Asked to sign into an Apple ID that is not mine when transferring data between iPhones

Question

Level 1

6 points

Asked to sign into an Apple ID that is not mine when transferring data between iPhones

I bought a new 13 Mini today direct from Apple. I transferred my data from an SE 2020 (also bought direct from Apple) to the new iPhone using the automatic transfer feature. All went fine. I also have an SE 1st gen (second hand) and wanted to set this up as a new backup device with the same iCloud account, using the new iPhone 13 Mini as the transfer source.

When I started to transfer data from the iPhone 13 Mini the SE 1st gen setup asked me to sign in to an iCloud account that is not my own and I have never heard of but which the message states has previously made purchases in the app store. I skipped this step and the SE 1st gen continued the transfer and appears to have setup correctly.

The question is... where does the unfamiliar iCloud account come from and does it present any threat to either my new 13 Mini or old SE 1st gen? My guess is that it is the ghost of the SE 1st gen's original owner which is somehow still tied to the serial number / device?

iPhone 13 mini, iOS 15

Posted on Oct 6, 2021 9:27 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Oct 7, 2021 9:50 AM in response to Jpnewb

Greetings Jpnewb,

We understand that you were prompted for an Apple ID account due to purchases made with that account, and we'd like to help. Since these apps were downloaded or purchased using a different Apple ID, you'll just need to delete those apps from your device, and purchase or download them again using your own Apple ID account.

Download apps and games on your iPhone or iPad

Take care.

Reply

Answer 2

mario49

Community Specialist

Oct 7, 2021 10:17 AM in response to Jpnewb

Jpnewb,

Apologies for any confusion. The prompt you saw indicates that one or more apps included in that data transfer were downloaded using a different Apple ID account.

Cheers.

Reply

Answer 3

Jpnewb Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 7, 2021 10:28 AM in response to mario49

Thanks Mario49, but that still doesn't answer my question.

The data transfer was my own from one of my previous iPhones using the my Apple ID. No one else has used that phone or downloaded an app to it using a different Apple ID, especially not a name and email I do not recognise. All of the apps I personally downloaded using my own Apple ID.

I understand it's saying an app in the data transfer was downloaded with a different Apple ID. I'm telling you it wasn't. So the question remains, where is this unknown Apple ID coming from?

Reply

Answer 4

Jpnewb Author

Level 1

6 points

Oct 7, 2021 9:55 AM in response to Dustin_R_308

I understand your comment, but I have never downloaded or purchased any apps using a different Apple ID. I have only ever used my own Apple ID. The Apple ID that comes up is for someone who is not me or anyone I have ever heard of.

My question is, where is this Apple ID coming from?

Reply

Asked to sign into an Apple ID that is not mine when transferring data between iPhones

Similar questions