Learn how to transfer your purchases from one Appl...

Whereas the issue is probably going much less widespread than it was, 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 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 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 type of accounts is outdoors your property nation, for instance. I am going to information you thru the overall course of, in addition to all the constraints 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 wherever within the European Union. In actual fact, Apple hasn’t confirmed help wherever outdoors the US, but when your nation is not explicitly excluded, it might probably’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 major one. Apple defines your major because the one you employ for iCloud, in addition to “most options in your iPhone or iPad.” Be sure you signal your secondary account out of iCloud earlier than migrating its purchases, in different phrases.

On high of every thing else, each accounts will need to have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, and be set to the identical area, since international accounts could possibly 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 should 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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Learn how to migrate your purchases from one Apple Account to a different

Have an iPhone or iPad useful

Should you’ve checked all of the containers within the final part, you are able to get going. For security’s sake, although, I am going to revisit restrictions as they grow to be related.

1. Open the Settings app and faucet on the Apple Account identify up high. That is the one that may grow to be your major (i.e. vacation spot) account for migration, so you might want to change.
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 Media & Purchases, then Signal Out. As soon as that is carried out, 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 major and secondary accounts.
4. Ensure 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. Be sure you signal again out if you’re carried out.
5. Arrange two-factor authentication for each accounts if you have not already.
6. Spend any excellent balances you might 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 comply with onscreen prompts. You will be requested to confirm the fee methodology 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 units — together with non-Apple {hardware} — then signal again in along with your major.

As soon as you have accomplished every thing, 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 do this, you will not have the ability to 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 digital camera button, a brand new A18 Professional chip, an even 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 variety of attainable explanations:

• You are dwelling in an unsupported area. India, the UK, and the European Union are at present excluded.
• One in every of your accounts is in a unique nation.
• You did not check in 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 major 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 energetic.
• The secondary account has been locked or disabled by Apple for some cause. You will should reset your password or petition Apple, relying on the circumstances.
• One in every 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 information related to every of them.
• You lately undid a migration and have not waited a full 12 months.

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