MorrisSoak

Q: I recently discovered I had two iTunes accounts.

I recently discovered I had two iTunes accounts.  One is my Apple ID and password, the other I have had for many years, contains all my purchases, billing and account information and settings for Genius etc.  My question is this, with the new iOS 7 and introduction of Mavericks with it's iCloud Keychain and multi device integration my Apple ID is becoming more and more a part of everthing I do.  Security updates now require your Apple ID to turn off Find my Phone and I even had to log in on my iPhone after the recent iOS 7.0.3 update, again with my Apple ID.  Currently I log into iTunes and the App store with my old @gmail.com address but this is not my Apple ID.  It is now the only exception and occasionally causes confusion when for example the App Store on my iPhone asks me to enter my Apple ID, it is really asking me for my iTunes ID and password.  This as you can imagine can cause all sorts of Authorisation issues especially if I download an app to the wrong account.

How can I solve this?  Could I change my current account to the same user name and password as my Apple ID and delete the other Apple ID account? 

Can I merge the two accounts? 

How can I simplyfy my iLife?

Help!

MacBook, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), iPhone iOS 7.0.3

Posted on Oct 27, 2013 10:41 PM

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Q: I recently discovered I had two iTunes accounts.

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  • by ivan54,Helpful

    ivan54 ivan54 Oct 28, 2013 10:06 AM in response to MorrisSoak
    Level 3 (875 points)
    Oct 28, 2013 10:06 AM in response to MorrisSoak

    An iTunes account is an Apple ID, so it sounds like you have two Apple IDs.

     

    See Where can I use my Apple ID?

     

    Since iTunes (and App) purchases are linked to one Apple ID and can't be moved between them, it's best to keep all purchases with one ID.

     

    I'd recommend start using your @gmail.com Apple ID for everything if that has most of your purchases on it.  See also Apple ID Support  were you can read all about it.

     

    ivan

  • by MorrisSoak,

    MorrisSoak MorrisSoak Oct 28, 2013 7:28 PM in response to ivan54
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 28, 2013 7:28 PM in response to ivan54

    Thanks ivan54, that would solve my problem.  My issue is in what order should I do this?

    My recent iPhone update required my Apple ID so I used my @me ID  although iTunes and App Store are @gmail ID.  How can I change that login on my iPhone.  Restore?  I cant see any other way in Settings.

    My iCloud login is my @me ID so Find My Phone works on that ID so I am guessing I would have to change my iPhone login first then change my login for iCloud to @gmail ID?  Does this sound right?

    Lastly I just updated my laptop to Mavericks and iChat asked for both my Apple ID password and my Gmail password, that never happened before?  So what does this mean for my contacts list?

    Lastly, if I change my Gmail password how will this effect my Apple ID.

    Sorry but the more I think about it the more complicated it seems.

    Thanks,

  • by ivan54,Solvedanswer

    ivan54 ivan54 Oct 30, 2013 9:01 AM in response to MorrisSoak
    Level 3 (875 points)
    Oct 30, 2013 9:01 AM in response to MorrisSoak

    You actually my want to continue to use your @me account for iCloud and other services but keep your @gmail account for purchases.

     

    See Using your Apple ID for Apple services

    specifically the section "Using one Apple ID for iCloud and a different Apple ID for Store Purchases".

     

    Some families do that to share the same purchases (between husband and wife for example) using a "Store" Apple ID but have separate "iCloud" Apple IDs for everything else (so they can keep there emails, FaceTime, etc separate).

     

    Hope that helps.

  • by MorrisSoak,

    MorrisSoak MorrisSoak Oct 30, 2013 5:25 PM in response to ivan54
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 30, 2013 5:25 PM in response to ivan54

    Thanks again ivan54, after reading through the likns you sent me and the Apple ID help pages I realise this is a common question.  Obviously many people set up iTunes accounts long befor an Apple ID became important for the many integrated services Apple now provides.

    It is a pity that Apple never anticipated this issue, had they done so a simple suggestion in the "Set up a new Apple ID"  window to existing iTunes users eg.  If you have an existing iTunes account please log in with your iTunes user name and password. 

    By the time my wife eventually set up an Apple ID I had realised the obvious advantages of this so I instructed her to use her @gmail ID  and so for her everything is the same, no confusion.

    I wish I had done the same. 

    Still I can see what you say is true, ther's no reason why I shouldn't use my @me ID for all other Apple services and keep my iTunes account seperate.

    In fact I now realise even if my Gmail account were cancelled for some reason I could continue to use that address as my User Name on iTunes, I would just  need to change my contact details in my iTunes account, simple, I think?

    Thanks again.