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What is Apple Account?
An Apple Account is the personal account you use to access Apple services like the App Store, iCloud, Messages, the Apple Online Store, FaceTime, and more. It includes the information you use to sign in, as well as all the contact, payment, and security details that you’ll use across Apple services.
What is the difference between an Apple ID and an Apple Account?
With the releases of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and watchOS 11, Apple ID is renamed to Apple Account for a consistent sign-in experience across Apple services and devices, and relies on a user’s existing credentials.
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About your Apple Account email addresses
You can use your Apple Account primary email address or any additional email addresses on file in your account, along with your password, to sign in to your Apple Account. You can also use the phone numbers on file in your account to sign in. You can find these email addresses and phone numbers in Settings (or System Settings) > [your name] > Sign-In & Security.
Primary email address
In most cases, what you use to sign in to your Apple Account is also the primary email address of your account. This is the email address that receives communications related to your Apple Account.
Additional email addresses
Add extra email addresses to help friends and family find you on Apple services like FaceTime, Messages, Photo Sharing, and Find My. These email addresses can also be used to sign in to your Apple Account.
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Change your Apple Account primary email address
If you no longer use the primary email address that’s associated with your Apple Account, or you no longer have access to it, you can change it. You won’t lose access to your contacts, purchases, or other account information.
The easiest way to change the primary email address associated with your Apple Account is with your iPhone or other trusted device. A trusted device is a device that you’re already signed in to with your Apple Account.
Keep in mind that you can’t use an email address that’s already in use by another Apple Account.
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How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple Account password
If you use two-factor authentication and can’t sign in or reset your password, you can regain access after an account recovery waiting period.
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Help a friend or family member as their account recovery contact
As a recovery contact, you can help a trusted friend or family member regain access to their account if they’re ever locked out. Learn what to do if they need your help and how to accept or decline the request.
How to become an account recovery contact
To become an account recovery contact, a friend or family member first has to invite you. When they send the invitation, you see a notification in the Messages app on your device. If you’re part of their Family Sharing group, you’re added as their recovery contact automatically. If not, you’ll be asked to accept or decline this request.
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Apple finally lets you merge 2 Apple IDs—kinda. Here’s how - 2025-02-15
However, Apple’s solution is not perfect. It only lets a user migrate their digital purchases—including apps, music, movies, TV shows, and books—from one Apple Account to another. You still cannot migrate other associated Apple Account data such as iCloud emails, contacts, passes, and Apple Pay cards using the tool.
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Migrate purchases from one Apple Account to another Apple Account
If an Apple Account is only used for making purchases, those purchases can be migrated to a primary Apple Account to consolidate them.
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About migrating Apple Account purchases between accounts
Why you might migrate purchases
You can choose to migrate apps, music, and other content you’ve purchased from Apple on a secondary Apple Account to a primary Apple Account. The secondary Apple Account might be an account that’s used only for purchases. You’ll need access to the primary email address or phone number and password for both accounts, and neither account should be shared with anyone else. Learn more about how to migrate purchases.
At the time of migration, the Apple Account signed in for use with iCloud and most features on your iPhone or iPad will be referred to as the primary Apple Account.
At the time of migration, the Apple Account signed in just for use with Media & Purchases will be referred to as the secondary Apple Account.