Registering a Hong Kong Apple ID does not strictly require a Hong Kong phone number. China mainland +86 numbers can be used directly for two-step verification, and emails can also complete identity verification. If you want to try Binance before deciding whether to switch regions, you can click Binance Official Website to register an account; after setting up your Hong Kong ID, click Binance Official APP to download. For full iOS switching steps, see the iOS Installation Tutorial. Below, we explain the three preparations before registration, the six-step formal process for a Hong Kong ID, address templates, a comparison with the US region, and how to handle common errors.
1. Three Preparations Before Registering a Hong Kong Apple ID
The registration process for a Hong Kong ID itself is not difficult; the difficulty lies in the "pre-requisite materials." As long as you prepare the three items below in advance, the actual registration can be completed within 10 minutes.
Step 1: Prepare a Fresh Email Address
Apple treats the email as the ID account itself, so this email must have never been registered with any Apple ID. We recommend using Gmail, Outlook, or creating a new iCloud mail; do not use QQ mail (Apple's anti-spam rules for QQ mail are strict, and verification codes are often delayed).
Step 2: Prepare a Phone Number to Receive SMS
This is the most misunderstood step: A Hong Kong Apple ID does not require a +852 number. International numbers like mainland +86, Taiwan +886, and US +1 can all receive Apple's 6-digit verification code. The only requirement is that the number can receive international SMS and has not been used to verify another Apple ID in the past 30 days (Apple limits registration per number within 30 days).
Step 3: Prepare a Valid Hong Kong Address
You will be asked to fill in an address during the registration process. Real hotels, friends' houses, or office floors can all work; if you don't have one, just pick a row from the "Address Templates" below. Apple does not mail letters to verify the address; it is mainly used to match the area code and the settlement region of the App Store.
2. Complete Six-Step Registration for Hong Kong Apple ID
Below is the complete process for registering a Hong Kong ID via a browser (recommended). It is strongly recommended to register via a browser rather than in the iPhone's "Settings", as the iPhone registration interface automatically brings in the current system region, making it easy to get stuck.
Step 1: Open the Official Apple ID Registration Page
Visit appleid.apple.com in your browser and click "Create Your Apple ID" in the top right corner. Select "Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong)" or "English (Hong Kong)" at the bottom right to switch the page to Hong Kong registration mode.
Step 2: Fill in Basic Information
- Last / First Name: Fill in Pinyin or English; do not use Simplified Chinese characters.
- Country / Region: Must select "Hong Kong SAR".
- Date of Birth: Must be over 18; suggested birth year is around 1990.
- Email: The fresh email prepared in Step 1.
- Password: Over 8 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers.
Step 3: Phone Number Verification
When entering the phone number section, you can find +86 China or +852 Hong Kong in the country code dropdown menu. After selecting, enter your number, and Apple will send a 6-digit verification code. If you don't receive it within 60 seconds, click "Resend," or switch to the voice call method (Apple will call you and read the code).
Step 4: Email Verification
The same 6-digit verification code will be sent to your email; check the spam folder if necessary. After entering it and clicking confirm, the account body is successfully created.
Step 5: First Login to App Store
Open the App Store on your iPhone, tap the avatar in the top right → Sign out of the current ID → Sign in with the newly registered Hong Kong ID. A popup "This Apple ID has not yet been used in the iTunes Store" will appear; click "Review."
Step 6: Fill in Payment and Address
Make sure to select "None" for the payment method (if the "None" option isn't there, it means Step 5 wasn't fully successful; sign out and back in once). Fill in the address referring to the template below:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Last Name | Chan |
| First Name | Tai Man |
| Street | Flat A, 12/F, 88 Queensway |
| City | Admiralty |
| District | Hong Kong Island |
| Phone Code | +852 |
| Phone Number | Random 8 digits, e.g., 91234567 |
Save after filling it in, and your Hong Kong Apple ID is formally activated.
3. Three Available Address Templates for Hong Kong
Different street types correspond to different filling methods; these three templates have been tested and are usable in April 2026:
Template A: Central Business Building
Flat 1502, 15/F, Central Plaza
18 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
Hong Kong Island
Phone: +852 91234567
Template B: Kowloon Residential Area
Flat B, 8/F, Block 3, Whampoa Garden
Hung Hom, Kowloon
Phone: +852 96788899
Template C: New Territories Housing Estate
Flat 1203, Tower 5, Sham Tseng Estate
Tsuen Wan, New Territories
Phone: +852 93456789
Key Tip: The phone numbers in the three templates are random combinations; as long as they are 8 digits starting with +852, Apple does not verify authenticity. However, the ID card number or tax ID field (if it appears) must be left blank; filling in fake numbers will result in direct rejection.
4. HK$ Settlement Logic of Hong Kong Apple ID
The registered Hong Kong ID defaults to Hong Kong Dollars (HK$) as the settlement currency, which affects a few things in the App Store:
1. App Price Display
All paid apps, subscriptions, and in-app purchases are displayed in HK$, with an exchange rate of approximately 1 HKD = 0.13 USD. However, since most people install the Binance APP via the free download path, the settlement currency is not important.
2. Top-up Methods
Official top-up methods for a Hong Kong ID include:
- Hong Kong Apple Gift Card (can be purchased online for face value HK$ gift codes).
- Hong Kong Credit Card (Visa/Master/AE, the issuing bank must be a local Hong Kong bank).
- PayMe / AlipayHK (limited to users with bound Hong Kong accounts).
Mainland users generally choose the Gift Card method; not binding a card is 100% safe, and those who only use it to download free apps don't need to top up at all.
3. Subscription Auto-renewal
If you accidentally subscribe to services like Hong Kong Apple Music or Hong Kong iCloud, renewals will be charged in HK$. Downloading the Binance APP for free involves no subscriptions, so you can completely ignore this.
5. Comparison Between Hong Kong and US Apple IDs
This is the most direct comparison table to help you decide which region to register:
| Dimension | Hong Kong Apple ID | US Apple ID |
|---|---|---|
| Can download Binance APP | Yes | Yes |
| Phone verification requirements | Mainland +86 available | Mainland +86 available |
| Settlement currency | Hong Kong Dollar HK$ | US Dollar USD |
| Address template difficulty | Easy with existing streets/numbers | Needs tax-free state and precise zip code |
| Card-free registration | Supports "None" | Supports "None" |
| Language support | Traditional Chinese interface | No Chinese, full English |
| Time zone preference | Friendlier for Asian users | Needs adapting to ET/PT time difference |
| Switch back to mainland China | Simple process | Simple process |
| Accompanying app ecosystem | Most mainland apps available | Some mainland apps invisible |
Conclusion: If it's just to install Binance, a Hong Kong ID is more convenient than a US ID—the interface has Chinese, addresses are easier to fill, and phone number requirements are identical.
6. Common Errors and Solutions During Registration
Error 1: "This phone number cannot be used for verification"
This usually means the number has been used to register another Apple ID within 30 days. Solution: Use a different number or wait for 30 days. If you don't have a spare number, you can use a home landline + voice verification.
Error 2: "Your account has been disabled"
This happens during the first App Store login, usually because registration was too fast (logging into App Store less than 1 minute after registration). Solution: Sign out and wait 24 hours before signing in again, doing nothing in between.
Error 3: No "None" option for payment method
This means your ID hasn't fully activated its region. Sign out of the App Store, and then click the "Get" button for a free APP. The system will re-guide you to fill in payment info, and the "None" option should appear this time.
Error 4: "This Apple ID has not yet been used in the App Store" loop
If it keeps jumping back to the same page after clicking "Review," it's a browser cookie conflict. Solution: Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone and restart the device, then sign in again.
FAQ Common Questions
Q: Do I need a Hong Kong ID card to register a Hong Kong Apple ID? A: No. There are no ID card or tax ID fields in Apple's entire registration process. Some third-party tutorials say an ID is required, but that's confusing "bank card binding" with "ID registration"—card-free registration involves no ID card.
Q: How many Hong Kong Apple IDs can one phone number register? A: A single phone number can only do SMS verification for 1 new ID within 30 days. However, successfully registered IDs do not occupy the quota, meaning once you finish registering the first ID, this number is unlocked and can be used normally for two-step verification.
Q: Do I need to pay to download the Binance APP with a Hong Kong ID? A: It's completely free. The Binance APP in the Hong Kong App Store is a 0-dollar free download, involving no charges, no card binding, and no top-ups.
Q: Can a Hong Kong ID be logged into multiple devices? A: Yes, one Hong Kong ID can be logged into up to 10 Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac all count), and any Binance APP downloaded can be re-downloaded directly on any device.
Q: After registering a Hong Kong ID, will the WeChat or Alipay from my original mainland ID disappear? A: No. Switching Apple IDs only affects the App Store's login state; installed APP data is fully retained, including WeChat chat history, Alipay accounts, and album photos. You can continue using them after switching back to your mainland ID.