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 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 attainable emigrate films, music, books, apps, and different downloads (bought via 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 house 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. In actual fact, Apple hasn’t confirmed help anyplace exterior the US, but when your nation is not explicitly excluded, it could actually’t damage to attempt.

The subsequent 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 utilize 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 high of the whole lot 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 will need to eliminate any excellent balances, leases, or pre-orders. Which will imply shopping for one thing or ready earlier than you may 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

In the event you’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 develop into related.

1. Open the Settings app and faucet on the Apple Account identify up high. That is the one that may develop into your main (i.e. vacation spot) account for migration, so you might want to change.
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 Media & Purchases, then Signal Out. As soon as that is executed, use Media & Purchases > Not [your name]? to sign up 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. Be certain that 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. Remember to signal again out once you’re executed.
5. Arrange two-factor authentication for each accounts if you have not already.
6. Spend any excellent balances you’ve in your secondary Apple Account, and delete any pre-orders. If in case you have any rented films, you will 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 observe onscreen prompts. You will be requested to confirm the fee 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 gadgets — together with non-Apple {hardware} — then signal again in along with your main.

As soon as you’ve got accomplished the whole lot, 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 try this, you will not be capable to redo migration for a complete 12 months.

iPhone 16 Professional Max

Apple’s iPhone 16 Professional line options a number of 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 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 / Artistic 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 every of your accounts is in a distinct nation.
• You did not sign up to the first and secondary accounts appropriately.
• You continue to have excellent balances, leases, or pre-orders along 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 main account hasn’t been used for any downloads but. Repair that by downloading one thing free from certainly one of Apple’s storefronts.
• One in every of 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 purpose. You will need to reset your password or petition Apple, relying on the circumstances.
• One in every of your accounts is enrolled in a particular entry program, comparable 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 knowledge related to every of them.
• You lately undid a migration and have not waited a full 12 months.

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