Restore iCloud storage
Hi if I started a new account and I want to restore my data from the old account where should I begin?
iPad, iPadOS 16
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Click on this link for Apple ID Frequently Asked Questions --> https://appleid.apple.com/faq
"How many Apple IDs do I need?
Just one. Use the same Apple ID everywhere you sign in to ensure that all your Apple services and devices work together seamlessly and you can access your personal content from all your devices."
Merging Apple accounts (IDs) or transferring data is not officially supported, nor can it be done easily or completely. Read the links below for things you may need to do to transfer as much as is possible.
Look into using Family Sharing to continue to be able to use items purchased with one Apple ID with other Apple IDs.
- Family Sharing - What is Family Sharing? - Apple Support
- Set up Family Sharing - Set up Family Sharing - Apple Support
Share folders with iCloud Drive --> Share files and folders in iCloud Drive on iCloud.com - Apple Support
Read How to use Shared Albums in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Apple Support about about how to share photos.
If you have signed into the ID on two devices then fortunately when you sign out of one ID and sign in with a different one it asks you in most cases if you wish to retain the data from it on your device. Say yes and then delete individual items you do not want.
Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac --> Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac - Apple Support
If another Apple ID is signed in you may need to enter the password for that ID to sign out of that ID first.
Click on this link to learn how to 'Sign in with your Apple ID' --> Sign in with your Apple ID - Apple Support
Additional contributor posts:
- Apr. 2018 post by ASC helper Winston Churchill on transferring data from one Apple ID to another. Can I merge two iCloud accounts - Apple Community
- Feb. 2021 tips from Eric Root Apple ID - Apple Community