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How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad

How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad

Do you want to change the Apple ID that’s linked to your iPhone or iPad? Perhaps, you want to use a different Apple ID or iCloud account if you lost access to your current one? Fortunately, this is pretty easy to do on an iPhone and iPad.

Most of us are already aware of the fact that you need to link your Apple ID to get the most out of your iPhone or iPad. Sure, it’s not mandatory, but you’ll miss out on a ton of features like iCloud, App Store, Apple Music, and more. Although one Apple ID is optimal for many reasons, some users tend to have more than one to keep their personal and work accounts separate.

If you’re looking to switch between accounts or change the linked Apple account permanently, you’ve come to the right place. Keep in mind that things like downloaded apps, purchases, iCloud data, etc are all linked to an Apple ID, so if you change an account you will not have access to the data from the other Apple ID / iCloud account.

How to Change Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad

Changing the linked Apple account is a pretty simple and straightforward procedure on iOS/iPadOS devices, if you aren’t aware. Just follow the steps below to get started.

  1. Head over to “Settings” from the home screen of your iPhone or iPad.

    iOS settings icon
  2. In the settings menu, tap on your Apple ID name located right at the top.

    How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad
  3. Next, scroll down to the bottom and tap on “Sign Out” to proceed further.

    How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad
  4. If you have “Find My” enabled on your device, you’ll be prompted to enter your Apple ID details. Tap on “Turn Off” after entering your login information.

    How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad
  5. Next, you’ll have the option to keep a copy of data like Contacts, Keychain, Safari, etc on your device. Select the data you want to keep and choose “Sign Out”.

    How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad
  6. When you’re prompted to confirm your action, tap on “Sign Out” again.

    How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad
  7. Now, go back to the settings menu and tap on “Sign in to your iPhone (or iPad)” as shown in the screenshot below.

    How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad
  8. Type in the login credentials of your alternate Apple account and tap on “Next” at the top-right corner of the screen.

    How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad
  9. You will be asked to enter your device passcode to access saved passwords and other sensitive data you store in iCloud. Once you enter the passcode, you’ll have the option to merge the contacts on your device with iCloud.

    How to Switch Apple ID / iCloud Account on iPhone & iPad

Now you know how to switch to a different Apple account on your iPhone or iPad.

If you’re one of those iOS users with multiple Apple accounts, you can link an alternate account to your work iPhone and keep your main account and all its data private. This also allows you to keep separate iCloud data for personal and professional use. For example, you may have Notes, reminders, documents, and other important files stored in iCloud for work use, but you wouldn’t necessarily want these data on your personal device for privacy reasons.

Do you use iMessage on a regular basis? If so, you might be interested in using a different Apple account just for iMessage. By default, iMessage uses the Apple ID that’s linked to your iOS device. Contacts who don’t have your number will be able to send texts to this Apple ID email address. However, you can use a completely different Apple account for use with iMessage without affecting other account data that’s linked to your device.

We hope you were able to switch to a different Apple account for use with iCloud and other Apple services on your iPhone & iPad. What’s your reason for switching to an alternate account, if you don’t mind sharing? Make sure to drop your valuable thoughts and opinions in the comments section down below.