Unknown Apple ID when setting up new iPhone 14.

Question

Level 1

8 points

Unknown Apple ID when setting up new iPhone 14.

I am in the process of setting up my new iPhone 14 pro, purchased directly from Apple UK. It has taken the settings directly from my iPhone XR (also purchased directly from Apple UK). On beginning to download the Apps from iCloud the new phone came up with a message asking me to input the Apple ID for an unknown Chinese email address. This was on the basis that some of the apps being downloaded were associated with that account. This surprised and spooked me somewhat. My phones were purchased from Apple, my personal Apple ID details have always been private, I only ever download apps from the app store.

A trawl of the internet shows this is a common issue and it's always addresses that end in @163.com - Chinese addresses.

I have never had this issue before when setting up a new phone. But this is the first time i've used the 'phone to phone' then iCloud backup method.

Can someone please explain how this is possible and do I need to take any further action?

Cheers DaveT

[Personal Information Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Oct 9, 2022 10:57 AM

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Answer 1

LD150

Level 10

104,448 points

Oct 9, 2022 12:54 PM in response to Dave1334

Was it possible that the old iphone was signed-into with your Apple ID without being wiped some time in the past? Was the old phone pre-owned? A previous owner may have installed the apps. It happened to me when I took over my wife's phone without wiping - I thought signing out of her ID then signing in with mine would be good enough. It wasnt.

Your remedy is to remove the offending apps from the old iphone first.

Common issue I doubt. I have never seen it on here.

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Answer 2

LD150

Level 10

104,448 points

Oct 9, 2022 1:40 PM in response to Dave1334

The only way apps can be on the phone is if you or one of your close family installed them. Not a statement of fault, merely of fact. Maybe they have been banned from App Store or become delinquent.

If you don't want to offload them all one by one (to preserve data) and try to reinstall I don't know who else can look into it or identify them,

You can always reach out to Apple Support directly. You should be able to reach them here

Contact - Official Apple Support

or phone numbers

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

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Answer 3

LD150

Level 10

104,448 points

Oct 9, 2022 1:20 PM in response to Dave1334

Google has seldom been definitive proof of anything, but if those scholarly articles don't offer you a better remedy then, I repeat, delete the offending apps from the old phone first

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Answer 4

Dave1334 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 9, 2022 1:31 PM in response to LD150

You're level 9 - so that means you know what you're talking about. Some of the discussion about the issue is on this forum, some on MacRumors and on others. Most of the 'scholars' like yourself seem unable to accept that there has been no fault on behalf of the phone user. What we are describing can not possibly be the case. But it IS the case.

Deleting the "offending" apps is all well and good if you can identify the offending apps. How can these apps get on my phone and be linked to another Apple ID, and how are all the linked emails in all the other cases ending in @163.com?

Nobody has access to my phone or Apple ID.

Surely this is worth a look?

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Answer 5

Dave1334 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 9, 2022 2:26 PM in response to LD150

Thanks. I've now gone forward on the basis that skipping adding the Apple ID for the strange Chinese email address has simply not installed the questionable apps. Having said that, Im still don't see how these apps have got onto my system, assuming they actually exist, as I can't see any apps I don't recognise. Nobody has installed anything but me as no-one else has access. I only load apps from the app store. The phone has never been jail broken etc etc. This is all not really the point. The point is - how can installing settings onto a new iPhone from an unmolested previous phone, and from an unhacked Apple iCloud account lead to the phone asking for details from a Chinese person's account? In every case mentioned on the net it's a Chinese email ending in @163.com

I'll contact Apple. Cheers.

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Answer 6

Dave1334 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 9, 2022 1:00 PM in response to LD150

As I said in the post, XR was new from Apple and 14 pro also new from Apple. Both purchased by me for me. Common issue it is - a quick Google search will prove it.

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