Trying to simplify passwords (or how to reset)

from apple's support site.

This might be useful
http://support.apple.com/kb/HE40
then you can change the email addresses and password to more memorable/appropriate ones.

I would just start using only one of the accounts, you can set the other accounts to forward mail to the chosen on. Or create a new one and have all three forward to it.

 

Sorry you've reached the limit of my knowledge on this one, I don't think you can change the owner of a machine but i could be wrong.

 

You can go on the web and add or subtract email addresses from each AppleID account. So settle on an account and associate the correct emails with it, and delete them from the others.

Deauthorize the machines from the accounts you intend to abandon, and reauthorize with the one you'll keep.

The problem, of course, is that you'll lose the purchases you made with the other accounts. Which is why it's not a good idea to buy stuff from Apple when you can avoid it. But if you haven't bought stuff you may be OK. And you'll also end up with just the one email, calendar, contacts account under iCloud. Again, you risk losing some info.

But getting Apple to merge accounts is a royal pain...and probably worse after their security was revealed to be so lame by Wired.

 

They would not merge my two accounts. Is this even possible?

 

Apple will not merge two Apple IDs at this time which is a shame.

I highly suggest that you maintain separate Apple IDs for each adult, as that's really the proper way to use features like iMessage and Facetime between various family members. Also, if you are using iCloud, you may want discrete accounts to maintain separate address books, calendars, etc.

Note that Apple may add new features in the future that are tied to the Apple ID, so it is safer to prepare for that possibility. One example might be NFC contactless payment as a transit pass.

Let's say that your wife hops on the train at Location X. Thirty minutes later, you hop on the train at Location Y. If you're using the same Apple ID, the transit system will think she got off the train at Location Y. If either of you have to produce a valid ticket/pass to the conductor, you're both out of luck, possibly subject to fines.

Of course, that's a simplistic example and if properly implemented, something that would never be allowed to happen (Apple would require a separate discrete Apple ID per NFC identification number).

You might consider having a general family Apple ID if you want some shared calendars, or if you want to share certain purchases (apps, videos, whatever).