You Can Now Migrate Purchases from One Apple Account to Another

Ever since Apple launched the iTunes Store in 2003 with online accounts known as Apple IDs—now referred to as Apple Accounts—many users have ended up with multiple accounts. This situation arose partly because the early Apple IDs were tied to accounts users created with iTools and its successor, .Mac, which later evolved into MobileMe and then iCloud. Especially after Apple introduced the App Store in 2008, it was common for individuals with several Apple IDs to have their purchases scattered across different accounts.

Throughout that time, users have clamored to be able to merge accounts. Apple’s response was to let devices have a primary Apple Account for iCloud and other key features, plus another specifically for Media & Purchases. Others worked around the limitation by adding the second account to a Family Sharing group. That sufficed for most people but was never ideal, and we continue to field questions from people who want to merge the accounts.

It now appears that climate change has caused hell to freeze over, as Apple recently published three support articles detailing how to migrate apps, music, TV shows, books, and other digital purchases from one of your Apple Accounts to another:

• About migrating Apple Account purchases between accounts
• Migrate purchases from one Apple Account to another Apple Account
• Undo a migration of Apple Account purchases between accounts

It’s important to note that migrating purchases from a secondary account to a primary account is not exactly the same as merging them. iCloud data, account balances, and personalized recommendations in Apple’s media apps won’t transfer from the secondary account to the primary, nor will TestFlight betas for those who test apps for developers. Additionally, you will not be able to edit App Store reviews created with your secondary Apple Account after migration. The secondary account doesn’t go away, which also prevents certain other uses.

Normally, we’d tell you how to perform the migration, but because there are so many details and caveats, we recommend that you carefully read and follow Apple’s documentation linked above instead, especially since Apple may update it with new information as the feature gets more use. It explains:

• Why you might want to migrate purchases
• What happens when you migrate purchases
• What doesn’t migrate with your purchases
• What happens to your secondary account after migration
• Who can migrate purchases
• What to do before you migrate purchases
• How to migrate purchases
• What to do after migrating purchases
• Why you might not be able to migrate purchases
• What to do if you decide to undo a migration
• How to undo a migration of purchases
• What happens if you undo a migration of purchases
• What to do after you undo a migration of purchases

We’re happy to walk you through a migration, but if you can’t migrate purchases, you should call Apple Support. The list of reasons why a migration may not work is long and technical, and Apple Support may have access to internal data that will explain the problem.

If you have long chafed at having to maintain multiple Apple Accounts because of a decision you made many years ago, now’s your chance to clean up the mess. Good luck!

(Featured image based on an original by iStock.com/metamorworks)