Problems with multiple Apple IDs

I'm hoping someone can point me in a new direction. Because of the moves from me.com to icloud.com and at one time using my email as an ID I have 2 apple IDs. Unfortunately, the icloud ID has iCloud+ and the other has apple TV and music. If I sign I sign in to iCloud ID on my phone I have my extra storage and my health data and Rx reminders but no Apple Music. If I sign in with my other ID I have access to family sharing for iCloud+ Apple TV but not my apple health data or Apple Music. This is a recent change. I even upgraded to Apple Music family and still can't access music from the iCloud account.


Is there anyway to move move subscriptions so everything is in one account, without losing playlists.

Posted on Jun 14, 2024 8:36 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 15, 2024 2:25 AM

Purchases cannot be moved between accounts.


More information about sharing playlists --> How to share an Apple Music playlist on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support


This is not a recent change. People have been commenting about not being able to subscribe with two Apple Accounts on one device for a long time (10+ years).


Apple has no formal account merging or transferring process. The things below will help you in doing ongoing or one-time transfer of as much as possible from one account to the other, but some things can never be transferred (namely purchases), only shared.


You can use various iCloud sharing features for some ongoing data sharing.

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.


Sharing music playlists —> How to share an Apple Music playlist on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support


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


The next section may sound tricky but it lets you merge some things on a device where you have already signed in with an old account but want to use a new account and incorporate data that is already on the device from the old account. Incidentally, the data will then propagate to other devices using iCloud with that new ID. (I haven't tried this with a computer but it may also work with a computer account signed into an old ID.)


If you have signed into the first ID on a device then fortunately when you sign out of that ID it asks you if you wish to retain the data from the old ID on your device (toggle the ones you want to on). If you keep data on the device then when you sign in with the other ID it will merge this data with the account signing into the device. You can later delete individual items from the old ID that you do not want. Similar information can be found in this post I have 2 apple IDs i want to merge them h… - Apple Community Note that only content physically present on the device like contacts, photos and videos will be retained. Meta data such as a game play scores that are tied to a specific ID or are only on a vendor's database remotely will not be retained. 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 so the full quality versions from the old account are actually on the device before merging the content into your new account. Manage your photo and video storage - Apple Support You can turn optimization back on again once you are fully using your new ID on the device.


Even though apps may remain on a device and may work for a while, you will not be able to update them or redownload them unless you buy them again with this ID or download them with this ID using Family Sharing.


Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac --> Sign out of iCloud on your devices - 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




4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 15, 2024 2:25 AM in response to darylcognito

Purchases cannot be moved between accounts.


More information about sharing playlists --> How to share an Apple Music playlist on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support


This is not a recent change. People have been commenting about not being able to subscribe with two Apple Accounts on one device for a long time (10+ years).


Apple has no formal account merging or transferring process. The things below will help you in doing ongoing or one-time transfer of as much as possible from one account to the other, but some things can never be transferred (namely purchases), only shared.


You can use various iCloud sharing features for some ongoing data sharing.

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.


Sharing music playlists —> How to share an Apple Music playlist on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support


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


The next section may sound tricky but it lets you merge some things on a device where you have already signed in with an old account but want to use a new account and incorporate data that is already on the device from the old account. Incidentally, the data will then propagate to other devices using iCloud with that new ID. (I haven't tried this with a computer but it may also work with a computer account signed into an old ID.)


If you have signed into the first ID on a device then fortunately when you sign out of that ID it asks you if you wish to retain the data from the old ID on your device (toggle the ones you want to on). If you keep data on the device then when you sign in with the other ID it will merge this data with the account signing into the device. You can later delete individual items from the old ID that you do not want. Similar information can be found in this post I have 2 apple IDs i want to merge them h… - Apple Community Note that only content physically present on the device like contacts, photos and videos will be retained. Meta data such as a game play scores that are tied to a specific ID or are only on a vendor's database remotely will not be retained. 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 so the full quality versions from the old account are actually on the device before merging the content into your new account. Manage your photo and video storage - Apple Support You can turn optimization back on again once you are fully using your new ID on the device.


Even though apps may remain on a device and may work for a while, you will not be able to update them or redownload them unless you buy them again with this ID or download them with this ID using Family Sharing.


Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac --> Sign out of iCloud on your devices - 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




Jun 15, 2024 5:40 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks for the detailed answers, even thought I wasn't super clear. I shouldn't post at night.


I know account sharing isn't new, but last week this is what worked.


On phone

Sign in on iCloud and enable family share with iCloud+

sign out

Sign in on main account that has Apple Music single and Apple TV

access shared iCloud + in settings

Phone had Apple Music single, app and shared iCloud +


This week

Iphone signed in to main account with Apple Music Apple TV and access to iCloud +

But apple health date was gone and medication and reminders gone.


repeated attempts to restore failed.

Bought apple music family and shared


Iphone, signed into iCloud account access to iCloud + but not Apple Music despite sharing from main account.


This moring

iPhone from iCloud account, signed out, but selected health date be kept on phone. (pretty sure I did not see this option yesterday)

Signed in on main account access to Apple Music Apple TV and iCloud + AND health app has all reminders and meds and date.


Honestly I have no idea why the health app forgot everything even tough I was still signed in, and no idea why it all works now. only cost was frustration and add Apple Music family which doesn't have a by the year option.


Thanks for the answers, the were helpful in helping me backtrack and fix.



Jun 15, 2024 8:47 AM in response to darylcognito

If this continues to be problematic I suggest you contact Apple. from what I followed it sounded like it should have kept on working. It may have been Apple had some server issues when you were using the features.


Refer to this page for Apple Support features ➔ Contact - Official Apple Support

Select from the presented options until you find a solution for your issue, or see if there is a chat or phone call contact method offered lower on the page (you sometimes have to narrow down the options multiple times before this is shown). If you do not see your issue, keep experimenting with any series of selections until you reach one that offers a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.


This page has telephone numbers for contacting Apple for support and service ➔ Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support



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