You can change your Apple ID on an iPhone by signing out of your current account and signing in with a different one, but the process depends on whether you want to keep using the old ID for some services

Apple ties your iPhone to your Apple ID for everything: iCloud backups, the App Store, iMessage, FaceTime, and Find My iPhone. When you change your Apple ID, you are switching which account controls all of that. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are replacing your ID entirely or keeping the old one active for specific services like iCloud.

Before you start, know that signing out of iCloud will remove your backup from that account — though you can read it first if you need it. Changing your App Store ID is separate from changing your iCloud ID, so you can do one without the other. Have your new Apple ID password ready, and make sure you have access to the email address or phone number linked to the new account, because Apple will ask you to verify it.

Key Takeaways

  • Signing out of iCloud removes that account's backup from your phone, so read your backup first if you need to keep it.
  • You can change your App Store ID without changing your iCloud ID, or vice versa — they are separate settings.
  • Apple will ask you to verify the new account by entering a code sent to your email or phone number.
  • If you forget your new Apple ID password, you will need to reset it through Apple's account recovery page before you can sign in.
  • Changing your ID does not delete apps you have already installed, but you will not receive updates for apps bought under the old ID.

How to sign out of iCloud and change your account

Open Settings on your iPhone and tap your name at the top. Scroll down and tap "Sign Out" at the bottom of the screen. You will see a prompt asking whether you want to keep a copy of your iCloud data on your iPhone — choose "Keep on My iPhone" if you want to save your photos, contacts, and calendar entries, or "Delete from iPhone" if you want to remove them. Enter your Apple ID password to confirm the sign-out.

Once you are signed out, go back to Settings and tap "Sign in to your iPhone" at the top. Enter your new Apple ID email address and password. Apple will send a verification code to the email address or phone number on file for that account — enter the code when prompted. If you have two-factor authentication turned on for the new account (which is the default for most newer Apple IDs), you may also need to approve the sign-in from another device you own.

After you sign in, your iPhone will ask whether you want to restore from an iCloud backup. If you have a backup from the new Apple ID account, you can restore it now. If you want to restore a backup from your old account, you will need to do that separately using a computer and iTunes or Finder.

How to change only your App Store ID

If you want to keep your iCloud account but use a different Apple ID for the App Store, open Settings and tap "App Store" (or scroll down and find it). Tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then tap your name. Tap "Sign Out" and enter your password to confirm. Tap "Sign In" and enter your new Apple ID and password. Again, Apple will send a verification code — enter it when prompted.

Changing your App Store ID does not remove the apps you have already installed. However, you will no longer receive updates for apps you bought under the old ID. If you want to update those apps, you will need to buy them again under the new ID, or switch back to the old ID temporarily to update them.

What happens to your apps and data when you change your ID

Apps you have already installed stay on your phone regardless of which ID you use to sign in. The apps do not disappear, and you can still open and use them. However, if an app requires you to sign in with an Apple ID — like Apple Music or iCloud-dependent apps — you may need to sign in again with your new account.

Photos, contacts, calendars, and notes stored in iCloud will be removed from your phone if you chose "Delete from iPhone" during sign-out. If you chose "Keep on My iPhone," they will stay on your phone but will no longer sync to iCloud. Any new photos or changes you make will sync to the new account's iCloud instead.

App updates are tied to the ID that purchased the app. If you bought an app under your old Apple ID and then switch to a new ID, you will not receive updates for that app unless you buy it again under the new ID. Free apps you downloaded can be updated under any ID.

How to read your iCloud backup before signing out

If you want to keep a copy of your iCloud backup before you sign out, you can read it to a computer. On a Mac, open Finder, click "Locations" on the left, select your iPhone, and click "General." Click "Back Up Now" to create a backup. On a Windows computer, open iTunes or the Apple Devices app, select your iPhone, and click "Back Up Now."

You can also read your iCloud data through iCloud.com. Go to iCloud.com, sign in with your current Apple ID, click your profile icon, and select "read your data." Choose which data you want to read — photos, contacts, calendar, notes, and others — and Apple will prepare a file for you to read.

Troubleshooting: What to do if you forget your password or cannot verify your new ID

If you forget the password for your new Apple ID, go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer or another device. Enter your Apple ID email address and follow the steps to reset your password. You will need to verify your identity by entering a code sent to your email or phone number, or by answering security questions you set up when you created the account.

If you cannot receive the verification code, check that the email address or phone number on file for your new Apple ID is correct. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with your new ID, and look at the "Account" section to confirm your contact information. If the phone number is wrong, update it and try signing in to your iPhone again. If you still cannot receive codes, you may need to use your recovery key — a code you can generate at appleid.apple.com under "Security" if you set it up when you created your account.

How to sign back in to your old Apple ID if you change your mind

If you want to switch back to your old Apple ID, follow the same steps: go to Settings, tap your name, tap "Sign Out," and then sign back in with your old ID and password. Your old account's iCloud backup will be available to restore if you want it. Keep in mind that any data you created or changed while signed in to the new ID will not transfer back to the old account — it will stay with the new account.

If you no longer have access to your old Apple ID password, use iforgot.apple.com to reset it before you try to sign in on your iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Apple ID delete my apps?

No. Apps you have already installed stay on your phone. You will not receive updates for apps you bought under the old ID unless you buy them again under the new ID, but the apps themselves do not disappear.

Can I use two different Apple IDs on the same iPhone?

Not at the same time for iCloud. You can only be signed in to one iCloud account per iPhone. However, you can have multiple App Store IDs by signing out and signing back in, though only one can be active at a time.

What happens to my photos and messages when I change my Apple ID?

Photos and messages stored locally on your phone stay there. iCloud-synced photos will be removed if you chose "Delete from iPhone" during sign-out. Messages are tied to your phone number or iMessage address, not your Apple ID, so they will not be affected by the change.

Do I need to change my Apple ID password after signing in on my iPhone?

No, but it is a good idea if you used the same password on other accounts or if someone else had access to your old phone. You can change your password at appleid.apple.com under "Security."

What if my new Apple ID has two-factor authentication and I do not have another device to approve the sign-in?

You can approve the sign-in using the email address on file for your account instead. When Apple asks you to approve the sign-in, choose "Did not receive a code?" and select the option to receive a code by email. Enter that code on your iPhone to complete the sign-in.