Back up your data before you change your Apple ID

Changing your Apple ID on an iPhone means signing out of your current account and signing into a different one. Before you do this, back up everything on your phone — your photos, messages, contacts, and app data — because signing out can delete some of it from your device. The safest way is to use iCloud backup, which stores a copy of your phone in Apple's cloud storage.

To back up through iCloud, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup, then tap Back Up Now. Wait for the backup to finish — it may take several minutes depending on how much data you have. You can check the progress by looking at the storage bar at the top of the iCloud settings screen.

If you do not have enough iCloud storage (Apple gives you 5 GB free), you can also back up by connecting your iPhone to a computer with a USB cable and using either iTunes (on Windows or older Macs) or Finder (on newer Macs). This backup stores everything locally on your computer instead of in the cloud.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up your iPhone through iCloud or to a computer before you sign out of your current Apple ID, because some data may be deleted from your device during the switch.
  • To change your Apple ID, go to Settings, tap your name, scroll to the bottom, and tap Sign Out — you will need your current Apple ID password to complete this step.
  • After signing out, go back to Settings, tap Sign In to [Device], and enter the email address and password for the new Apple ID you want to use.
  • Apps you paid for with your old Apple ID will not transfer to your new ID; you will need to repurchase them or keep both accounts on your phone if you want to keep using them.
  • If you forget your Apple ID password, you can reset it through the Apple ID website or by using the Find My iPhone feature on another device.

Sign out of your current Apple ID in Settings

Open Settings on your iPhone and tap your name at the very top of the screen. This takes you to your Apple ID account page. Scroll all the way to the bottom of this page until you see a red button that says Sign Out.

Tap Sign Out. Your phone will ask you to enter the password for your current Apple ID — this is a security step to make sure you are the person who owns the account. Type in your password and tap Sign Out again to confirm. Your iPhone will then begin removing your current Apple ID from the device.

During this process, your phone may ask what you want to do with data stored in iCloud, such as photos, notes, and reminders. You can choose to keep a copy on your iPhone or delete it. If you backed up beforehand, you can safely delete it from your device — the backup will still exist in iCloud under your old account.

Sign in with your new Apple ID

After you have signed out, go back to Settings and look for a button that says Sign In to [Your iPhone Name]. Tap it. Your phone will ask for an email address and password — enter the email and password for the Apple ID you want to use instead.

If you do not have a second Apple ID yet, you can create one during this screen by tapping Create Apple ID. You will need to provide a birth date, a phone number or email for recovery, and agree to Apple's terms. The new account will be created immediately and you can sign in right away.

After you sign in, your phone will ask whether you want to use iCloud on this device. If you say yes, it will download your backup from your new Apple ID account — but remember, your backup is stored under your old Apple ID, so this will not restore your old data. You will need to restore from your old backup manually if you want your photos and other data back.

Restore your data from backup if you want to keep it

If you backed up your iPhone before switching Apple IDs, your backup is still stored under your old account. To restore it, you have two options: restore during the initial setup of your new Apple ID, or restore it later through Settings.

If you are setting up your iPhone for the first time with your new Apple ID, the setup screen will ask whether you want to restore from a backup. Choose the backup you made before switching accounts. Your iPhone will download all your photos, messages, contacts, and app data from that backup — but the apps themselves will not work unless you own them under your new Apple ID.

If you have already finished setting up your new Apple ID and want to restore later, go to Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset, and tap Erase All Content and Settings. This wipes your phone completely, and when you set it up again, you will be asked whether to restore from backup. Choose your old backup and sign in with your new Apple ID when prompted.

Understand what happens to your apps and purchases

Apps and in-app purchases are tied to the Apple ID that bought them. When you switch to a new Apple ID, you keep the apps on your phone, but they will not update and you cannot access any content you paid for within them.

If an app requires you to sign in with your Apple ID (like Apple Music or iCloud Photo Library), you will be signed out and asked to sign in with your new account. Some apps will work fine with a different Apple ID; others may not work at all until you sign in with the correct one.

If you want to keep using apps you paid for under your old Apple ID, you have two options: keep both Apple IDs on your phone by going to Settings, tapping your name, and tapping Family Sharing or adding another account; or repurchase the apps under your new Apple ID. The first option is simpler if you only have a few paid apps.

What to do if you cannot remember your old Apple ID password

If you are trying to sign out but cannot remember your Apple ID password, you can reset it before you sign out. Go to Settings, tap your name, tap Password and Security, and tap Change Password. You will be asked to enter your current password first — if you do not know it, tap Forgot Password instead.

If you tap Forgot Password, Apple will send a reset link to the email address or phone number associated with your account. Follow the link and create a new password. Once you have a new password, go back to Settings and try signing out again.

If you do not have access to the email or phone number on file, you can reset your Apple ID password through the Apple ID website at appleid.apple.com. Go to the login page, click Forgot Apple ID or password, and follow the steps. You may be asked to answer security questions or verify your identity through a trusted device.

Keep both Apple IDs on your iPhone if you need to

You do not have to choose between your old and new Apple ID. You can keep both accounts on the same iPhone by adding a second account in Settings. Go to Settings, tap Passwords and Security, scroll down, and tap Add Account. Choose iCloud and sign in with your second Apple ID.

With two accounts on your phone, you can use apps and services from both. Your primary account (the one you signed in with first) will be your main iCloud account, but you can access the second account's email, calendar, and contacts separately. This is useful if you want to keep using apps you paid for under your old Apple ID while also using a new one for new purchases.

The downside is that some features, like Find My iPhone and iCloud Backup, only work with your primary account. If you need to switch which account is primary, you will need to sign out of the primary account and sign in with the other one as the main account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Apple ID delete my photos and messages?

Not if you back up first. Photos and messages stored in iCloud will be deleted from your device when you sign out, but they remain in your old iCloud account. If you restore from your backup after signing in with your new Apple ID, your photos and messages will come back to your phone.

Can I use my Gmail address as my new Apple ID?

Yes. You can create an Apple ID with any email address, including Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo. During setup, Apple will ask you to verify the email address by clicking a link sent to it. You do not need an iCloud email address to have an Apple ID.

What happens to my Apple Music subscription when I change Apple IDs?

Your subscription stays active, but you will need to sign in with your new Apple ID in the Music app to access it. If your subscription was paid through your old Apple ID, you may need to update the payment method on your new account, or the subscription may stop renewing when it expires.

Can I change my Apple ID back to my old one later?

Yes. You can sign out of your new Apple ID and sign back in with your old one at any time by going to Settings, tapping your name, scrolling to the bottom, and tapping Sign Out. Then sign in with your old account credentials. Your old data will still be in your old iCloud account.

Do I need to change my Apple ID on my other devices too?

Not automatically. Your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch can each have different Apple IDs signed in. However, if you want to use the same Apple ID across all your devices (which is common), you will need to sign out and sign in on each device separately. Family Sharing lets multiple people use the same devices with different Apple IDs.