How to Change the Apple ID on Your iPhone

What happens when you change your Apple ID on an iPhone

Changing the Apple ID on your iPhone means signing out of your current account and signing in with a different one. Your iPhone will then sync with the new Apple ID's iCloud account, contacts, photos, and other data. The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes, but you need to know your new Apple ID password and have access to a trusted phone number or email address associated with that account.

Before you start, understand what you're about to lose: any photos, notes, reminders, or other data stored only in your old Apple ID's iCloud will no longer appear on this iPhone after you switch. Apps you bought with the old Apple ID may stop working or require you to repurchase them. Your old ID's email address will no longer receive iCloud notifications or password reset codes for this device.

The change itself is permanent on this device — you cannot undo it by restarting your phone. If you change your mind later, you would need to sign back in with the old Apple ID, which would restore that account's data instead.

Key Takeaways

You need the password for the new Apple ID and access to a trusted phone number or email before you start the sign-out process.
Photos, notes, and other data stored in your old Apple ID's iCloud will disappear from this iPhone once you switch accounts.
Apps purchased with the old Apple ID may stop working or require repurchase under the new account.
The fastest route is Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, then Settings > Sign In With a Different Apple ID, which takes about 10 minutes.
If you forget the old Apple ID password, you will need to reset it through Apple's website before you can complete the sign-out.

Step-by-step: signing out and signing in with a new Apple ID

Open Settings on your iPhone and tap the banner at the top that shows your name and photo. Scroll down and tap "Sign Out" near the bottom of the screen. Your iPhone will ask for the password to your current Apple ID — enter it. This step confirms you own the account you're leaving.

Choose what to do with your data. Your iPhone will ask whether you want to keep or remove a copy of your iCloud data on this device. If you tap "Keep on iPhone," your photos, notes, and contacts stay on the phone but stop syncing with iCloud. If you tap "Remove," they disappear from the phone entirely. Most people choose "Keep on iPhone" to preserve their data.

Wait for the sign-out to finish — this usually takes 2 to 5 minutes. Your iPhone will show a progress bar. Do not restart your phone or close Settings during this time.

Once sign-out is complete, go back to Settings and tap "Sign In to Your iPhone" at the top. Enter the email address or phone number associated with your new Apple ID, then enter that account's password. If the new Apple ID uses two-factor authentication (which most do), you will receive a code on a trusted device or phone number — enter that code to verify your identity.

Choose your iCloud settings. Your iPhone will ask which data you want to sync with the new Apple ID — iCloud Photos, Notes, Reminders, and others. Select what you want, then tap "Merge" or "Don't Merge" for each category. Merging combines data from both accounts; not merging keeps only the new account's data.

Wait for the sign-in to finish. This usually takes 3 to 10 minutes depending on how much data needs to sync. Your iPhone will show another progress bar. Again, do not restart during this time.

What to do if you don't know the old Apple ID password

If you cannot remember the password to your current Apple ID, you must reset it before you can sign out. Go to iforgot.apple.com on any computer or another device and enter the email address or phone number for your current Apple ID. Apple will send you a reset link or code.

Follow the link or enter the code, then create a new password for that account. Once the password is reset, return to your iPhone, open Settings, and try the sign-out process again. You will now be able to enter the new password when prompted.

If you do not have access to the email address or phone number associated with your current Apple ID, contact Apple Support before attempting to change your ID. They can verify your identity and help you regain access to the account.

What happens to your apps and purchases

Apps you bought or downloaded with your old Apple ID will remain on your iPhone, but they may stop working or show an error message saying they need to be updated. When you try to update them, the App Store will ask you to sign in with the Apple ID that purchased the app. You will not be able to update or reinstall them under your new Apple ID unless you repurchase them.

Subscriptions tied to your old Apple ID — like Apple Music, Apple TV+, or app subscriptions — will continue to charge that account even after you switch devices. They do not automatically transfer to the new Apple ID. If you want to keep a subscription, you must cancel it on the old account and start a new one under the new Apple ID.

Free apps and apps from the App Store that do not require a purchase will work normally under the new Apple ID. You can update them without any issue.

Protecting your old Apple ID after you switch

Once you sign out on your iPhone, your old Apple ID is no longer active on that device, but the account itself still exists. Anyone who knows the password could sign in to it from another device and access your iCloud data, email, or payment information.

Change the password to your old Apple ID to something new and strong. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in with the old account, and select "Password and security" in the left menu. Create a new password that you have not used before and that does not match your new Apple ID's password.

Check the "Devices" section on the same page to see which devices are still signed in with the old Apple ID. If you see devices you no longer use or do not recognize, click them and select "Remove from Account." This prevents anyone with access to those devices from using your old account.

If you need to switch back to your old Apple ID

If you change your mind after switching to a new Apple ID, you can sign back in with the old one. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, enter the old Apple ID's password, and follow the same process in reverse. Your old account's data will reappear on your iPhone.

However, any data you created or changed while signed in with the new Apple ID will be lost unless you saved it separately. For example, if you took photos or created notes while using the new account, those will disappear when you switch back. Plan accordingly if you think you might need to return to the old account.

Common problems and how to fix them

Your iPhone is stuck on the sign-out screen. Force-restart your iPhone by pressing and releasing the volume up button, pressing and releasing the volume down button, then holding the side button until the Apple logo appears. Wait for your phone to restart, then try signing out again.

You see an error saying "This Apple ID is not valid for use in this country." This happens when the new Apple ID's region does not match your iPhone's region setting. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region and change your region to match the country where the new Apple ID was created. Then try signing in again.

Your photos or contacts disappeared after you switched. If you chose "Remove" instead of "Keep on iPhone" during sign-out, that data is gone from this device. You can recover it by signing back in with the old Apple ID and choosing "Keep on iPhone" this time. The data will reappear.

You cannot sign in with the new Apple ID because it says the password is wrong. Make sure you are entering the correct password — Apple IDs are case-sensitive. If you are still stuck, reset the password at iforgot.apple.com and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Apple ID without losing my photos?

Yes. During the sign-out process, choose "Keep on iPhone" when asked what to do with your iCloud data. Your photos will stay on the device but will no longer sync with the old account's iCloud. When you sign in with the new Apple ID, you can choose to sync new photos with that account instead.

What if I share an iPhone with someone else and want to use different Apple IDs?

You cannot have two Apple IDs signed in on the same iPhone at the same time. One person must sign out completely before the other signs in. If you share a device regularly, consider setting up a separate user account on the iPhone instead, which allows two people to have different Apple IDs on the same device without signing in and out each time.

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

No. Each device can have a different Apple ID signed in. If you want all your devices to use the same Apple ID for consistency, you would need to sign out and sign in on each one separately. But you are not required to — you can use one Apple ID on your iPhone and a different one on your iPad, for example.

Will my iCloud backup restore to the new Apple ID?

No. iCloud backups are tied to the Apple ID that created them. If you restore from a backup made with your old Apple ID, it will restore your old account's data, not your new account's data. If you want to keep your new Apple ID, do not restore from an old backup — instead, set up the iPhone as new and manually transfer the data you need.

How long does it take for everything to sync after I sign in with the new Apple ID?

Initial sign-in takes 10 to 15 minutes, but full syncing of all your data can take several hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. Keep your iPhone plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi during this time. Do not sign out again until syncing is complete.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.