Sandbox Apple Account sign-in asks for phone verification, then fails with “Could not connect to iCloud”

Hi,

I created a Sandbox Apple Account in App Store Connect for testing StoreKit / Age Assurance sandbox scenarios.

When I try to sign in on an iPhone through:

Settings -> Developer -> Sandbox Apple Account

I can enter the sandbox account email/password and I successfully receive the email verification code.

After entering the email verification code, iOS asks me to add/verify a phone number. When I enter the phone number, I get this error:

“Could not connect to iCloud. Verification codes cannot be sent to this phone number at this time. Please try again later.”

I did not set any phone number when creating the sandbox tester in App Store Connect. The sandbox tester was created with only name, email, password, and country/region.

Context:

  • iPhone has Developer Mode enabled
  • I am signing in via Settings -> Developer -> Sandbox Apple Account
  • I am not trying to sign in through normal iCloud / Apple Account settings
  • The sandbox account email is not used as a normal Apple Account
  • Email verification works
  • Phone verification has failed for more than a day

Questions:

  1. Is phone verification expected when signing in with a Sandbox Apple Account?
  2. Is there a way to use Sandbox Apple Accounts / Age Assurance sandbox scenarios without adding a trusted phone number?
  3. Does this error usually mean the phone number is rate-limited/blocked, or that the sandbox account is stuck?
  4. Should this be handled by Apple Developer Program Support instead?

Thanks!

Sandbox Apple Account sign-in asks for phone verification, then fails with “Could not connect to iCloud”
 
 
Q