Apple Allows Transferring Purchased Apps, Music, and Content Between Accounts

Apple has allowed its device owners to move purchased apps, music and other content between different accounts. This innovation will be available to users of the company’s devices worldwide, with the exception of the European Union, the United Kingdom and India.

Image Source: Apple

The innovation will be useful for users who have different accounts for iCloud and purchases on the App Store platform. If the account was used only for purchases, they can be moved to another account, and from there, content can be downloaded to the device. Similarly, subscriptions will move after purchased content. However, the innovation will not affect iCloud data, since it is not related to purchases.

The transferred content will replace the content in the main account as follows:

• The music library, personalization profile, social profile, and Apple Music Replay in the Apple Music app of the secondary account will be transferred and will replace the same data in the primary account (if the user has a music library in the primary account, then nothing will change);
• The “Next” queue in the secondary Apple account in the Apple TV app will be moved and replace the similar queue in the primary account;
• The sub account’s podcast library will be transferred and replace the library in the primary account.

In some cases, Apple device owners will not be able to move content between accounts:

• When one of the accounts is a child’s account and was created using the “Family Access” function;
• If each account has a music library linked to it;
• If your Apple One subscription is configured to provide iCloud cloud storage for a third account;
• If the primary account was not used to make purchases or download free content.

Additionally, purchased content cannot be transferred from an account that is deleted, deactivated, locked, or disabled. No Apple account will be able to gain special access to apps or content when transferring data. Both user profiles must be in the same region. Two-factor authentication must be enabled on both accounts, and a number of other requirements must be met.

What you need to do to transfer purchased content from one Apple account to another:

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
• Click on the username, then click “Media & Purchases”.
• Click “View”. You may be asked to sign in.
• Scroll down, then click Transfer Purchases.
• Review information for both accounts, then complete the transfer of purchases to the main account.
• Once complete, a message will appear stating “Purchases have been transferred.” Confirmation emails will be sent to the email addresses associated with both accounts.
• Be sure to check your settings in the Media & Purchases section, sign out of your secondary Apple account, and then sign in with your primary Apple account.

Apple notes that you may not see the Transfer Purchases option if you are not eligible.