Change apple id but keep contacts

Backup your contacts using an app as below, assign everyone their own Apple ID, then restore your contacts to your device under your Apple ID using the app...

An alternate way to transfer/archive contacts is to use one of many apps (both free and paid are available) from the App Store. Note that you'll need to setup an email account (if you don't have one setup already) where the contacts will be archived (emailed).

Search the App Store for an app called My Contacts Backup (free, and available in the US App Store, I don't know about other countries)...it's the one that I personally use for backing up my contacts both online and offline as well as archiving them on my Mac/PC). Install the app. Run the app on the device and have it backup your contacts. It will compile them into a vCard format and allow you to email the file to yourself. To restore the contacts to the device, access the email that you sent the vCard file to, find the message and tap on the vCard attachment. Follow the directions and your contacts will now be transferred to the device.

Better yet, turn off iCloud in settings, and when it asks what to do with your contacts, calendars, etc, choose "Keep on my phone". Then when you establish the new Apple ID and turn on iCloud, choose "MERGE" to sync the contacts to the new iCloud account. No 3rd party software required.

Why do you change your Apple ID? It is yours for life. You should never have to change it, except to change the associated email address.

ssschmidt wrote:

Better yet, turn off iCloud in settings, and when it asks what to do with your contacts, calendars, etc, choose "Keep on my phone". Then when you establish the new Apple ID and turn on iCloud, choose "MERGE" to sync the contacts to the new iCloud account. No 3rd party software required.

Elegant solution. Wish I'd thought of that 🙂

Thanks. I'm lazy, so I try to find the easy way out. 🙂