: Sign Out of the Current Apple ID on Your iPhone

Go to Settings → Apple ID → Scroll to the bottom → Sign Out. Signing out will prompt you for your password and confirmation. Once confirmed, your iPhone will temporarily not be bound to any Apple ID.

Note: Signing out will not erase the data on your phone; previously downloaded apps will still work.

Step 4: Visit appleid.apple.com

Open appleid.apple.com using the Safari browser (not inside the App Store), and click "Create Your Apple ID".

Note: You must use Safari. Do not use Chrome or Edge, as some pages display incorrectly in third-party browsers.

Step 5: Fill in Registration Details

Follow the page instructions to fill out:

Field	What to Fill
First / Last Name	Pinyin is fine, no need for real names
Country / Region	Hong Kong, China
Date of Birth	Choose an age 18 or older
Apple ID (Email)	The email address you prepared
Password	At least 8 characters, including uppercase, lowercase, and numbers
Security Questions (3)	Custom answers, be sure to write them down

This step does not require payment method information.

Step 6: Email and Phone Number Verification

After submission, Apple will send a verification code to your email. Enter the 6-digit code from the email, and you will then be asked to bind a phone number (for two-factor authentication).

A Hong Kong phone number is ideal, but if you don't have one, a mainland China number will also work. Registration is complete once you enter the verification code.

Step 7: Sign In with the New Apple ID on Your iPhone

Settings → Tap "Sign in to your iPhone" at the top → Enter the new email and password.

The iPhone will bind this Apple ID to the App Store. This step may take a few minutes.

Step 8: Enter the App Store for Initial Setup

Open the App Store, search for any free app (like WeChat or QQ), and tap "Get".

This will trigger the initial purchase flow, popping up a "Review Account" prompt. Tap "Review" to proceed to the next step.

Step 9: Select "None" as the Payment Method

This is the most critical step. The options will include:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• UnionPay
• None ✅

Select "None", then continue filling out the billing address below.

Step 10: Fill in the Hong Kong Billing Address

You can make up an address:

• Street: Enter any random English street name (e.g., Nathan Road 1)
• City: Hong Kong
• Postal Code: 999077 (Hong Kong default)
• Phone: Enter the phone number used during registration

Apple won't actually send a bill to this address; it just needs to look reasonable.

Step 11: Complete Verification and Return to the App Store

After filling out the address, tap "Next", and you will return to the App Store page for the app. Tap "Get" again → "Install", and the app will start downloading.

If you still get an "Update Payment Method" error here, it's likely the address isn't fully filled out. Go back and check the postal code and phone number.

Step 12: Search for Binance and Download

Type "Binance" into the App Store search bar. Once you see the correct official app (Developer: Binance.com, yellow 'B' icon), tap "Get".

Launch it after downloading, log into your existing Binance account or register on the spot, and start using it.

Common Pitfalls During the Process

Pitfall	Solution
Domestic email flagged by risk control	Switch to Gmail
Phone number registered too many times	Use a different number or region
Billing address identified as invalid	Use a real Hong Kong postal code
"Cannot connect to iTunes Store" prompt	Switch networks and retry
Download pauses halfway	Check payment method status, restart download

Daily Use After Switching Regions

After switching regions, your iPhone can still use other apps normally, but keep in mind:

• WeChat and Alipay will continue to work, regardless of the Apple ID region.
• iCloud backups remain in the original region (if you only switched the App Store and not iCloud).
• Subscriptions purchased in the Chinese App Store will be grayed out and require switching back to renew.

If you want seamless switching between two accounts, you can keep both Apple IDs and manually switch when needed.

FAQ

Q: What if it says "Registration not allowed in this region" during the process? A: Switch your network node or try a different email address.

Q: How long does it take to download Binance after registering? A: With normal internet speeds, about 1-3 minutes.

Q: Can a phone number only be used once for verification? A: The same phone number can be used to register up to 3 Apple IDs in the same region.

Q: Will frequently switching regions trigger Apple's risk control? A: You may occasionally be asked to reverify your identity, but normal use will not result in a ban.

Extended Reading

• Region Switch Without a Credit Card
• Why You Cannot Find Binance
• App Icon Grayed Out After Region Switch