Temporary second Apple ID?

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Level 1

12 points

Temporary second Apple ID?

I just bought a new Apple TV 4K for my 2nd TV. I'd like to create a second Apple ID for only this device, and keep my original Apple ID on all my other Apple products (e.g., iPhone, iPads, my first Apple TV, etc.) At a later time, can I then delete this second Apple ID (which would only be linked with my new Apple TV 4K) & revert back to my original Apple ID on this device? I am OK with the possible limitations of transferring or sharing data between the devices with different Apple IDs, but will the second Apple ID complicate anything with my iCloud account?

Apple TV 4K

Posted on Aug 13, 2023 3:38 PM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

Level 10

419,821 points

Aug 13, 2023 6:26 PM in response to Tammi909

You should have your own Apple ID. Apple provides several means of sharing items between accounts, both as part of Family Sharing and outside of it (various iCloud sharing features). You can even "transfer" some items by copying. The notable exception to this is ownership of purchased apps and media. Those are permanently associated with the account that was used to purchase them. Most can, however, be shared with other "family" members under Fmaily Sharing for as long as those members are part of the family. In fact this applies to even after somebody leaves a family but you cannot then update them or redownload them if the owner is no longer part of the family.

This support article tells you how to create a new, non-child Apple ID = create an Apple Account. --> How to create a new Apple ID - Apple Support

Merging, splitting or transferring items between Apple accounts (IDs) 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

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

I do not use Apple TV so I can't provide specifics. Here's some support articles that may answer some of your questions:

Subscribe to Apple TV channels in the Apple TV app - Apple Support

Access another family member’s collection --> Library in the Apple TV app - Apple Support

Get Apple TV+ - Apple Support

Multiuser switching

Share Apple TV with multiple users - Apple Support

Manage subscriptions in the Apple TV app - Apple Support

P.S. I see there is a special forum for Apple TV so if you have questions about that you may wish to post them there. https://discussions.apple.com/community/tv-and-home/apple-tv

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

419,821 points

Aug 13, 2023 3:54 PM in response to Tammi909

You can do that. I am not 100% clear as to why but the main thing is to carefully read what deleting an account entails.

For information about how to delete your Apple ID account, read this support article —> How to delete your Apple ID account - Apple Support

Carefully and thoroughly read that article for information about what happens when you delete your Apple ID account. For example:

"Make sure that you sign out of all your devices to avoid issues with apps that use your Apple ID account or iCloud. After your account is deleted, you can't sign out of iCloud or turn off Find My iPhone Activation Lock on your devices. If you forget to sign out, you might not be able to use your device when your account is deleted."

If we knew a bit more about why you want to do this we might be able to advise as to if Apple has a better solution.

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Answer 3

Tammi909 Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 13, 2023 6:04 PM in response to Limnos

Thx for your prompt response. ALL of our Apple products are set up with my partner’s Apple ID. A negative result of this is that I receive ALL CONTENT (much of it unwanted) on devices which I consider to be “mine,” e.g., both Apple TV’s and my iPad. Other couples have posted this question for the same reason. Ditto for users who want 2 Apple IDs for business reasons. The 2nd (& more minor reason) is that every time I buy a new Apple TV (4 to-date) I lose out on the promo of several free months of Apple TV+ streaming. Apple told me that the only way I can access this promo is by using a new Apple ID.

The reason I asked about using a new “temporary” ID is because I’m quite sure that I’ll lose access to movies/subscriptions I bought via our current Apple ID - at least on the Apple TV 4K which will hopefully have my new Apple ID (bedroom TV). Can u confirm that I should still be able to watch this paid content on the other TV (Living Room TV) with the current Apple ID? But I still feel the need for a “safety net” which can put everything back the way it was in case this experiment bombs - hence my use of the word, “temporary.”

Re: your observations about using caution when deleting my Apple ID account, it’s not clear to me whether a second iCloud account would be necessary or whether I could use our current iCloud account to include the second Apple ID?? I just started reading a helpful article re: “Apple ID vs. iCloud account: what’s the difference? Many users are often confused about the difference between Apple ID and iCloud account…”. So please advise if your cautionary comments related to deleting the second Apple ID and/or an accompanying second iCloud account??

In summary, it would be awesome if I could create and permanently keep a second Apple ID on my new Apple TV 4K. By selectively using such features as Family Sharing, I’d HOPE I could retain access to my current subscription to Apple TV+ streaming which started in May, 2023 for one-year, for approx $125, on my L.R. TV - while using the free 3 or 6-month trial on the bedroom TV - and then somehow getting the balance of the 1-year subscription back on BOTH TVs???

And more importantly, that the use of two different Apple IDs would give me at least one device that is free from my partner’s content. Sorry for the length of this, & many thanks.

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Temporary second Apple ID?

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