charlotte288

Q: How to reconcile two apple ids

if I had an id and the had to get a different one several years later. How do I merge the purchases of the older account into the Apple ID I now use?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Apr 21, 2016 7:59 PM

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Q: How to reconcile two apple ids

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  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Apr 21, 2016 8:19 PM in response to charlotte288
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 21, 2016 8:19 PM in response to charlotte288

    You can't. Each ID lasts forever and cannot be deleted or merged. Only Apple has that capability so contact them.

     

    Contacting Apple Customer and Support Service

     

    1. Apple Store Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775 or visit online Help for more information.
    2. To contact product and tech support:  Contacting Apple for support and service including international calling numbers.
  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha Apr 21, 2016 8:24 PM in response to charlotte288
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 21, 2016 8:24 PM in response to charlotte288

    You cannot merge them but you can link them via Family Sharing

     

    iCloud Family Sharing - Apple Support

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Apr 21, 2016 8:24 PM in response to theratter
    Level 7 (25,734 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 21, 2016 8:24 PM in response to theratter

    Apple does not combine Apple IDs. If you have separate IDs they remain separate.

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB

  • by gail from maine,Solvedanswer

    gail from maine gail from maine Apr 23, 2016 11:59 AM in response to charlotte288
    Level 7 (25,734 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 23, 2016 11:59 AM in response to charlotte288

    Your best bet is to make the password for both IDs the same, so when you have to update apps and supply a password, it won't matter which ID is asking for that password. You can authorize your iTunes to both IDs, and you can have a single iTunes Library that has the media for both IDs in it, so that you can sync that media to your iOS devices.

     

    Be aware that if you download past purchases with the older ID, the computer or iOS device will be associated with that ID for 90 days, which means you won't be able to:

     

    Download past purchases

    Automatically Update Apps

    Use Apple Music

    Use iTunes Match

    Use Family Sharing

     

    with the new ID.

     

    But, if you have already got the media for the new ID in your library, and will only be doing purchases with it, then you will be able to sign that ID back in as soon as you have completed the downloads for the older ID.

     

    Here are a couple of articles that may help:

     

    Download past purchases

     

    Associated Device

     

    Best of luck,

     

    GB

  • by chapkit,

    chapkit chapkit Jun 22, 2016 9:16 AM in response to gail from maine
    Level 1 (22 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 22, 2016 9:16 AM in response to gail from maine

    GB, I am one of those unfortunates who was allowed by Apple years ago to create a non-email Apple ID which I use exclusively for purchases on iTunes, iBooks, the App store, etc. Later, when iCloud came around, I created a @me.com email Apple ID that and I use that one to back up my devices, photos, etc. to the iCloud.

     

    Now, I am finding that I can no longer manage my non-email Apple ID from either my iMac or my MacBook Pro and am not permitted to sign into appleid.apple.com, or when logging into my non-email Apple ID account in iTunes, I can login but can't manage my account settings. (Oddly, I am still able to do this on my iOS iPhone and iPad.

     

    Apple has suggested creating just one Apple ID for everything, and you are not allowed to merge two existing accounts, but if I do that what happens the to the 35,000 pictures I have in the  iCloud photo library (under my @me.com Apple ID) and all of my thousands of songs and hundreds of Apps that I purchased using my non-email Apple ID.

     

    I really fell frustrated because the problem I am having is of Apple's making because they permitted users to set up non-email Apple IDs in the beginning.

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Jun 22, 2016 9:26 AM in response to chapkit
    Level 7 (25,734 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 22, 2016 9:26 AM in response to chapkit

    Hi chapkit,

     

    Unfortunately, this is not something that can be rectified by anyone on this end. I would suggest calling Apple and keep pushing until you are able to talk to someone who is at a higher than entry level to see if there is anything they can do.

     

    I am curious, however. When you indicate that you have photos in iCloud Photo Library that means you would have to have an iCloud ID, which by definition is an email address ending in iCloud.com.

     

    Can you check to see what happens when you try logging in to your iCloud email address at: Apple - My Apple ID

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB