To create an Amazon account, go to amazon.com, select Account & Lists (or Hello, sign in), and enter your email on the sign-in page. If Amazon doesn’t find an account, it walks you through making one: add your name and a password, then enter the code Amazon sends to confirm your email, and usually your phone number too. An account is free; Prime is a separate, optional membership.
This guide covers creating an account on the website and in the Amazon Shopping app, phone-number-only accounts, the verification codes, making the account secure, business accounts, and what to do when a code doesn’t arrive. Amazon changes button labels from time to time, so the wording on your screen may differ slightly.
If you want to keep using an existing account with a different inbox, our Amazon email-address change guide explains Login & security, verification, and how to check the saved address before creating another account.
How to create an Amazon account on the website
Step 1: Open the sign-in page
Go to amazon.com in a browser and select Hello, sign in or Account & Lists at the top right. If a menu opens, choose Start here (new customer) instead of signing in.
Result: the Sign in or create account page opens. If someone else is signed in on that computer, sign them out first from the Account & Lists menu.
Step 2: Enter your email
Type the email address you want to use and select Continue.
Result: if the email isn’t linked to an account yet, Amazon offers to create one (for example, with a Proceed to create an account button). If it says an account already exists, you’ve used that email before; use Forgot password instead of making a second account.
Step 3: Add your name and a password
Enter your first and last name, then choose a password. Amazon’s form requires at least 6 characters, but a longer, unique password is safer. Select Verify email (or Create your Amazon account, depending on the version you see).
Result: Amazon sends a one-time code to your email.
Step 4: Enter the email code
Open the email from Amazon, copy the 6-digit code, and enter it on the Amazon page. Then select Verify.
Result: your email is confirmed. Leave the Amazon tab open while you check your email so you don’t lose your place.
Step 5: Add and verify your phone number
Amazon usually asks for a mobile number next. Enter it, select Add mobile number, and type the code Amazon texts you. Then select Create your Amazon account.
Result: you’re signed in on the Amazon home page. You don’t need to add a payment method or address until you place your first order.
How to create an Amazon account in the app
- Open the Amazon Shopping app on your iPhone or Android phone.
- Tap Sign in, then choose the option to create a new account (it may say Create account or New to Amazon?).
- Enter your name and your mobile number or email, then choose a password.
- Enter the one-time code Amazon sends by text or email.
Result: you’re signed in to the app with the new account, and you can use the same sign-in on the website.
Accounts with only a phone number
According to Amazon’s help page on mobile phone number accounts, an account tied to a phone number instead of an email can only be created in the Amazon Shopping app. You then sign in with that phone number everywhere, including the website. Without an email, Amazon sends notifications through the app’s message center, so it suggests adding an email later under Your Account > Login & security if you want order updates by email.
Use an email or phone number you control long-term. It’s how you’ll sign in and recover the account if you forget your password.
Make the account more secure
Turn on two-step verification so a password alone isn’t enough to get in. Amazon’s Two-Step Verification help page explains the steps: go to Your Account › Login & security and follow the prompts. You can get codes by text or an authenticator app.
- Use a password you don’t use on any other site.
- Never share the one-time codes Amazon sends. Someone who asks you to read one back is very likely trying to get into your account.
- On a shared or public computer, sign out when you’re done.
Personal vs. business accounts
The sign-in page also has a Create a free business account link. That’s for buying for a company, with features like shared payment and invoices. For personal shopping, use the regular account. Selling on Amazon is a separate seller registration, not a shopping account.
Do you need Prime?
No. A regular account lets you shop, track orders and write reviews. Prime adds benefits like faster free shipping and Prime Video for a fee. You can add it later from Your Account › Prime. If you’re making a separate account so your orders stay private from others in your home, see whether you can delete Amazon order history.
Troubleshooting
- No verification email: check spam or promotions folders, confirm you typed the address correctly, and use the option to resend the code.
- “Account already exists”: the email or number is already registered. Sign in, or reset the password from the sign-in page.
- Code expired or invalid: request a new code and use the most recent one.
- Don’t want to give a phone number: Amazon may still ask for one during setup or for security checks. If it’s optional on your screen, you can skip it, but a phone number helps with account recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Is an Amazon account free?
Yes. Creating and using an account costs nothing. Prime is the paid, optional membership.
Can I have two Amazon accounts?
Yes, as long as each uses a different email or phone number. That’s common for keeping work and personal orders apart.
Do I need a credit card to create an account?
No. You only add a payment method when you check out or sign up for a paid service.
Can I use the same account for Prime Video, Kindle and Alexa?
Yes. One Amazon account signs you in to Amazon’s apps and devices.
Related
Using a shared or public computer? See how to log out of your Amazon account when you’re done. If you add Prime, here’s how to sign in to Prime Video on your TV.
Got a gift card with your new account? Here’s how to check an Amazon gift card balance without redeeming it.
Once your account is set up, you can skip typing your password on an iPhone by signing in to Amazon with Face ID or Touch ID using a passkey.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.