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User profile for user: SchickSchock
SchickSchock Author
User level: Level 1
7 points

Transfer from old iCloud-Account to new iCloud-Account

Hey 😊

I hope someone can help me please.


I had an iCloud for a few years. 2019 I made a new Apple-ID, so I also have a new iCloud now.

But I still have a lot of data on the old iCloud.

I made a family Account, so everything is safe and so on. But I would like to delete the old account, and have everything on one place together.

What is the easiest way to transfer all the data from the old iCloud to the new iCloud?

I already tried it with an external hard drive (from my old Mac to hard drive, then from hard drive to MacBook, then upload to new iCloud). But it takes a lot of time and it is not so easy. Also I don't have so much free storage on my MacBook, so I have to do it in many steps.

Is it somehow possible to directly transfer it from iCloud to iCloud? Maybe via drag and drop or so?


I am very thankful for any tips 😊

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.4

Posted on Jul 2, 2023 8:22 PM

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User profile for user: Limnos
Limnos
User level: Level 10
418,657 points

Posted on Jul 2, 2023 8:42 PM

Merging Apple accounts (IDs) or transferring items is for the most part not officially supported. Read the links below for things you may need to do to transfer as much as is possible and to share some others.


Apps and media bought with one ID are permanently associated with that ID. Look into using Family Sharing to continue to be able to use items purchased with one Apple ID with other Apple IDs, and for some data sharing features.

- 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 how to share photos.


If you have signed into the first ID on a device then fortunately when you sign out of that ID, do not erase the device, then sign in with a different ID, it asks you in most cases if you wish to merge the data from the two IDs on your device (toggle the ones you want to on). Say yes and later delete individual items from the other ID that you do not want. Note, in How to save apps and progress on one Appl… - Apple Community a Community Specialist says, "you will not be able to transfer the meta data from one Apple ID to another. Once you switch to another Apple ID the information associated with the old Apple ID will be gone except for physical content on the device like photos and videos." Also turn off storage optimization before doing this. With Optimize Storage, smaller, space-saving photos and videos are kept on your device while all of your original, full-resolution versions are stored in iCloud. Make sure photo optimization is turned off. Manage your photo and video storage - Apple Support



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User profile for user: Limnos
Limnos
User level: Level 10
418,657 points

Jul 2, 2023 8:42 PM in response to SchickSchock

Merging Apple accounts (IDs) or transferring items is for the most part not officially supported. Read the links below for things you may need to do to transfer as much as is possible and to share some others.


Apps and media bought with one ID are permanently associated with that ID. Look into using Family Sharing to continue to be able to use items purchased with one Apple ID with other Apple IDs, and for some data sharing features.

- 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 how to share photos.


If you have signed into the first ID on a device then fortunately when you sign out of that ID, do not erase the device, then sign in with a different ID, it asks you in most cases if you wish to merge the data from the two IDs on your device (toggle the ones you want to on). Say yes and later delete individual items from the other ID that you do not want. Note, in How to save apps and progress on one Appl… - Apple Community a Community Specialist says, "you will not be able to transfer the meta data from one Apple ID to another. Once you switch to another Apple ID the information associated with the old Apple ID will be gone except for physical content on the device like photos and videos." Also turn off storage optimization before doing this. With Optimize Storage, smaller, space-saving photos and videos are kept on your device while all of your original, full-resolution versions are stored in iCloud. Make sure photo optimization is turned off. Manage your photo and video storage - Apple Support



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Transfer from old iCloud-Account to new iCloud-Account

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