set up an account

Meaning

This phrase means to create a new user profile or registration on a website, app, bank, or online service. It involves entering your personal details, choosing a username, and creating a password. It is a very common phrasal verb used in both everyday digital life and professional contexts.

Examples

• You need to set up an account before you can purchase items on this website.

  You need to set up an account before you can purchase items on this website.

• It only takes two minutes to set up an account on our streaming platform.

  It only takes two minutes to set up an account on our streaming platform.

• She helped her grandfather set up an account on Facebook so he could see family photos.

  She helped her grandfather set up an account on Facebook so he could see family photos.

• I had to set up an account with the bank to manage my money online.

  I had to set up an account with the bank to manage my money online.

• If you don't set up an account, you won't be able to save your progress in the game.

  If you don't set up an account, you won't be able to save your progress in the game.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to open up a new account on Instagram.

  ✓ I need to set up an account on Instagram.

  While you can 'open a bank account', for websites, social media, and apps, 'set up' or 'create' is much more natural.

• ✗ The website asked me to make up an account.

  ✓ The website asked me to set up an account.

  'Make up' means to invent a story or reconcile after an argument. To create a profile, use 'set up'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To use the new app, you first have to ___.

  💡 Create your user profile

  Show answer

  set up an account

• I can't log in because I didn't ___ yet.

  💡 Create a profile to log in

  Show answer

  set up an account