The way to transfer your purchases from one Apple Account to a different

Whereas the issue is probably going much less frequent than it was, individuals 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 after they wished to obtain an app, or join a service like Apple Music or Apple TV+. Or possibly their accounts are break 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 attainable emigrate films, music, books, apps, and different downloads (bought by 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 own home nation, for instance. I am going to 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. In reality, Apple hasn’t confirmed assist anyplace exterior the US, but when your nation is not explicitly excluded, it might’t harm to attempt.

The following set of limitations is on the accounts themselves. You’ll be able to 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.” Remember to signal your secondary account out of iCloud earlier than migrating its purchases, in different phrases.

On prime of every part else, each accounts will need to have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, and be set to the identical area, since international 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 may must do away with any excellent balances, leases, or pre-orders. That will imply shopping for one thing or ready earlier than you may proceed.

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The way to migrate your purchases from one Apple Account to a different

Have an iPhone or iPad useful

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

1. Open the Settings app and faucet on the Apple Account title up prime. That is the one that may turn out to be your main (i.e. vacation spot) account for migration, so you might want to change.
2. Test 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 may have to pick out Media & Purchases, then Signal Out. As soon as that is performed, use Media & Purchases > Not [your name]? to check in 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 right main and secondary accounts.
4. Ensure Household Sharing and Buy Sharing are disabled for the secondary account. If they are not, you may want to make use of the Settings > Household menus on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad that is signed in to the account. Remember to signal again out while you’re performed.
5. Arrange two-factor authentication for each accounts if you have not already.
6. Spend any excellent balances you’ve got in your secondary Apple Account, and delete any pre-orders. You probably have any rented films, you may have to attend for them to run out. You might 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 fee technique for the secondary Apple Account, so have that data prepared.
9. When migration completes, you may 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 every part, your purchases ought to mechanically seem inside your main account’s library. Be warned that the secondary account will not be usable for purchases anymore, until you reverse migration solely by going to Settings > Media & Purchases > View Account > Undo Migration. If you try this, you will not have the ability to redo migration for an entire yr.

iPhone 16 Professional Max

Apple’s iPhone 16 Professional line options a number of notable upgrades over final yr’s iPhone 15 Professional, together with a devoted digicam button, a brand new A18 Professional chip, an even bigger display, and several other AI-powered Apple Intelligence options.

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Why is not Apple Account migration working?

A tangled net of points

Kasa Fue / Inventive Commons

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

• You are residing in an unsupported area. India, the UK, and the European Union are at present excluded.
• One in all your accounts is in a distinct nation.
• You did not check in 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 will 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 one in every of Apple’s storefronts.
• One in all your accounts does 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 motive. You may must reset your password or petition Apple, relying on the circumstances.
• One in all your accounts is enrolled in a particular entry program, akin to 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 information related to every of them.
• You lately undid a migration and have not waited a full yr.

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