Switch from Mobile Me to iCloud

Question

Level 1

13 points

Switch from Mobile Me to iCloud

I am not sure that this should be a new queston, but I hope it generates a single statement of steps to follow for resolution.

I have been trying to figure out the "cart and horse" of switching from Mobile Me to iCloud by reading several Apple documents. None outlines all the steps required in a single coherent statement.

Currently I have an Apple ID based on an email account different from my me.com email address. My Mobile Me account is based on my me.com address. The only thing I use Mobile Me for is to maintain my several calendars and my contacts on 2 macs. 2 iPhones, and 1 iPad, and share calendars (read-only) with some colleagues.

I do not use iDisk, nor do I actually use my me.com email account.

I would like to set up iCloud with the same info as my Apple ID but that is not my Mobile Me username/password.

I read that I cannot edit my Mobile Me ID.

The only benefit I see for using the same ID for iCloud and Mobile Me is the transition of data from me.com to iCloud.

Is it possible to set up an iCloud account and populate the calendar and contacts from the computer rather than Mobile Me?

If that were the case, I would use my regular Apple ID for the iCloud and simply forget about Mobile Me (which I presume will self-destruct in June 2012 or so)

Is there something I am missing here?

Also, is it possible to publish/share read-only calendars with others as was the case with Mobile Me?

Thank you

Jim

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Nov 15, 2011 6:47 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

AppleMan1958

Level 7

27,492 points

Nov 15, 2011 7:13 AM in response to Jim Dysart

I went through a similar level of frustration trying to figure out how to do this, but in the end it was pretty simple.

I had an iTunes Apple ID for me, an iTunes Apple ID for my wife, and a single MobileMe Apple ID for sharing calendars and address books with various devices and with my wife.

I decided to use my iTunes ID and my MobileMe ID for myself, and to transition my wife to her iTunes Apple ID for both iTunes and iCloud. So my wife's case would be most applicable to you.

Here is what I did for her.

1) Make a backup of all Mobile Me Calendars that you care about. Do this by selecting the calendar and then FILE/EXPORT/EXPORT. Also make an archive of your address book if any.

2) Sign out of Mobile Me in iCal and in System Preferences in all devices.

3) Now, sign up for iCloud with your Apple ID for iTunes.

4) In iCal, go to the iCloud section and add a Calendar. Then import one of your backups into this calendar. Repeat for additional calendars.

5) Your address book should upload automatically, but you have a good backup just in case.

If I recall correctly, you can share editable calendars with individuals. You can publish a read only calendar, but it is available to everyone, although I am not sure how they get initial access.

Reply

Answer 2

Jim Dysart Author

Level 1

13 points

Nov 15, 2011 7:31 PM in response to AppleMan1958

Thank you AppleMan1958. I had actually created the backup files for Contacts and individual calendars, but needed some reassurance that what I was about to try was not going to create a massive mess. I am much more at ease.

Jim

Reply

Answer 3

TRATRA

Level 1

72 points

Nov 16, 2011 7:24 AM in response to Jim Dysart

So, please do tell us Jim...

Did it work for you??

Reply

Answer 4

Jim Dysart Author

Level 1

13 points

Nov 16, 2011 4:08 PM in response to TRATRA

I will report the outcome as soon as I switch. My schedule is quite full so I probably won't get to it until the weekend.

Jim

Reply

Answer 5

Jim Dysart Author

Level 1

13 points

Nov 16, 2011 8:17 PM in response to Jim Dysart

I have successfully transferred from Mobile Me to iCloud, moving my contacts and my nine calendars to iCloud under my Apple ID and not my Mobile Me ID.

I had a couple of unexpected incidents.

1. When I activated iCal it indicated it was transferring the calendars on my Mac to the iCloud. Then I realized that I still had the calendars "On my Mac" that existed prior to setting up Mobile Me. Fortunately, the calendars were the same ones I have used since then on Mobile Me, so when I checked the new iCal, my calendars were already listed, but had no entries since I converted to Mobile Me (approximately 3 years of data)

Therefore, my next process was to highlight each calendar and import the corresponding backup. When asked what to do with new entries and given the default option of "Unfiled", I changed the choice to the calendar I was importing.

I repeated this for all 9 calendars. The actual transfer to iCloud took a long time, as noted by the length of time that was required to get the data back on the iPhone.

2. When I activated Contacts on the first iPhone it indicated that it would merge data. I ended up ith duplicates in my computer address book, but was able to get rid of them with look up duplicates.

There were no issues with the second iPhone.

I trust this is of some help ... sort of a hybrid of the process outlined by AppleMan1958, and what I had to adjust for my particular set of circumstances.

Reply