Apple accounts: Purchases can be transferred for first time, but not in the EU
For the first time, Apple users can transfer their subscriptions and purchases made with an old account. There are many hurdles, including regional ones.
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Apple has delivered a function for its user accounts that has been requested for ages: For the first time, users can transfer purchases and subscriptions to apps and content made with one Apple account (previously Apple ID) to another Apple account. This means that purchases made with older secondary accounts can be "merged" with the primary account, as the company explains in a support document.
Purchases cannot be transferred within the EU
However, there are a number of hurdles and stumbling blocks to consider, the most serious of which is currently that the function is not available at all for users in Germany and other European Union countries. This restriction also applies to the UK and India. It remains unclear whether this will be possible in this country at a later date.
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The transfer of purchases is also generally only possible between two accounts that are assigned to the same country. There are also several requirements to be met: Both accounts must be protected with two-factor authentication and the second account must neither be part of a family share nor have remaining credit. Movie rentals or pre-orders can also block the transfer.
Subscriptions, purchases, payment methods and audio libraries
In addition to subscriptions and purchases – apps, music, films, TV series and books –, the payment methods stored in the second account will be transferred, according to Apple. The podcast media library data and Apple Music data will also be moved to the main account and – in the case of Apple Podcasts – apparently replace the media library there.
Apple accounts have been around for around 25 years: iTools became .Mac, followed by MobileMe until finally iCloud. Account management has long been considered anachronistic. Many users also used to create an additional account to shop in the iTunes Store. Accordingly, Apple still supports creating a second account for media and purchases in the settings in addition to the main account used for iCloud.
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