How one can 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 needed to obtain an app, or join a service like Apple Music or Apple TV+. Or possibly their accounts are cut 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 Apple) from one account to a different. The dangerous 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 concentrate on.

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. Actually, Apple hasn’t confirmed help wherever outdoors the US, but when your nation is not explicitly excluded, it will probably’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.” Make sure you 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 may very well 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 must do away with any excellent balances, leases, or pre-orders. That will imply shopping for one thing or ready earlier than you possibly can proceed.

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How one can 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 containers within the final part, you are able to get going. For security’s sake, although, I am going to 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 it’s possible you’ll want to modify.
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 finished, 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 just’re signed in to the proper main and secondary accounts.
4. Ensure 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. Make sure you signal again out whenever you’re finished.
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 have any rented motion pictures, 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 comply with onscreen prompts. You may 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 gadgets — together with non-Apple {hardware} — then signal again in along with your main.

As soon as you’ve got accomplished every part, your purchases ought to robotically seem inside your main account’s library. Be warned that the secondary account will not be usable for purchases anymore, except you reverse migration fully by going to Settings > Media & Purchases > View Account > Undo Migration. If you try this, you will not be capable to redo migration for an entire 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 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 / Artistic Commons

As a result of Apple is very involved with safety and fraud, there are a selection of doable 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 distinct 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 could 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 all 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 purpose. You may must 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 latterly undid a migration and have not waited a full 12 months.

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