What happens when you change your Apple Account

Changing the Apple Account on your iPad removes the old account from the device and signs you in with a new one. The new account becomes the primary one for the App Store, iCloud, and other Apple services on that iPad. Your old account's data — emails, photos, notes, contacts — stays on the device unless you specifically delete it during the sign-out process.

Before you start, know that you cannot simply switch accounts the way you would on a computer. You have to sign out of the old account completely, then sign in with the new one. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes and requires you to know the password for the old account (or have access to its recovery options if you have forgotten it).

Key Takeaways

  • You must sign out of the old Apple Account before signing in with a new one — you cannot have two accounts active at the same time on an iPad.
  • Signing out requires the password for the old account, or access to its recovery email or phone number if you have forgotten the password.
  • You can choose to keep or delete the old account's data on the iPad during sign-out; deleted data cannot be recovered from the device.
  • After signing in with the new account, you can re-download apps and data that were purchased or stored under that account.

Sign out of your current Apple Account

Open Settings on your iPad and tap your name at the top of the screen. Scroll down and tap "Sign Out" near the bottom. You will see a popup asking whether you want to keep or remove data from this iPad — choose "Keep on My iPad" unless you want to delete everything associated with the old account right now. Tap "Sign Out" again to confirm.

The system will ask for the password of the account you are leaving. Type it in and tap "Turn Off" (or "Sign Out," depending on your iPad model). If you have two-factor authentication turned on for that account, you may also need to confirm the sign-out on another device or through an email link — follow the prompts on screen.

Wait for the sign-out to finish. Your iPad will return to the Settings screen, and you will no longer see your name at the top. This means the old account has been removed.

Sign in with your new Apple Account

From the same Settings screen where you just signed out, tap "Sign in to your iPad" at the top. Enter the email address or phone number associated with your new Apple Account, then tap "Next." Type in the password for that account.

If the new account has two-factor authentication enabled, you will need to verify your identity. Apple will send a code to a trusted device or phone number on file — enter that code when prompted. This step protects your account from unauthorized access.

After verification, you may see options to set up iCloud, Face ID or Touch ID, and Siri. You can skip any of these by tapping "Don't Use" or "Not Now" — you can turn them on later if you change your mind. Tap "Continue" to move through each screen until sign-in is complete.

What to do if you forgot the old account password

If you cannot remember the password for the account you are trying to leave, tap "Forgot password?" on the sign-in screen after you have tapped "Sign Out." Apple will walk you through recovery options: you can reset the password using a recovery email address, a phone number, or security questions if you set those up.

The fastest route is usually the recovery email — Apple sends a link to that address, and you click it to create a new password. If you no longer have access to the recovery email or phone number, you will need to answer your security questions or use an account recovery key if you saved one. This process can take a few minutes to an hour depending on which method you use.

If you cannot recover the account through any of these methods, you may need to contact Apple Support directly. They can verify your identity through other means and help you regain access or remove the account from the device.

Restore apps and data to your new account

After you sign in with the new account, the App Store will show only apps that were purchased under that account. If you want apps you bought under the old account, you have two choices: buy them again under the new account, or sign back in to the old account temporarily to re-download them.

To re-download an app you bought before, open the App Store, tap the profile icon in the top right, scroll down to "Purchased," and look for the app. Tap the cloud icon next to it to download it again — you will not be charged a second time. This works only if you are signed in to the account that originally bought the app.

For photos, emails, and other data stored in iCloud, sign in to your new account and turn on iCloud sync in Settings. If you had iCloud Backup turned on with the old account, you can restore from that backup — but this will overwrite everything on the iPad with the old account's data, so do this only if you want a complete restore.

Keep both accounts on the iPad without switching

If you want to use both accounts on the same iPad without fully switching, you can set up the new account as a secondary user instead of replacing the old one. Go to Settings, tap "Family Sharing," and add the new account as a family member. This lets both accounts use the iPad, but only one can be the primary account for the App Store and iCloud.

The downside is that the secondary account has limited access to some features — it cannot manage iCloud backups or change core device settings. If you need full access for both accounts, you will have to switch between them by signing out and signing back in each time, which takes a few minutes.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you see an error message saying "Cannot Sign Out" or "This action cannot be completed," restart your iPad and try again. Go to Settings, tap the power icon, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then power back on. Open Settings and repeat the sign-out steps.

If the new account will not sign in, make sure you are typing the correct email or phone number and password. Check that you have an internet connection — sign-in requires a working Wi-Fi or cellular connection. If you still cannot sign in after checking these, restart the iPad again and try once more.

If you see a message about "This Apple ID is not available on this device," the account may have restrictions set up by a parent or organization. Contact the person who manages that account to remove the restriction, or use a different account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my photos and emails when I change accounts?

Not automatically. If you choose "Keep on My iPad" during sign-out, all photos, emails, and other data stay on the device. You can still see and use them, but they will be associated with the old account. If you want them to sync with your new account, you will need to move them manually or restore from an iCloud backup made under the new account.

Can I use the same Apple Account on multiple iPads?

Yes. Sign in with the same account on as many devices as you want. Any purchases, photos, or data stored in iCloud will sync across all of them automatically. However, only one person should use the same account on a shared device — if multiple people use it, they will all see each other's data.

What if I do not know the password for the new account either?

You will not be able to sign in until you reset it. On the sign-in screen, tap "Forgot password?" and follow Apple's recovery process using the email or phone number tied to that account. This usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. If you do not have access to the recovery email or phone, you cannot sign in to that account.

Do I need to delete the old account's data before signing in with a new one?

No. You can keep the old account's data on the iPad even after you sign out. It will stay there until you manually delete it. This is useful if you want to access old emails or photos later, but it does use storage space on the device.

How long does it take to change accounts?

The sign-out and sign-in process usually takes 10 to 15 minutes total, depending on your internet speed and whether you need to verify your identity through two-factor authentication. If you have a slow connection, it may take longer.