Earlier this month, in an unexpected twist, Apple launched an online tool to transfer purchases from one Apple account to another. First, a little history…
Since Apple launched iTools in 2000 and the iTunes Store in 2003, users have been able to maintain an account identity with Apple for purposes of syncing data and/or purchasing media. iTunes evolved into iCloud and added more levels of syncing support while iTunes broadened the types of content available for purchase.
As I discussed in All About Apple ID, some users for one reason or another may have created a second Apple account. This may have been to add an iCloud Mail address, when purchasing a new Apple device, or explicitly to have purchases tied to a different account. It’s also possible that an Apple support representative instructed them.
Nonetheless, many users have found no benefit to splitting these functions between accounts and have wished for the ability to merge their Apple identities. Yet, Apple has never offered this capability.
However, with this new release, it is suddenly possible (with some exceptions) to consolidate one’s Apple accounts into a single identity and finally let go of an extraneous account.
Client Notes
Last week, I helped Zippie prepare to bid farewell to her 13 year old Mac. She bought a new one and I’ll help her with migration and setup later this week. I also reconnected with Julie for the first time in 13 years to boost her tech savvy, assess Internet security, etc.
Disconnect From Family Sharing
The tool to transfer purchases only works when the source is a Media & Purchases (“secondary”) account and the destination is an iCloud syncing (“primary”) account. It also requires that the two are not connected in a Family Sharing group.
Association via Family Sharing has been a common workaround, because a user can enable Purchase Sharing and download items purchased by the secondary account without double-paying. To proceed with the migration, you must first change the account tied to Purchase Sharing and have the secondary account leave the Family Sharing group entirely.
Doing so will temporarily prevent other members of the Family Sharing group from accessing previously shared content. However, all will be resolved when you complete the purchase migration.
Transfer Purchases
If your accounts are in good standing and not restricted from doing so (see barriers to entry at the bottom of this article), you can proceed to transfer purchases from secondary to primary:
- On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases
- Tap View Account and sign in if prompted
- Scroll down and tap Migrate Purchases (only visible if eligible)
- Review account information and complete any required steps
- Once complete, sign out of the secondary account and sign in with the primary account. Do this on all devices where you used your secondary account.
Note: In this initial release, you cannot migrate using a Mac or PC.
Undo a Migration
If you decide that your transfer was a mistake, you can undo, per this support article. This will remove from your primary account only the purchase records that were transferred and drop them back in the secondary account.
Also, it will not transfer new subscriptions added since the transfer, but will cancel all prior subscriptions. Review your subscriptions to decide what you want to renew.
Let me know if you want help navigating this process. It’s not available to me because I never had a secondary Apple account, however I’m familiar with the interface and can coach you in stepping through it.
As you wish, you can also learn more from Apple about the transfer purchases function.
Also, completing this migration should eliminate the need to change your primary Apple Account username. However, if you prefer to use your secondary username instead, you can request to close the account. Then, you can reuse the email address on your primary account. I describe part of this process in Apple ID Entanglement.
Reply or comment on this