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User profile for user: retireD62
retireD62 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

I am moving countries and my email address will no longer be valid. how to change apple id and be able to keep and update my apps.

I had understood that if I rename my apple id to a new email, that my apps would remain, albeit that I can no longer update them (as the purchase is related to the former apple id email address).


Now I was told by an Apple store employee that Apple has very recently changed this policy and that if I rename my apple id, I WILL be able to update previously purchased apps. Is this correct?


Thanks.


iPad mini 4, iOS 12

Posted on Apr 30, 2019 1:46 AM

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User profile for user: Roger Wilmut1
Roger Wilmut1
User level: Level 10
131,158 points

Posted on Apr 30, 2019 1:59 AM

Yes. When you change the email address which forms your Apple ID you are not changing the ID itself, only its 'name'. Please follow this procedure:


  1. Firstly, sign out of iCloud on all your devices: go to each of your devices and sign out in System Preferences (or Settings)>iCloud - 'Sign out' on a Mac, 'Delete this account' on an iOS device (this will not delete the account from the server). If you have 'Find My iPhone' etc enabled you will need to disable it first. Your synced data will disappear from your devices but will reappear when you sign back in.
  2. Create a new email address, for example at Yahoo or Gmail, or anywhere convenient (or you can use an existing address as long as it is not associated with an Apple ID). You can change it to another Apple address only if it's listed when you click the link to change (in practice this means your main @icloud.com address, and the equivalent @me.com and @mac.com versions if you have them: it does not include email aliases).
  3. Go to http://appleid.apple.com and click 'Manage your Apple ID'. Sign in with the current ID.
  4. Where it says 'Apple ID' and gives your current ID email address, click 'Change your Apple ID'.
  5. Enter your new address and click 'Save changes'
  6. Sign back into iCloud on all your devices with the new ID and password. Your synced data will reappear (give it time).


I reiterate - before you start, sign out of iCloud on all your devices. Failure to do this will lead you into difficulties.


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User profile for user: Roger Wilmut1
Roger Wilmut1
User level: Level 10
131,158 points

Apr 30, 2019 1:59 AM in response to retireD62

Yes. When you change the email address which forms your Apple ID you are not changing the ID itself, only its 'name'. Please follow this procedure:


  1. Firstly, sign out of iCloud on all your devices: go to each of your devices and sign out in System Preferences (or Settings)>iCloud - 'Sign out' on a Mac, 'Delete this account' on an iOS device (this will not delete the account from the server). If you have 'Find My iPhone' etc enabled you will need to disable it first. Your synced data will disappear from your devices but will reappear when you sign back in.
  2. Create a new email address, for example at Yahoo or Gmail, or anywhere convenient (or you can use an existing address as long as it is not associated with an Apple ID). You can change it to another Apple address only if it's listed when you click the link to change (in practice this means your main @icloud.com address, and the equivalent @me.com and @mac.com versions if you have them: it does not include email aliases).
  3. Go to http://appleid.apple.com and click 'Manage your Apple ID'. Sign in with the current ID.
  4. Where it says 'Apple ID' and gives your current ID email address, click 'Change your Apple ID'.
  5. Enter your new address and click 'Save changes'
  6. Sign back into iCloud on all your devices with the new ID and password. Your synced data will reappear (give it time).


I reiterate - before you start, sign out of iCloud on all your devices. Failure to do this will lead you into difficulties.


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User profile for user: retireD62
retireD62 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Apr 30, 2019 3:22 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Thanks very much for your rapid and precise reply. This makes it much easier.


With no disrepect intended, is it true that I may now also update those apps after having renamed my apple id? I have read several warnings about this, indicating that in just this circumstance they may not be updated. Again, thanks for the benefit of your knowledge.

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I am moving countries and my email address will no longer be valid. how to change apple id and be able to keep and update my apps.

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