Removed Secondary Apple ID for Purchases but App Store Doesn't Update

Question

Removed Secondary Apple ID for Purchases but App Store Doesn't Update

I added my Apple ID as a secondary ID to my wife's iPhone for sharing purchases and subscriptions about 9 days ago. Then I removed my Apple ID as the secondary ID on my wife's phone 2 days ago.

This is my issue: when I look at the purchases my wife has in our Family Sharing via the app store, it still shows the purchases assigned to my Apple ID. It has not reverted her purchases shared back to those of her primary Apple ID.

I have checked through other settings and through https://reportaproblem.apple.com/ to confirm that my wife's Apple ID does have a unique purchase history.

This is a problem because when we try to download apps I purchased with my Apple ID on my iPhone on my wife's phone we get the following error: "This redownload is not available for this Apple ID either because it was bought by a different user or the item was refunded or cancelled."

I believe that until my ID gets disconnected from my wife's app store, she can't download the apps I purchase.

Does this have something to do with the 90-day restriction on changing secondary Apple IDs for purchase and subscription sharing? If so, is there a way to override it? Or is something else going on?

Posted on Nov 27, 2023 6:18 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 28, 2023 6:16 AM in response to TheElmProtector

I am not clear what you mean by "secondary ID". Apple mobile devices can only have one ID signed into them at any one time unless you just signed in as the account for the App and iTunes Stores. No matter, apps are tied to the ID that was used to purchase them. If your account was used to download the app then your account is the one that will have to be used to update or redownload the app. The app may work as it is until then but it isn't really "hers".

Apple has a way designed for sharing apps in your situation. Family Sharing.

What is Family Sharing? - What is Family Sharing? - Apple Support - "With Family Sharing, you and up to five other family members can share access to amazing Apple services..."

To learn how to set up Family Sharing, read this support article --> Set up Family Sharing - Apple Support

It still won't be her app but she will (in most cases) be able to download your apps using her account on her phone.

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Answer 2

Nov 28, 2023 11:17 AM in response to Limnos

Yes, I was trying to setup family sharing. When I first added my wife there was a delay of 3+ hours before she had access to my purchases. I didn't realize it was a delay, so I started trying to do other things for her to access my purchases.

Within Family Sharing, there is an option to set up a secondary Apple ID for purchases and subscription sharing. I thought perhaps in order for my wife to get access to my purchases, I had to make my Apple ID her secondary ID for sharing purchases and subscriptions. So I did that.

What I should have done was waited 6+ hours for her phone to sync with the family sharing plan.

Because I didn't, her secondary Apple ID is blocking her from downloading the app I purchased via our Family Sharing plan.

Now I am trying to undo what I did on her phone. I am trying to make the Apple ID that her account shared within family sharing be her actual Apple ID, not my Apple ID.

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Answer 3

Dah•veed

Level 9

67,183 points

Nov 27, 2023 9:55 PM in response to TheElmProtector

An app is forever tied to the Apple ID that acquired it -

An App Store app is forever tied to the Apple ID used to acquire it (paid or free). The Apple ID is encoded into the licensed copy that is downloaded. It is in the copy's DNA. That is the only Apple ID that can redownload or update the app.

You appear to have installed apps directly to your wife's phone using your Apple ID instead of her Apple ID.

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Answer 4

Nov 28, 2023 12:16 PM in response to TheElmProtector

Did you have her delete the app she downloaded with your Apple ID directly, and then as part of Family Sharing download it as a shared app?

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Answer 5

Dec 29, 2023 4:56 PM in response to TheElmProtector

I did the same thing and know I’m trying to undue it all. Afraid to remove my Apple ID as her secondary ID under Family Sharing. Afraid all of her apps won’t work. Any suggestions?

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Removed Secondary Apple ID for Purchases but App Store Doesn't Update

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