How do I change my iMessage Apple ID?

Hello Krista,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

Thank you for giving more information. Have you tried signing out of iMessage and then signing back in?

If you're currently signed in to iMessage or FaceTime

Sign out of iMessage or FaceTime:

1. iMessage: Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, tap your Apple ID, then tap Sign Out.

FaceTime: Go to Settings > FaceTime, tap your Apple ID, then tap Sign Out.

• Sign back in to iMessage or FaceTime:
  1. iMessage: Go to Settings > Messages, then tap "Use your Apple ID for iMessage".
  2. FaceTime: Go to Settings > FaceTime, then tap "Use your Apple ID for FaceTime".

iOS 7: If you're asked for the password to your previous Apple ID when signing out of iCloud

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts5223

If that does not resolve your issue, then due to the nature of your issue you may find more information by using another one of Apple's support resources - https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action

Take care,

Alex H.

By some miracle... I did it... albeit w/ a slight tweak to numanoid's approach. See below:

1. open settings -> messages
2. turn off imessage
3. exit/close settings
4. re-open settings -> messages
5. turn imessage back on
6. go to send & receive
7. delete previous apple ID [autoprompt for the old apple ID disappears]
8. sign in with the updated apple id

Hope this works for all. Good luck and godspeed.

I was having the same problem and it took well over an hour to figure out how to make it work. I tried the steps you listed above and it did absolutely nothing to help. I was always prompted to log in with my old apple id which no longer exists. After giving up on it and waiting for a while it just started working again. I don't know how or why. Either way, the instructions on how to fix this are not helpful and the process in itself is much more complicated and difficult to do than it needs to be. Why is there just not one sign in for your phone that would take care of all of these problems at once?

I was in the same boat as randomnomad1965. Tried absolutely every single fix which didn't work. Finally, (and I should have started with this but I'm stubborn?) I just went ahead and did the iOS 8.2 latest update. Bug fixed, problem solved.

Thanks to anyone that posted here, it always helps.

None of these suggestions have worked for me as I have the same problem. My old apple ID is still popping up for iMessage and it will not go away no matter what I do. Apple needs to address this as this is a clear flaw in their software

i'm having the same problem having updated my apple ID

i've gone through all the steps so far and it doesn't let me sign out or change the apple ID in iMessage. turning iMessage off then on again doesn't help either. Everything else changed fine. just iMessage that refuses to let go of the old ID>

Nevermind, got it working now but its not great when on the iPad it worked very well.

Not sure if how I did it makes any difference but here goes

1. turn off imessage
2. turn off iphone
3. turn on iphone
4. go to settings -> messages
5. get prompted for old appleid password
6. accept incorrect password notifications
7. Sign in with AppleID in blue appears and able to change then

Hello Krista,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

I definitely understand your frustration with this experience, I would feel the same way in your situation. If you follow the instructions in the following article your issue will be resolved:

Apple ID: Changing your Apple ID

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5621

Take care,

Alex H.

I'm having a similar issue with my new iPhone 6 running iOS 8. I've tried every suggestion listed on this page, including the articles that alex_h1 mentioned. To be specific, here's what I've tried:

• Signing out of iCloud on my iPhone
• Turning iMessage on and back off again. I've also tried combining this with turning my phone off
• Temporarily changing my primary email address to the previous email address. This did not work as the instructions stated not to verify the address and I was not able to sign in since the address was not verified.
• Entering an incorrect password for the previous Apple ID three times. I didn't click on "Reset" when asked if I wanted to reset my password. I instead click on the "OK" button.

Nothing has worked so far. I am not signed in to iMessage on my iPhone with my Apple ID. When I click on Settings->Messages->Send & Receive it states "You can be reached by iMessage at" ... and then only lists my phone number. If I click on either the "Use your Apple ID for iMessage" or the "Add an Email..." option, it first brings up two text boxes, one with my current Apple ID, the other asking for a password. As soon as this screen appears, a prompt to sign in with my previous account is brought up. This prompt only has a text field for my password. I cannot select the previous Apple ID to change it. I don't remember my password for the previous Apple ID and I don't think it would work even if I did, because that email address is no longer associated with my Apple ID. I would really like a solution to this issue, but would appreciate not suggesting things I've already tried. Thanks!

Same problem - I've tried all of these fixes, but there is no way to short circuit the little pop-up with my old apple id b/c it only asks for the password. If the pop-up did not appear, I could sign in just fine b/c the screen that I go to after clicking on "Use Your Apple ID for iMessage" has the correct Apple ID.

I am having the same issue here. I changed my Apple ID (clearly a big mistake) and i'm able to change it for iCloud & iTunes but not for iMessage. When I try to change it on iMessage a pop up comes up asking me to sign in w/ my old apple ID but neither my old or new password is accepted.

I have tried all of the above. Signing out of everything, signing back in etc., but iMessages just won't update.

Apple, what's the fix?

Thanks,

Alexa

I had the same issue and after a lot (A LOT) of Googling, this is finally what worked for me.

If you have access to your old email address that it keeps trying to sign in with, go to Manage my Apple ID and add it under 'Alternate Email Addresses'. You'll get an email to that address with a link to verify it, just follow the instructions. Once it's added, go to iMessages and sign in using that old email address and your CURRENT Apple ID password. It should work with the your old email address now that it's incorporated under your Apple ID. It should then allow you in so you have the option to set the Apple ID to the correct email address and you can then remove the old one.

Numanoids suggestion worked for me. After it prompted for the password for the old Apple ID I hit cancel and then it took me to the screen to enter in my password with the new ID which was the one that the old ID/Password pop-up was overriding.

Thank you. This worked for me with new Iphone6 restored from a backup. After I associated the old email with my apple ID I turned the phone off and back on and tried it and it still didn't work the first time. SO I tried it on Facetime..it worked there. AND ... once Facetime took it I went back and tried imessage again and it worked. I don't know if you have to do FT first or if there was just a short time lag in it processing the info....I've now removed the offending addy from my phone but I left it associated in AppleID just to be safe!

None of these have worked for me. I can't get to anywhere to change the old id. Both my old and my new (primary id) email are verified. None of the steps give me an option to change the old id to a new id. I've gone through the steps in each of these posts, and they don't even fit. No one mentions that there is a "Use your Apple ID..." option after the send/receive, and if you click it you get the old ID dialog and shut out. Underneath is an "Add an Email" option, again gives the dialog and cannot change the old apple ID. This *****.

The old email, my iCloud email, and my new (now primary ID) email are all listed in my account as verified.