Consolidating my Apple Accounts

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Level 1

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Consolidating my Apple Accounts

I recently went through a divorce and am also transitioning my gender. My original account was based on my email address from 20 years ago, and contains my dead name. I would like to use my more generic gmail account for my apple devices and did use this when I set up my new apple id for my new devices. My family was using old id with family sharing (they are all adults) but I would like to move all those assets to the new account (movies purchased, etc). Is there a way to do this without having to log in with an account with my "dead name" plastered all over it? I understand the rules you have in place, but honestly, switching accounts to see my old content and making sure I don't use it for new purchases is a PITA situation.

Posted on Feb 7, 2024 11:50 AM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

Community+ 2026

Level 10

448,059 points

Feb 7, 2024 11:55 AM in response to DrMinx

You can change the name in an account. Read this article about managing the information you use with your account --> Manage and use your Apple ID - Apple Support

You can change the email address used for an Apple ID: Change your Apple ID - Apple Support

You cannot transfer purchases from one account to a different one, so you are best off using just one account and changing the information on it

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Answer 2

Feb 8, 2024 12:31 PM in response to DrMinx

I can change everything about my account except for the appleid.

You can change your Apple ID. The second link I provided 25 hours ago.

Since you can indeed change it then it will no longer appear. When I say change it, I indeed mean change it. You are not creating a new account. That would oblige you to share with the old account. You are instead removing the old email address entirely from your account. Nobody will see it anymore. All they will see is your new address. You can then change everything else in your account. Your name, your address, etc. The only thing you can't change is your purchase history, but you can hide some of those so you won't see them on a day to day basis. Hide App Store purchases - Apple Support

Hide and unhide music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and books - Apple Support

I agree that using an email address was not the best thing. Before all the newer security measures, if somebody had your email address (and mine has been out in the wild for 30 years now), they were halfway to getting into your account.

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Answer 3

Feb 7, 2024 12:52 PM in response to DrMinx

This is not a case of you being victimized. What you want to do is possible using the methods I mentioned. If you don't want to use the old email account you have as an Apple ID then create a new one with somebody and change it the way I indicated above. Change your name and address and photo as described in managing an account. You can alter your birthday. I don't think there is a gender assignation.

If there are apps in your purchase history, you can hide them (you can't delete them entirely from the list because people might do that and then later regret having done that and then complain bitterly that Apple "stole" the app from them).

If you really want to create a new account then you can do that. You can even transfer some things by signing out of an old account, telling the device not to delete your files, then signing in with the new one. However, even if it keeps apps and purchased media, those are permanently tied to your old account and cannot be redownloaded or updated unless you Family Share you old account with your new one. Likely this is to reduce piracy and if you want to complain to Apple about that then do so here Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 4

DrMinx Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 7, 2024 12:09 PM in response to Limnos

Yes, I understand that. I would prefer for them to give the option of some generic id then, this is kinda like getting a tattoo and then being told 20 years later, "Sorry, you are stuck with it for the rest of your life."

Old school asset management might play well for the establishment, and for big companies like Apple, but for people who want to start over again, its scorched earth. I want nothing to do with that history and that constant reminder from my old life. And the fact that Apple has no way to accommodate those of us with real identity change needs could be taken as a slap in the face of diveristy. Not all of us know ourselves so well when we are growing up. I would rather lose the assets than have to deal with the old email account reminder as my permanent apple id. Security over inclusion, Nice one Apple...

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Answer 5

DrMinx Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 8, 2024 10:49 AM in response to Limnos

Yes, I can change everything about my account except for the appleid. I don't think I said I was being victimized, that's your label. All I said was I didn't agree with the policy that won't let someone change their id. I will make a suggestion to apple about it. Sorry for the vent. As much as my plurality is tickled with the idea of making a "family group" with my own emails, it will all flow back to my old name. I will suggest that they allow for tags as apple ids instead of email addresses. They could still require an email as part of the setup, but making that the apple id is the sticking point.

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Answer 6

DrMinx Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 8, 2024 9:28 PM in response to Limnos

okay. thank you for your assistance. I guess I didn't realize I could use the same apple id on multiple phones. When I got my second iphone I just figured it would need to have its own apple id, so I created a new one last spring for that newer phone. Now I'm getting ready to retire the old phone and figuring out how to sort everything. I apologize for not doing the research before asking the question or making assumptions that apple hadn't sorted this before. I appreciate your patience with me while I was working through my frustration. I will do more research on the consolidation. I have the same issue with my audible account and amazon stuff. two accounts one, that had family sharing stuff on it for my family and a newer one that was just my stuff. I appreciate all the security work they have done to protect people's assets. I will just need to study up on the options, read through all the links you sent again, and try to sort things out. Duking it out with covid during this hasn't helped my patience or ability to focus, but that's my issue. and doesn't affect the quality of your advice at all, just my ability to perceive it properly.

Thanks again for your assistance!!!

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Consolidating my Apple Accounts

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