Tips on how to transfer your purchases from one Apple Account to a different

Whereas the issue is probably going much less frequent than it was, folks do, apparently, proceed to finish up with digital purchases linked to an Apple Account separate from their main one. Maybe they forgot their regular login once they needed to obtain an app, or join a service like Apple Music or Apple TV+. Or possibly their accounts are cut up between multiple devices — who is aware of. There are too many potentialities to enter right here.

The excellent news is that only in the near past, Apple lastly made it potential emigrate films, music, books, apps, and different downloads (bought by means of Apple) from one account to a different. The unhealthy information is that the restrictions are fairly tight — you are out of luck if a kind of accounts is exterior your property nation, for instance. I will information you thru the overall course of, in addition to all the restrictions you want to pay attention to.

Who’s eligible emigrate Apple purchases?

Threading the needle

The very first thing to know is that migration is not an possibility in lots of areas. It is officially unavailable in India, the UK, or anyplace within the European Union. The truth is, Apple hasn’t confirmed help anyplace exterior the US, but when your nation is not explicitly excluded, it may’t harm to attempt.

The following set of limitations is on the accounts themselves. You possibly can solely transfer purchases from a secondary Apple Account to a main one. Apple defines your main because the one you employ for iCloud, in addition to “most options in your iPhone or iPad.” You should definitely signal your secondary account out of iCloud earlier than migrating its purchases, in different phrases.

On prime of all the pieces else, each accounts will need to have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, and be set to the identical area, since international accounts may very well be used as a trick to save cash. The secondary account cannot belong to a Household Sharing or Buy Sharing setup, and earlier than you migrate, you will must eliminate any excellent balances, leases, or pre-orders. Which will imply shopping for one thing or ready earlier than you possibly can proceed.

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Tips on how to migrate your purchases from one Apple Account to a different

Have an iPhone or iPad helpful

If you happen to’ve checked all of the packing containers within the final part, you are able to get going. For security’s sake, although, I will revisit restrictions as they turn into related.

1. Open the Settings app and faucet on the Apple Account title up prime. That is the one that can turn into your main (i.e. vacation spot) account for migration, so you might want to modify.
2. Verify the Media & Purchases part to see if it is utilizing a distinct account from the one you tapped within the final step. In the event that they’re the identical, you will have to pick out Media & Purchases, then Signal Out. As soon as that is performed, use Media & Purchases > Not [your name]? to register to your secondary Apple Account (i.e. the one you are migrating from).
3. Again on the Settings > [Apple Account name] menu, double-check that you simply’re signed in to the proper main and secondary accounts.
4. Make certain Household Sharing and Buy Sharing are disabled for the secondary account. If they don’t seem to be, you will want to make use of the Settings > Household menus on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad that is signed in to the account. You should definitely signal again out once you’re performed.
5. Arrange two-factor authentication for each accounts if you have not already.
6. Spend any excellent balances you could have in your secondary Apple Account, and delete any pre-orders. You probably have any rented films, you will have to attend for them to run out. You’ll have to attend as much as 15 days after your final buy earlier than migration will work.
7. In your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Media & Purchases > View Account.
8. Faucet Migrate Purchases, then observe onscreen prompts. You will be requested to confirm the cost technique for the secondary Apple Account, so have that data prepared.
9. When migration completes, you will get a affirmation pop-up, and emails despatched to each Apple Accounts.
10. Signal out of your secondary account on all of your gadgets — together with non-Apple {hardware} — then signal again in together with your main.

As soon as you’ve got accomplished all the pieces, your purchases ought to routinely seem inside your main account’s library. Be warned that the secondary account will not be usable for purchases anymore, except you reverse migration completely by going to Settings > Media & Purchases > View Account > Undo Migration. If you do this, you will not be capable of redo migration for a complete 12 months.

iPhone 16 Professional Max

Apple’s iPhone 16 Professional line options just a few notable upgrades over final 12 months’s iPhone 15 Professional, together with a devoted digicam button, a brand new A18 Professional chip, a much bigger display screen, and a number of other AI-powered Apple Intelligence options.

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Why is not Apple Account migration working?

A tangled internet of points

Kasa Fue / Artistic Commons

As a result of Apple is extremely involved with safety and fraud, there are a selection of potential explanations:

• You are dwelling in an unsupported area. India, the UK, and the European Union are presently excluded.
• One among your accounts is in a distinct nation.
• You did not register to the first and secondary accounts accurately.
• You continue to have excellent balances, leases, or pre-orders together with your secondary account.
• It hasn’t been lengthy sufficient since your secondary account’s final buy — you could have to attend as much as 15 days.
• Your main account hasn’t been used for any downloads but. Repair that by downloading one thing free from considered one of Apple’s storefronts.
• One among your accounts would not have 2FA enabled.
• The secondary account has Household Sharing and/or Buy Sharing lively.
• The secondary account has been locked or disabled by Apple for some cause. You will must reset your password or petition Apple, relying on the circumstances.
• One among your accounts is enrolled in a particular entry program, resembling Apple’s Quantity Buy Program.
• You are migrating an Apple One subscription that gives iCloud+ storage to a 3rd account.
• Your main and secondary accounts have music library knowledge related to every of them.
• You latterly undid a migration and have not waited a full 12 months.

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