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Sign-in problems

Some people cannot get past Apple's sign-in page when connecting Apple Music. It is an Apple Account problem and it is fixed on Apple's side. Here is how.

What you see

You tap Connect Apple Music, Apple's sign-in page opens, you type your e-mail address and password — and instead of continuing, a yellow box appears under the password field:

You must update your account in order to continue. Update your account by signing in on a device running iOS 12 or later, or going to appleid.apple.com

The box can be scrolled, and the full message ends with that address. All of this happens on Apple's page — Musicat never sees your Apple password and cannot unlock the account for you.

How to fix it

  1. Open appleid.apple.com in a browser. It is the address at the end of the message; scroll inside the yellow box to see it in full.
  2. Sign in there with the same e-mail address and password.
  3. Give Apple a phone number when it asks for one.
  4. Enter the verification code Apple sends to that number. This switches on two-factor authentication for your Apple Account.
  5. Go back to Musicat and connect Apple Music again.

The sign-in then goes through normally. From now on Apple asks for a verification code whenever you sign in — that is what keeps the account protected.

A shortcut if you have an iPhone or iPad

Signing in to a device running iOS 12 or later with the same Apple Account does the same job. That is the other option Apple offers in the message.

Only type your Apple password on Apple's own site

appleid.apple.com is Apple's own site. Never enter your Apple Account password anywhere else, and never pass the verification code on to anyone — not even to us.

Why it happens

Apple requires two-factor authentication on Apple Accounts. An account created long ago that never had it switched on has to be upgraded before it can be used somewhere new, including for connecting Apple Music. None of this is specific to Musicat, and there is nothing we can change from our side.