How to make Apple ID and primary email address one and the same?

Question

Level 1

0 points

How to make Apple ID and primary email address one and the same?

I've had an apple ID for many years... it is xxxxxx. The original associated email ID was on gmail, but I switched over to mobile me and deleted that gmail ID many years ago when I switched everything over to Mobile Me. I've had a mobile me mail account for several years (xxxx@me.com) and have not moved to iCloud yet (I was an early adopter of the new calendar on mobile me and learned my lesson not to me first the hard way when all my calendars disappeared).

I just upgraded my iPad to iOS5, and when I tried to download a new app from iTunes, it would not accept the apple ID / xxxxxx. But when I entered the Mobile Me address (xxxx@me.com) it accepted the PW and I could donwload the app.

I know this isn;t correct .... Now I am looking at the "Edit your Apple ID" screen... the 4th section suggests that I make my apple ID and my primary email address one and the same, and it is showing my xxxx@me.com ID. BUT it will NOT let me proceed. I click "submit" then "save changes" but nothing is updated.

I then tried to edit my Apple ID to be my xxx@me.com email ID and get an error message:

I can log into iTunes with my Mobile Me (xxxx@me.com), but it looks that it has actually set up a second/new apple ID. I hope not.

I spent the last few hours reading other discussions but can not find an explanation on how to resolve this.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3), 2.8GHz i7 4GB DDR3

Posted on Mar 4, 2012 7:22 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Rossnic

Level 2

428 points

Mar 4, 2012 3:26 PM in response to MarkGG

You can't im afraid. I wanted to do the same and got the following from Apple:

I am sorry, you cannot update your email address to MobileMe address as each Apple ID is unique.

Ross, I would like to let you know that, you cannot change your Apple ID if it was at any time a .Mac or MobileMe email address, even if your subscription has ended or been canceled.

The email address that ends in .me is already an Apple ID as well, as when you set up a MobileMe email its automatically set up as an Apple ID. So you cannot use this email address on another account. It is permanently associated with your MobileMe Apple ID.

This article provides helpful information when choosing which Apple ID to use with iCloud:

Apple IDs and iCloud

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4895

This page also covers topics such as moving MobileMe accounts to iCloud, managing your Apple ID, and how to get content purchased with multiple Apple IDs onto your iOS device.

I hope this information was helpful. If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reply to this email and I will be more than happy to assist you further.

Sincerely,

Thenmozhi

iTunes Store Customer Support

http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/ww/

I wrote back and tried to escialte the issue but got no where. The whole thing is very disappointing and I hope Apple sort it out eventually.

Reply

Answer 2

Rossnic

Level 2

428 points

Mar 4, 2012 3:28 PM in response to MarkGG

This is the 2nd email I got back after I complained further.

Dear Ross,

Thank you for writing back.

Ross, as per my Senior advisor advice, I would like to let you know that, the email address that ends in .me is already an Apple ID as well, as when you set up a MobileMe email its automatically set up as an Apple ID. So you cannot use this email address on another account. It is permanently associated with your MobileMe Apple ID.

I would suggest you to update your email address/Apple Id to an email address other than MobileMe address.

You can submit your comments/suggestions through feedback page.

Apple recognizes that no one is better qualified to provide feedback about iTunes than the people who use it.