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How to put 2 Apple IDs on your iPhone

As an Apple product specialist, I often setup 2 Apple IDs on a single iPhone.

However, be warned it does have some drawbacks and limitations you need to know about before you attempt to do it.

This guide will tell you all you need to know. You will discover:

  • How to use multiple Apple IDs on a single iPhone.
  • How to change the Apple ID your device uses.
  • How to check which Apple ID you currently use.
  • Problems and issues when you use multiple Apple accounts on one phone.
How To Put Two Apple IDs on One iPhone

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The limitations of using multiple Apple accounts

The Apple iPhone is a brilliant device but it does have some limitations:

  • iPhone is not a multi-user device.
  • iOS, the iPhone operating system is not a multi-user OS.

This means sharing an iPhone with someone else is not practical.

The most common reason I see for using multiple Apple accounts is for keeping device backups and purchases separate.

So the device owner would have 2 accounts – one for Apple purchases and another for iCloud backups.

Splitting purchases and backups in this way was used by many people before Apple introduced family sharing. It allowed families to share the purchasing Apple account, while having separate backup quotas.

This is no longer needed for families, but some people do like to use it this way on business phones.

Now you know that using multiple Apple accounts is not recommended, and that it has some major initiations, read on to find out how to set it up.

iPhone with locked Apple ID

How to put 2 Apple IDs on a single iPhone

Apple recommends using a single Apple ID for all Apple services on iPhone.

We recommend that you use the same Apple ID for all Apple services on your device—including the iTunes & App Stores and iCloud. Using multiple Apple IDs might be confusing and cause issues with accessing purchased content or using some services.

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So multiple Apple ID are not recommended. Having said that, there are 5 iPhone apps you can sign in and use a different accounts on. They are:

  • Apple Music (formerly iTunes)
  • iCloud
  • Messages
  • FaceTime
  • GameCentre.

In theory, you could use a different account for each so you could use 5 accounts on a single device.

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More common is using a ‘work ID’ for iCloud and a ‘personal ID’ for purchases such as apps and music.

Before you make any changes that could erase data, we strongly suggest you backup your iPhone before you begin. If you have problems you can then restore your data to your device.

Scenario: Use one Apple user account for iCloud and a different one for iTunes Store

  1. On your iPhone, tap Settings > iCloud.
  2. Sign in with the Apple ID that you want to use with iCloud.
  3. Next, tap Settings > iCloud > Media & Purchases
  4. Tap Sign out
  5. Confirm the Sign Out and you will be logged out of the App Store, Books, Music, and Podcasts.
  6. Tap Media & Purchases again.
  7. Tap Not [your name]?
  8. Sign in with the Apple ID that you want to use for Apple Media Services.

If you use multiple Apple accounts and want to restore your device from a backup, you can learn more about iCloud or iTunes backups.

If you are unsure about how to make another Apple ID, you can learn how to create a new Apple account.

How to sign in with a different iCloud account on iPhone and merge your data

To sign in to your iPhone with a different Apple account you first need to sign out of iCloud, then sign in with a different Apple ID. To do this, use the following steps:

  1. Launch Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Then tap [your name].
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page, then tap Sign Out.
  4. When prompted, supply your Apple ID password and confirm you want to sign out.
  5. On the pop-up screen, choose to keep a copy of all your data on your device and tap Sign out.
  6. Go back to the Settings.
  7. Tap Sign in to your iPhone.
  8. Tap Email and enter the email address associated with the different Apple ID.
  9. Enter the Password associated with the different Apple ID.
  10. Tap Merge if you want to merge the data on your iPhone with the iCloud account associated with the different Apple ID. Tap Don’t Merge if you don’t want the content on the iPhone uploaded to iCloud in the different Apple ID’s account.

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How to add another iOS account to your device

If you have more than one Apple account, for example having one ID for work and a personal Apple ID, then you can add another account to your device. To do this, use the following steps:

  1. On your iPhone, tap Settings.
  2. Pick Mail.
  3. Choose Accounts.
  4. Next, click Add Account.
  5. Select iCloud.
  6. Enter your Apple ID email.
  7. Tap Next, then enter your password when prompted.
  8. Tap Next, then pick the Apple services you want to use with this Apple ID. Please note that when you add an account, the data on your iPhone will merge with the new Apple ID data.

If you forget your Apple ID or password, see How to reset Apple ID password.

How to sign out on your cellphone

  1. On your iPhone, tap Settings
  2. At the top of the screen, tap [your name]
  3. Click Sign Out.
  4. When prompted, enter your Apple ID password and confirm you want to sign out.
  5. On the pop-up screen, choose to keep a copy of all your data on your device and tap Sign out.
  6. When prompted, confirm you wish to Sign Out.

How to check which iCloud account is signed in to your iPhone

To find out which Apple ID is currently logged in to your iPhone on iOS 13 or newer, tap Settings > [your name] on iOS 12 or older, tap Settings > iCloud.

On this screen, you will see:

  • Name, phone number, and email.
  • Payment & shipping information.
  • Apple ID password & security settings.
  • Subscriptions.
  • All the devices associated with the Apple ID.
  • Family Sharing.
  • Find My iPhone.
  • Media & purchases
  • iCloud storage and settings.

You can change all of these settings. You can also sign out, or change your Apple ID on this screen.

Can you merge or combine 2 different Apple accounts?

Apple does not allow users to merge 2 Apple ID’s You can merge some data on your iPhone with a new Apple ID such as contacts, calendar, photos, and more. However, purchases are not merged.

This means you may have to use 2 Apple IDs and switch between them if you have bought apps, music, or movies.

How to delete an Apple user account

On your iPhone go to the Apple ID page then scroll down to Data and Privacy and select Manage Your Data and Privacy. On the next page, tap Delete your account and follow the on-screen instructions

For more information, see How to delete your Apple ID account.

What happens to my data when I switch between accounts?

When switching, you can decide to keep copies of some of your data on your device when you Sign Out of your Apple ID. For example, contacts, photos, and calendar events can be retained on your device.

Learn more

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