when I try to change my apple id, the iPhotos update seems to take hours. Will I lose photos when I switch apple id's?
Updating the photos seems to take hours when I am trying to switch to a different apple id
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15
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When changing to the new ID, there may be some data loss, but you can minimize it. If syncing photos with iCloud, ensure Optimization is turned off in Photos/Preferences/iCloud. Then make sure full resolution photos are on the computer. When signing out of iCloud, if asked whether you want to retain data, choose yes. Messages conversations will be lost if they are addressed to the ID. See the article below for other places that the old ID should be removed. See Winston Churchill's response in the below discussion. If possible, also set up Family Sharing between the IDs to keep access to your apps/purchases.
How to switch Apple IDs on your iPhone or iPad.
How to transfer all files from one iCloud account to another.
What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support.