How can I resolve Apple Account association issues on my iPhone?

After reading this thread, I spent almost 2.5hrs dealing with Apple Support; first online chat, then a callback from phone support, and finally escalated to their second-tier technical support team...

I was eventually told that this message has to do with Apple's "back end" settings, and had resulted from the Apple ID changeover to Apple Account, and associated major changes in the iOS 18.0.1 update.

They agreed the message is not clear, and said that by selecting Transfer it confirms to Apple that the device is to be associated with the Apple Account being used by the device, which then creates the association in the "back end"; the message should no longer recur. This "back end" is only visible to their second-tier technical support team, so neither the chat support nor the first-tier tech support have the level of access required...

When Cancel is selected; the message will recur after restarting the device, and possibly at other random times.

Hope this helps, and congrats to anyone reading this for choosing the red pill. 😎

I'm having this too. And it's the same phone with the same Apple ID and the same Account. For years.

Looks like an iOS18 bug, possibly with legacy Apple IDs?

I’m getting the same error message – and I simply updated my own phone.

I think I've now had that error-message 4 or 5 times, and each time I've played safe and clicked 'Cancel', as my phone seems to be working normally.

I've just updated to 18.0.1, and got that message again. This time I tried clicking 'Transfer', and the message went away, curiously with no further dialogs - I was expecting to be asked to choose another account [which I don't have] or perhaps enter a password, but dialog just went.

Again, the phone seems to be working normally. I then did a restart, and this time DIDN'T get that message: I don't know if that was all that was needed, but it seems to have fixed it in the short-term.

My wife is having the same issue. Not a new phone. Not purchased off anyone.

All she did was update to IOS 18.1 and the error message has just started today.

I’m now 100% sure this is a IOS 18 bug. Just upgraded my husband’s iPhone 12 Pro to IOS 18 and now he is getting that message! Will be reporting to Apple Support!

He needs to go through the process again as the device is still attached to his Apple ID.

What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

They can scroll down to the “If you no longer have your iPhone” and follow the steps.

Devices can only be associated with a different Apple ID once every 90 days. The seller probably had changed the Apple ID previously and now you would need to wait. They should be ably to tell you how many days are left before they are able to remove the iPhone from their Associated Devices. Not sure if the Transfer option will immediately let you use the device or not.

View and remove your devices that are associated with your Apple Account for purchases - Apple Support

Brought my iPhone 12 Pro Max two years ago used and didn’t get this message till now after I upgraded to IOS 18.0.1 so I am on the side that this is an IOS 18 bug. Just keep pressing Cancel. Anyone know what happens if ‘Transfer’ is selected? Thanks!

I also updated my iPhone 13 to 18.01 and I get the error every time I restart and at random times. I have the same iPhone with the same apple account. Don’t know what to do. I just ignore it. I’m sure this is a bug. Someone in this thread mentioned that selecting transfer fixes it but what does transfer do?

I previously mentioned that I got this error after updating iOS18, and have never had another Apple ID.

After clicking ‘Cancel’ on several occasions, I finally tried clicking ‘Transfer’ - about 2 weeks ago. The error-message disappeared without requiring me to do anything else, and has not reappeared since.

Hope that helps.

Refer to this support article about that message —> View and remove your devices that are associated with your Apple Account for purchases - Apple Support

‘When you try to associate a device that was previously associated, you might notice a message that says, “This device is associated with another Apple Account. You cannot associate this device with another Apple Account for [number] days.” You might need to wait up to 90 days to associate the device with a different Apple Account.’

New in 2024: It used to be Apple only talked about restricting app downloads and streaming for 90 days.

OLD POLICY

See and remove your devices that are associated with Apple ID purchases - View and remove your devices that are associated with your Apple Account for purchases - Apple Support - Read "More about associated devices" at the end where it refers to the 90 day wait. This applies to re-downloading past purchases (you can make new purchases), automatic downloads, and iCloud based services such as Family Sharing, Match, and Apple Music.

He may have signed his account out of that phone, but I don't think he has removed/deleted it from his Apple ID account yet. His account should have a list of devices still associated with his ID and he needs to remove your phone from that list. There is nothing you can do on your end other than ask him to look again.