Easy methods to transfer your purchases from one Apple Account to a different

Whereas the issue is probably going much less widespread than it was once, folks do, apparently, proceed to finish up with digital purchases linked to an Apple Account separate from their major 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 perhaps their accounts are break up between multiple devices — who is aware of. There are too many prospects to enter right here.

The excellent news is that only recently, Apple lastly made it doable emigrate motion pictures, music, books, apps, and different downloads (bought by way 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 type of accounts is exterior your property nation, for instance. I will information you thru the final 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 damage to strive.

The subsequent set of limitations is on the accounts themselves. You’ll be able to solely transfer purchases from a secondary Apple Account to a major one. Apple defines your major 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 high of every part else, each accounts will need to have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, and be set to the identical area, since overseas accounts might be used as a trick to economize. The secondary account cannot belong to a Household Sharing or Buy Sharing setup, and earlier than you migrate, you will need to eliminate any excellent balances, leases, or pre-orders. Which will imply shopping for one thing or ready earlier than you’ll be able to proceed.

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Easy methods to migrate your purchases from one Apple Account to a different

Have an iPhone or iPad useful

When you’ve checked all of the bins within the final part, you are able to get going. For security’s sake, although, I will revisit restrictions as they turn out to be related.

1. Open the Settings app and faucet on the Apple Account title up high. That is the one that may turn out to be your major (i.e. vacation spot) account for migration, so you could want to modify.
2. Examine the Media & Purchases part to see if it is utilizing a unique 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 executed, 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 just’re signed in to the proper major and secondary accounts.
4. Make sure that Household Sharing and Buy Sharing are disabled for the secondary account. If they are not, 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 while you’re executed.
5. Arrange two-factor authentication for each accounts if you have not already.
6. Spend any excellent balances you may have in your secondary Apple Account, and delete any pre-orders. When you’ve got any rented motion pictures, you will have to attend for them to run out. You could 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 comply with onscreen prompts. You may be requested to confirm the cost methodology for the secondary Apple Account, so have that information 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 units — together with non-Apple {hardware} — then signal again in together with your major.

As soon as you have accomplished every part, your purchases ought to routinely seem inside your major 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 try this, you will not be capable of redo migration for an entire yr.

iPhone 16 Professional Max

Apple’s iPhone 16 Professional line options a couple of notable upgrades over final yr’s iPhone 15 Professional, together with a devoted digicam button, a brand new A18 Professional chip, a much bigger display, 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 / Inventive Commons

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

• You are dwelling in an unsupported area. India, the UK, and the European Union are presently excluded.
• Certainly one of your accounts is in a unique nation.
• You did not register to the first and secondary accounts appropriately.
• 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 might have to attend as much as 15 days.
• Your major account hasn’t been used for any downloads but. Repair that by downloading one thing free from one among Apple’s storefronts.
• Certainly one of your accounts would not have 2FA enabled.
• The secondary account has Household Sharing and/or Buy Sharing energetic.
• The secondary account has been locked or disabled by Apple for some motive. You may need to reset your password or petition Apple, relying on the circumstances.
• Certainly one of your accounts is enrolled in a particular entry program, corresponding to Apple’s Quantity Buy Program.
• You are migrating an Apple One subscription that gives iCloud+ storage to a 3rd account.
• Your major and secondary accounts have music library knowledge related to every of them.
• You lately undid a migration and have not waited a full yr.

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