You’ll often see the error “This phone number cannot be used at this time. Try again later” whereas establishing a brand new Apple ID, signing in, or attempting so as to add a trusted cellphone quantity for two-factor authentication. When this occurs, the setup stops as a result of Apple refuses to simply accept the quantity, so that you can’t obtain the verification code wanted to proceed.

Apple’s safety and verification system might quickly reject a quantity if it seems to be already in use (for instance, it’s presently tied to a different Apple ID as a trusted quantity or it was just lately used in an Apple verification circulation), flagged, or if there have been too many verification makes an attempt in a short while. In some instances, the difficulty is not your quantity at all, however a server-side outage that forestalls verification from finishing, or a service/community supply drawback the place the SMS or name merely by no means arrives.

Common causes embrace:

• The cellphone quantity is already linked to a different Apple ID (for instance, it’s saved as a trusted quantity or recovery-related quantity), or it was just lately used throughout Apple ID verification.
• Too many verification makes an attempt triggered a momentary block for the quantity, machine, or Apple ID request. This sort of block can final from a brief cooldown to a number of hours, relying on the sample of makes an attempt.
• Carrier/community points are stopping the verification SMS or name from being delivered, even when the quantity itself is legitimate.

Now that you understand what sometimes triggers this message, use the strategies beneath to get the quantity accepted and obtain the verification code.

1. Check Apple Servers

Before altering something in your machine, verify Apple’s providers are working usually. If Apple ID or iCloud verification techniques are having an outage, your request might fail even when your cellphone quantity is legitimate. If the standing web page reveals an issue, the one actual repair is to wait till Apple reviews regular operation once more.

• Go to Apple’s official system standing web page and examine Apple ID and iCloud Account & Sign In.
  

2. Retry Verification Requests

Sometimes the primary verification request fails or occasions out, particularly throughout server load or weak community circumstances. Retrying can set off a recent request and ultimately push the code by. If a code arrives late, at all times use the latest one, as a result of older codes can expire shortly. However, repeated retries may also set off a momentary cooldown, so hold makes an attempt restricted and pause if the identical rejection retains showing.

1. Stay on the display screen the place Apple asks you to enter the verification code.
2. Tap Resend code and wait a brief second.
3. If no textual content or name arrives, faucet Resend code once more, however hold it to 2–3 whole makes an attempt to keep away from including extra failed requests to a cooldown.
   
4. Once a code arrives, enter the latest code and full the setup.
5. If you continue to see the identical message after just a few tries, cease and wait 30–60 minutes earlier than attempting once more.

3. Use a Different Internet Connection

Even although the verification itself arrives by SMS or name, your machine nonetheless has to efficiently ship the verification request to Apple’s servers first. If your present connection is unstable, filtered, or experiencing routing points, Apple’s verification request might not full correctly. Switching networks usually fixes “try again later” sort errors and may also enhance general supply reliability.

1. Turn off Wi-Fi in your iPhone, iPad, or laptop.
2. Enable cell information or connect with a totally different Wi-Fi community (or a hotspot from one other cellphone).
3. Go again to the Apple ID setup display screen and attempt to add or confirm your cellphone quantity once more.

4. Sign Up Through the Mail App or Apple’s Official Website

If the error seems throughout the regular setup circulation, switching to a totally different sign-in path may also help. The Mail app and Apple’s official web site can generally full verification extra reliably as a result of they use a totally different account setup display screen and will keep away from a bug or a short lived problem in a single particular circulation. This is very helpful when the difficulty appears tied to 1 setup path moderately than the cellphone quantity itself.

1. Open Settings.
   
2. Scroll to Apps.
   
3. Tap Mail.
   
4. Tap Mail Accounts.
   
5. Choose Add Account.
   
6. Select iCloud and observe the prompts to register or create a brand new Apple ID, then enter your cellphone quantity when requested.
7. If you like utilizing a browser, attempt creating/signing in to your Apple ID on Apple’s official web site and repeat the cellphone verification from there.

5. Contact Apple Support

If the error retains returning, your cellphone quantity could also be blocked, linked to a different Apple ID, or held by Apple’s safety system in a manner you can’t see out of your facet. In that state of affairs, solely Apple Support can examine the inner standing of the quantity and inform you whether or not the restriction is momentary or if the quantity must be modified.

Tip: If you might have entry to one other cellphone quantity, attempt including that quickly to end setup, then replace the trusted quantity later as soon as the restriction clears.