Apple ID Considerations

Before you can move to iCloud, you’ll need one crucial bit of information: your Apple ID and password. The Apple ID is the glue that holds all your iCloud information together. You may already have an Apple ID, because one is required if you’ve ever bought anything from the iTunes Store or Mac App Store. And Mac OS X users have been prompted to create an Apple ID when they set up their Macs for years.

The Apple ID must be a valid email address, and is usually a me.com address, which Apple will give to you for free. You’ll create and sign into your iCloud account using a single Apple ID, which will then be the Apple ID you use for all iCloud services (but there are caveats; see the “Dealing with Multiple Apple IDs” sidebar later in this section).