Apple Now Lets You Move Digital Purchases From One Apple Account to Another

[turbineseaplane]

Would be amazing. I just wish I didn't have the amount of money invested in my secondary Apple Account as I do. I would easily eat a loss of a couple hundred to rebuy what I needed to.... But I've got like 600 movies...It's unfathomable.

It's hurtful to see Apple roll out such a half baked migration after all of these years. So broken that it's not just that we are unqualified for a migration at this time, but the support document mislead us into all the trouble it did (kicking family off of Apple One with a 90 day lockout, etc.)

Yeah, I tried to make heads or tails of the support doc ... hit a couple walls poking around on my device and then started reading threads like this one and thought ...

"nah" ... chance this creates a HUGE issue is way too high -- I'll just leave it alone

This situation is symptomatic of ALL of Apple "Services issues", in my view

They just are not good at these things

 

[DotCom2]

Has anyone actually accomplished this without any problems or having to do a bunch of stuff to get it to work?

 

[surferfb]

Has anyone actually accomplished this without any problems or having to do a bunch of stuff to get it to work?

Yep. Not me, because I only have the one AppleID but I have several friends who had it work just as described (and several others who have had various forms of difficulty, including not being able to get it to work). Seems to be no real rhyme or reason.

 

[throAU]

Can I ask why you’re opposed to 2 factor? To me that’s like someone complaining the government is trying to force seatbelts on everyone.

This. People who are against 2factor are the exact people who need it to be made mandatory for their own safety.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Can I ask why you’re opposed to 2 factor? To me that’s like someone complaining the government is trying to force seatbelts on everyone.

What's crazy to me is that the worst offenders in not offering enough 2 factor and other security options in general, seem to be "Banks"

Like .. the one thing I would want to be on the CUTTING EDGE of security offerings and so many barely offer SMS 2 factor (not great)

 

[surferfb]

What's crazy to me is that the worst offenders in not offering enough 2 factor and other security options in general, seem to be "Banks"

Like .. the one thing I would want to be on the CUTTING EDGE of security offerings and so many barely offer SMS 2 factor (not great)

In the 2010s I left my credit union because they had a maximum password length of eight characters AND only like 3 special characters were allowed.

 

[turbineseaplane]

In the 2010s I left my credit union because they had a maximum password length of eight characters AND only like 3 special characters were allowed.

Wouldn't want your bank password to be too secure
🫠

 

[tothemoonsands]

Yeah, I tried to make heads or tails of the support doc ... hit a couple walls poking around on my device and then started reading threads like this one and thought ...

"nah" ... chance this creates a HUGE issue is way too high -- I'll just leave it alone

This situation is symptomatic of ALL of Apple "Services issues", in my view

They just are not good at these things

Good call, I’ve thrown up my hands for now and in the process of getting back to normal which is going to take 85 days. Not joking.
In the meantime I’m having to add my second account as a family member to enable the purchase sharing for Apple One…
Then in 85 days I can revert my secondary as the default purchase sharing, thus be able to remove that account from the family.

Super annoying to have set a calendar reminder three months out because of Apple’s terrible migration tool and even worse support document.

 

[throAU]

Wouldn't want your bank password to be too secure
🫠

Probably because the bank ran on a 1960s/1970s mainframe that didn't support longer passwords.

 

[adm58]

Good call, I’ve thrown up my hands for now and in the process of getting back to normal which is going to take 85 days. Not joking.

If you can get past tier 1/2 support and connected with the right people, this can be remedied.

One time years ago my purchase account got into a similar state with a 90-day thing. I contacted executive relations and got someone assigned to my case who could actually do something. (It helped for me to point out I own 12 HomePods that are all unusable due to account issues.)

But even still, it took nearly a month to get the lockout lifted.

 

[pbateman]

I was able to combine both of my ID's (one used for subscriptions/app store and the other one @me.com which was just for email/icloud)
The one hiccup I am facing is that I have an Apple Music Student subscription on the first ID and even though the music part of it transferred just fine, the corresponding Apple TV+ did not transfer over.
It now wants me to start a 'free trial', even though apple TV + is already included in my subscription. I have a ticket open with Apple for this.
Other than that, everything else transferred fine.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Good call, I’ve thrown up my hands for now and in the process of getting back to normal which is going to take 85 days. Not joking.
In the meantime I’m having to add my second account as a family member to enable the purchase sharing for Apple One…
Then in 85 days I can revert my secondary as the default purchase sharing, thus be able to remove that account from the family.

Super annoying to have set a calendar reminder three months out because of Apple’s terrible migration tool and even worse support document.

Ugh - I'm so sorry to hear this report

That's exactly the sort of thing I was afraid of

 

[Cinimod1000]

Sorry many are having issues with transferring their data. Same with me unfortunately.
I have checked annd rechecked all listed requirements in the support document to make sure I comply, and still no “merge accounts” prompt.

This is crazy, and very unlike Apple. Over 15 years wait and they come out with this - may or may not work???

 

[doccho]

How about the Apple One subscription?
I am currently subscribed to the premier tier under my media ID(gmail.com), which gives me access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and Fitness+ under that ID. However, only iCloud+ with 2TB is assigned to primary ID (mac.com).

I assume most users juggling two Apple IDs are set up this way, correct? Is there any known reason that prevents from migrating one ID to another?

 

[cianfx7]

Just curious if someone in my same scenario has done this successfully. I can't try it right now as I have an account balance on my "secondary account", but I am definitely concerned about messing up Apple One / Family Sharing when I eventually try this.

My "primary account" is an @me.com email, this is what I use for iCloud, Apple Card, and have a Family set up with. I only use the Family to share iCloud storage and our Apple One subscription services. "Purchase Sharing" is turned off. I've never used this account to buy any music/movies/apps or use Apple Music with.

My "secondary account" is my OLD iTunes account with an @gmail.com email. This is my Media & Purchases account. The big thing that I want to migrate over is my Logic Pro app that I bought with this account. Music doesn't matter so much anymore with Apple Music, and I only ever bought a couple of movies.

The "secondary account" is what my Apple One (Premier 2TB) subscription is billed through. However, I have it set up so that the 2TB of iCloud storage is applied to my "primary account" so that it can share with my Family and give me the iCloud+ benefits. But the subscriptions (Music, TV, Fitness, News, Arcade) all still share to my Family as well without issue. I don't have the "secondary account" added to the Family, it just works.

The only reason I want to migrate purchases is so when I set up a new device or have to do a restore, I only need to login to one account. Major first world problem, but still, it's how it should be and it's how Apple advertises the "Apple Account".

Just want to be certain I won't mess up the Apple One subscriptions and iCloud storage that I share with my family when I try this. Thanks for any info!

 

[MAXAAPL]

Yeah, I tried to make heads or tails of the support doc ... hit a couple walls poking around on my device and then started reading threads like this one and thought ...

"nah" ... chance this creates a HUGE issue is way too high -- I'll just leave it alone

This situation is symptomatic of ALL of Apple "Services issues", in my view

They just are not good at these things

Yeah I wish I didn’t do this. I messed so much up. Somehow my secondary Apple ID was trying to migrate purchases from got switched to my main Apple ID for my family purchasing Apple ID.

Called Apple because you can’t change it again for 90 days and the as*holes tell me there’s nothing they can do about it.

Also was trying to troubleshoot why exactly the option disappeared completely from the account I wanted to migrate from with Apple support. And they don’t even know.

All in all,0/10 experience and just letting anyone know to beware of doing this so you don’t end up like me.

 

[tothemoonsands]

Yeah I wish I didn’t do this. I messed so much up. Somehow my secondary Apple ID was trying to migrate purchases from got switched to my main Apple ID for my family purchasing Apple ID.

Called Apple because you can’t change it again for 90 days and the as*holes tell me there’s nothing they can do about it.

Also was trying to troubleshoot why exactly the option disappeared completely from the account I wanted to migrate from with Apple support. And they don’t even know.

All in all,0/10 experience and just letting anyone know to beware of doing this so you don’t end up like me.

They at least told you the workaround right? You have to add the secondary ID as a family member, and enable purchase sharing. To add, icon is top right in family page, then “Invite Others” then “Invite in Person”. It’s quite buried, but this allows you to get your own account added to family, and gets you mostly on par, until 90 days are up.

I’m on the exact same remedy plan.

 

[MAXAAPL]

Just curious if someone in my same scenario has done this successfully. I can't try it right now as I have an account balance on my "secondary account", but I am definitely concerned about messing up Apple One / Family Sharing when I eventually try this.

My "primary account" is an @me.com email, this is what I use for iCloud, Apple Card, and have a Family set up with. I only use the Family to share iCloud storage and our Apple One subscription services. "Purchase Sharing" is turned off. I've never used this account to buy any music/movies/apps or use Apple Music with.

My "secondary account" is my OLD iTunes account with an @gmail.com email. This is my Media & Purchases account. The big thing that I want to migrate over is my Logic Pro app that I bought with this account. Music doesn't matter so much anymore with Apple Music, and I only ever bought a couple of movies.

The "secondary account" is what my Apple One (Premier 2TB) subscription is billed through. However, I have it set up so that the 2TB of iCloud storage is applied to my "primary account" so that it can share with my Family and give me the iCloud+ benefits. But the subscriptions (Music, TV, Fitness, News, Arcade) all still share to my Family as well without issue. I don't have the "secondary account" added to the Family, it just works.

The only reason I want to migrate purchases is so when I set up a new device or have to do a restore, I only need to login to one account. Major first world problem, but still, it's how it should be and it's how Apple advertises the "Apple Account".

Just want to be certain I won't mess up the Apple One subscriptions and iCloud storage that I share with my family when I try this. Thanks for any info!

I’m ina similar situation. Does the option to migrate even show up for you?

 

[adm58]

How about the Apple One subscription?
I am currently subscribed to the premier tier under my media ID(gmail.com), which gives me access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and Fitness+ under that ID. However, only iCloud+ with 2TB is assigned to primary ID (mac.com).

I assume most users juggling two Apple IDs are set up this way, correct? Is there any known reason that prevents from migrating one ID to another?

Same situation here. All subscriptions including Apple One on my secondary account for media and purchases. iCloud+ storage from that subscription assigned to primary Mac.com account. I was able to migrate purchases without issue, and all subscriptions moved over without disruption.

 

[cianfx7]

I’m ina similar situation. Does the option to migrate even show up for you?

Yeah, I have the migrate button. I tapped it just to see and it tells me I need to spend my balance first.

 

[tothemoonsands]

Has anyone made any progress with higher level Apple engineer or support?
Curious to know if any progress is being made on their end given that so many of us have had issues, or if they are at a "take it or leave" approach and we are just simply out of luck for the foreseeable future.

It seems a simple solution is allow us to select which music library data should be retained (primary or secondary). Or even just say "neither will migrate, you will start over at the beginning with your music library"

Addition: Everyone affected, please make sure you write to Apple at apple.com/feedback
Our only hope is that we raise awareness of this issue so that there is increased demand/pressure for a fix. The solution is absolutely possible, the fact they developed this migration tool is testament to this, even if it is half-baked in its current state.

 

[BeauGiles]

Yeah, I have the migrate button. I tapped it just to see and it tells me I need to spend my balance first.

I spent my balance at the Apple Store (ordered online for pickup in store) - but this was before I was getting the not eligible to migrate error, as I assumed the balance was the reason.

Looks like it's all of my TestFlight betas on my secondary account - and/or my music library on my primary (stupid U2 album), stopping me from migrating.


(From memory when you return a product it can go back to the original payment method - or onto a gift card )

 

[Cinimod1000]

Just curious if someone in my same scenario has done this successfully. I can't try it right now as I have an account balance on my "secondary account", but I am definitely concerned about messing up Apple One / Family Sharing when I eventually try this.

My "primary account" is an @me.com email, this is what I use for iCloud, Apple Card, and have a Family set up with. I only use the Family to share iCloud storage and our Apple One subscription services. "Purchase Sharing" is turned off. I've never used this account to buy any music/movies/apps or use Apple Music with.

My "secondary account" is my OLD iTunes account with an @gmail.com email. This is my Media & Purchases account. The big thing that I want to migrate over is my Logic Pro app that I bought with this account. Music doesn't matter so much anymore with Apple Music, and I only ever bought a couple of movies.

The "secondary account" is what my Apple One (Premier 2TB) subscription is billed through. However, I have it set up so that the 2TB of iCloud storage is applied to my "primary account" so that it can share with my Family and give me the iCloud+ benefits. But the subscriptions (Music, TV, Fitness, News, Arcade) all still share to my Family as well without issue. I don't have the "secondary account" added to the Family, it just works.

The only reason I want to migrate purchases is so when I set up a new device or have to do a restore, I only need to login to one account. Major first world problem, but still, it's how it should be and it's how Apple advertises the "Apple Account".

Just want to be certain I won't mess up the Apple One subscriptions and iCloud storage that I share with my family when I try this. Thanks for any info!

I ran into an issue deleting Family Sharing. I removed it from my account (I am the owner) but I saw my wife’s iphone and iPad still showed my secondary account for Media and Purchases. I signed out of this in her iPhone and then signed into her primary account temporarily. Still no prompt to migrate.
Looking deeper into her settings I see she is still connected to my Primary 200GB iCloud back up.
Think I may give up and revert everything back. Although that’s not like me.

Good luck, please let us know how it went for you - the more data points the better - to be able to work through this and find a resolution.

 

[doccho]

Same situation here. All subscriptions including Apple One on my secondary account for media and purchases. iCloud+ storage from that subscription assigned to primary Mac.com account. I was able to migrate purchases without issue, and all subscriptions moved over without disruption.

Thanks for your confirmation. By any chance, have you checked your misic library on your primary ID? likely that you also have the U2 album?
I've just found out that there is one subscription alive that expires 2/19 on my purchase ID, which I think must be the reason to prevent me from making this migration. I'll give it a try once this subscription is expired.

 

[cianfx7]

I spent my balance at the Apple Store (ordered online for pickup in store) - but this was before I was getting the not eligible to migrate error, as I assumed the balance was the reason.

Looks like it's all of my TestFlight betas on my secondary account - and/or my music library on my primary (stupid U2 album), stopping me from migrating.


(From memory when you return a product it can go back to the original payment method - or onto a gift card )

I would think that the free U2 album would not prohibit the migrate, since that would make it impossible for anyone, right? I've never even opened the Music app on any device while signed into the primary account for media/purchases, so I don't know if I even have it in there. So hopefully it's the TestFlight for you.

And that's interesting! I did think about that, buying a product to use the balance, then returning it... I would need to be certain the return could go onto a brand new gift card, and not go automatically back into the secondary account balance. Let me know if you find out!