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simps100

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 24, 2012
382
187
UK
Hi all

Having a bit of a frustrating time with changing Apple ID’s..

So as a back story my Apple ID was always my gmail address - up till around 7/8 months ago when I changed it to my apple @me.com address as I no longer use my gmail address.

All was fine for months till I went to sell my MacBook Pro, despite it being removed from find my it was activation locked and the password prompt was Asking for the password associated with my @gmail.com Apple ID despite it being changed months ago - typing in my password wouldn’t work. The only way I managed to remove activation lock on the MacBook was to
Change my Apple ID back to my @gmail.com address - once I did this it accepted the details and all was good...

Now I want to change my Apple ID back to my @me.com Address I’m having issues - I simply get “This email address cannot be used as an Apple ID at this time.” - I am tying to resolve with Apple but not getting very far... not sure if anyone’s had anything similar!

Thanks!
 
I'm wondering how you managed to get an @me.com address without it being an apple id in itself... and also how you managed to change the primary email address of your Apple ID from gmail to it.

How long have you had said email address?

Anyway... one suggestion would be to try thinking of it as an @icloud.com email address and try that instead.
 
I'm wondering how you managed to get an @me.com address without it being an apple id in itself... and also how you managed to change the primary email address of your Apple ID from gmail to it.

How long have you had said email address?

Anyway... one suggestion would be to try thinking of it as an @icloud.com email address and try that instead.

I remember years ago Apple stopped you using your @me.com address as your primary Apple ID address but I think that changed a few years ago and as soon as it did I changed my Apple ID to it so I could stop using gmail.. now I seem to be in that position again stuck with a gmail Apple ID I guess maybe they changed something back again?

Will give a go with iCloud address!
 
Many years ago I was in the same position, i.e. I had a @gmail email address as my Apple ID with an @me email address as well. When Apple allowed it (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202667), I was able to get rid of the @gmail email so that I can primarily use the @me.

Now I've never managed to revert to the @gmail email address or had cause to as in your case. My only thought regarding this is that maybe you didn't or forgot to update the sign-in information on the MacBook Pro -- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204071
 
Spoke to Apple support they suggested there’s a limit of changing your Apple ID and to try again 30 days after I changed it so fingers crossed!

looks like I didn’t change the AppleID on the Mac as above - it caused no issues till activation lock so will remember that if there’s ever a next time!
 
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I had a similar problem with my MacBook Air when I switched my Apple ID yesterday. I even switched it with the guidance of Apple Support because I got an error when I tried myself. Long story short, I had to change my Apple ID back to what it was to log out of something obscure and then change it back again to what I wanted it to be. It was a needless couple of hours on the phone yesterday and a headache I wasn't anticipating. No issues on my phone or iPad, but big pain on my Macs.
 
I had a similar problem with my MacBook Air when I switched my Apple ID yesterday. I even switched it with the guidance of Apple Support because I got an error when I tried myself. Long story short, I had to change my Apple ID back to what it was to log out of something obscure and then change it back again to what I wanted it to be. It was a needless couple of hours on the phone yesterday and a headache I wasn't anticipating. No issues on my phone or iPad, but big pain on my Macs.

Interesting it let you change it back - Apple support told me I can’t change mine back as there’s a limit of 1 change every 30 days and assured me I’d be able to change it back to my @me.com address after 30 days... here’s hoping anyway!
 
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