Updated iPhone defaults to wrong email address sometimes

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Level 1

4 points

Updated iPhone defaults to wrong email address sometimes

When I request to update software, it asks me to provide the password address for an email that I do use but have never used with Apple. When I look at the email address/userID on my phone and also on the app store it does show my correct email and ID.

This means when an update occurs, it asks me for the password for the wrong ID, but then I go to the app store, search for the app, and then I can update it from there. That's a workaround, but a pain. What can I do to fix this?

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Posted on Oct 16, 2023 10:31 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Sparks0829

Community Specialist

Oct 17, 2023 9:55 AM in response to mweisburgh

Hi there mweisburgh,

Typically, this means that the app you're attempting to update was originally downloaded with the Apple ID email address that appears. You could delete the app and then redownload it while you're signed in with your current Apple ID in the App Store.

Take care.

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Answer 2

ryane77

Community Specialist

Oct 17, 2023 2:01 PM in response to mweisburgh

Hi mweisburgh,

To clarify, it sounds like you know the Apple ID that you once used, but you're not sure of the password. Is that right? You might need to try the steps here to reset it: If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

We also saw you mentioned you created your Apple ID with a username, so it sounds like it was created some time ago. Depending on how long ago you set it up, how long ago you used it, and any security features you enabled, it might be possible to start the automated account recovery process as outlined here: How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support

We hope that helps.

Take care.

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Answer 3

mweisburgh Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 17, 2023 1:50 PM in response to Sparks0829

Thank you. I did have an old user name before Apple changed to requiring a user name to be an email address. In this case it is using an email address as the user name, which could possibly have been the email address I used when I set it up, but I used the password for that username and nothing worked. A few of these apps were purchased, and of course, now I'll lose all the music I purchased back then if this is the only workaround. :-(

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Updated iPhone defaults to wrong email address sometimes

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