buggsy2

Q: How can I transfer iOS app purchases from one iOS account to another?

Several years ago when I got my first iPhone, the iPhone 4, I didn't understand Apple accounts or IDs, and created an Apple account of the form:

MyGmailName@gmail.com

Now I have a "proper" Apple account of the form:

MyFirstName.MyLastName@icloud.com

I would like to transfer all my purchases under the Gmail account to the iCloud account, then close the Gmail account.

Is this possible, and if so, how?

Airport Time Capsule 802.11ac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 31, 2015 5:13 PM

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Q: How can I transfer iOS app purchases from one iOS account to another?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Averythomas,Apple recommended

    Averythomas Averythomas May 31, 2015 5:28 PM in response to buggsy2
    Level 4 (1,467 points)
    May 31, 2015 5:28 PM in response to buggsy2

    You can not transfer the purchases but you can change the email in, http://appleid.apple.com

  • by buggsy2,

    buggsy2 buggsy2 May 31, 2015 6:20 PM in response to Averythomas
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 31, 2015 6:20 PM in response to Averythomas

    I think your answer is correct but not helpful to my situation

     

    What I really need to do is merge my two accounts, but that's not possible. I have to close one, and re-purchase those apps in the remaining account.

     

    I'll check which one has the fewest or least expensive app purchases, re-purchase those in the other account, then close the first one. A foolish exercise but I just got an iMac, wanting to go all-Apple and leave Windows behind, and want to do the transition with a clean iOS and iTunes situation.

     

    Edit:

    Set up your Apple ID for iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support

     

    This might offer a fix...gotta study this more.

  • by babowa,Apple recommended

    babowa babowa May 31, 2015 6:20 PM in response to buggsy2
    Level 7 (32,024 points)
    iPad
    May 31, 2015 6:20 PM in response to buggsy2

    You are correct - you cannot merge accounts and purchases are tied to the apple ID used to obtain them forever. That is the new licensing in effect since Apple changed to digital download only.

     

    Also remember to make sure that all your devices (iMac, iPhone, etc) are using the same Apple ID so you can sync, etc. And, there are two separate app stores: one for Mac OS for computers and one for iOS devices such as iPhones), so you'll want to use the same Apple ID there as well.

  • by gail from maine,Apple recommended

    gail from maine gail from maine May 31, 2015 6:21 PM in response to buggsy2
    Level 7 (26,129 points)
    iCloud
    May 31, 2015 6:21 PM in response to buggsy2

    Your other option would be to change the password on the accounts so that they are the same. I have an old Apple ID that I did some original purchasing on before I got my @me.com account. I keep the password on both accounts the same so that when an app needs to be updated, it doesn't matter which ID the update is for... My iTunes is also authorized for both IDs.

     

    If you don't want to re-purchase, that is the most seamless way to go.

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB