Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

An Apple ID is an essential component of an iPhone. You need to have an Apple ID to use the App Store and iCloud services on your device. Since iCloud stores important files like photos and passwords, you may feel the necessity to use two iCloud accounts — one for personal use and the other for work/school. However, Apple doesn’t allow you to log in to multiple Apple IDs on one iPhone or iPad at the same time.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

You can only use one Apple ID at a time which can get rather inconvenient. If you still wish to use multiple Apple IDs, though, there is a workaround. You can also use this method if you don’t want to use a certain Apple ID anymore and want to jump to a fresh account. But before we show you how to switch your Apple ID on an iPhone and iPad, let’s understand the basics.

Why You May Want to Switch Apple ID

As mentioned earlier, you may want to switch between multiple Apple IDs based on which ones you use personally and for work. Your personal ID may contain pictures of your family and notes related to your personal life. On the other hand, your work account may have scanned documents or important reminders synced to your iCloud.

If you don’t want to merge both, it’s a good idea to maintain separate Apple IDs. Another reason could be that you don’t use a particular email ID or phone number associated with your Apple account anymore. While you can change your Apple ID email, switching to a new one would mean you have a clean slate.

Things to Know Before Switching Apple ID

Firstly, it’s important to note that you cannot use multiple Apple IDs simultaneously on one phone. You can log in to two Apple IDs for emails (we’ll demonstrate that later) but that’s pretty much it. Here are some prerequisites that you need to be aware of before you switch iCloud accounts on an iPhone:

  • You cannot sync your purchases or other iCloud data like notes, voice memos, photos, etc. from both accounts.
  • Items synced to iCloud on your earlier ID will be removed from your iPhone when you switch to a new ID. They will still be accessible when you log in to iCloud with your old ID.
  • You cannot use the same phone number or email ID linked with your old account to create a new Apple account.
  • All the data present locally on your iPhone including files, apps, contacts, photos, etc. will not be erased.
  • Your subscriptions like Apple Music and Apple TV+ will not carry over to your new account.
  • If you have multiple Apple devices, they won’t be able to communicate with each other unless you log in with the same Apple ID on all of them.

How Do I Find My Apple ID

In case you don’t know what your current Apple ID is, here’s how you can find out.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap on your name at the top.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 2: The email ID or phone number displayed right beneath your picture is your current Apple ID.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Now that you’re ready, follow the below steps to switch between multiple Apple IDs on iPad or iPhone.

Disabling Important Features

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down to the Messages section.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 2: Turn off the toggle next to iMessage. This is to ensure your iMessages don’t go to your old ID even after signing out.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 3: Next, go to FaceTime and turn off the toggle here as well. It’s for the same reason as above.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone
Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 4: Now, tap on your name right at the top of the Settings app.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 5: Select the ‘Name, Phone Numbers, Email’ tab. This is to know what IDs are linked to your account.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 6: Under Contactable At, you will see the list of your email IDs and phone numbers linked to iCloud. If you wish to use any of these with your new Apple ID, tap on Edit and delete them from the list.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Note that you cannot delete the email ID or phone number which mentions ‘Apple ID’ below it.

How to Sign Out of Old Apple ID

Step 1: Now, you need to sign out of your Apple ID. Go back to the previous screen and scroll down to the bottom. Tap on Sign Out at the bottom.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 2: You will be asked if you want to keep a copy of any of your iCloud data on the iPhone. If you wish to sync this data with your new Apple ID, select all the relevant options. If you wish to start afresh on your other ID, don’t select any option here.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Once done, tap on Sign Out in the top-right corner.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 3: Finally, you’ll see one last prompt asking you if you wish to sign out. Select Sign Out.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

You will now be signed out of your old Apple ID from your iPhone or iPad.

How to Sign In to New Apple ID

Step 1: Tap on the ‘Sign in to your iPhone’ option at the top of the Settings app.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 2: Enter the new Apple ID you want to log in to. If you don’t have one, you can create a new Apple ID from this section.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Follow the on-screen instructions and you should be logged into your new Apple ID in no time.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

The new Apple ID can be found right below your picture confirming that you have indeed switched your Apple ID to a new one.

How to Log Back Into Your Old Apple ID

Just follow the instructions above to switch your Apple ID once again. This time, though, input your old Apple ID and you should be logged back in. Don’t forget to select the right items to keep a copy of or else you will end up mixing the contents of both iCloud accounts which you may not want to do.

How to Add Two Apple IDs on iPhone for Mail and Contacts

While you cannot log in to two Apple IDs simultaneously on your iPhone, you can add multiple Apple IDs to sync your mail, contacts, calendar, etc. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap on Mail.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 2: Select Accounts.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 3: Tap on Add Account. Keep your iCloud credentials ready.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 4: Select iCloud at the top.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 5: Enter the Apple ID you want to add and sync. Enter the password as well.

Can you have two icloud accounts on one iphone

Step 6: Follow the on-screen instructions to add your second iCloud account.

Note that you can use this account only to sync emails, notes, calendars, and contacts. Your Apple ID will still remain the same as earlier.

FAQs About Switching Apple ID on iPhone and iPad

1. Will I lose my data if I switch my Apple ID?

All the data present locally on your iPhone like photos, messages, apps, etc. will remain as it is. Data stored on your iCloud will be lost when you switch Apple IDs.

2. Will my Apple Watch get disconnected if I switch my Apple ID?

The Apple Watch is smart enough to log in to the new Apple ID by itself as soon as you log in with a new one on your iPhone. So, it won’t get disconnected.

3. Can I back up my data to iCloud after switching Apple IDs?

Yes, you can back up your existing data to the new iCloud account once you switch to a new Apple ID.

4. Will AirDrop and Handoff work if I switch my Apple ID?

All your Apple devices need to be signed into the same Apple ID for AirDrop and Handoff to work. So, if you have switched your Apple ID on your iPhone, log in to the same Apple ID even on your Mac and iPad.

5. Will I lose my purchases if I switch to a different Apple ID?

Yes, all your purchases and subscriptions will be lost when you log in to a new Apple ID. You cannot listen to the same songs you purchased on Apple Music. Nor will you be able to play games on Apple Arcade unless you purchase a subscription on your new ID.

However, if you log back in with your older ID, your purchases will be restored so you won’t lose them permanently.

6. Can I switch Apple ID on iPhone without a password?

Unfortunately, this is not permitted. When signing out from your original ID, you will be asked to enter the password for that particular ID without which you won’t be allowed to log out. So, you need to know the password of your Apple ID in order to switch to a new ID.

Switch Between Your Personal and Professional Lives

It’s always nice to draw a boundary between your personal and professional lives. A good way to do that is to switch your Apple ID on your iPhone and iPad so that the contents on your phone change accordingly and you don’t mix them up.

How do I add a second iCloud account to my iPhone?

If you need to add an iCloud® email account to your Apple® iPhone®, follow these step-by-step instructions..
Settings. Mail. Accounts. . ... .
Tap. Add Account. ..
Tap. iCloud. ..
Enter the Apple ID then tap. Next. (upper-right)..
Enter the password then tap. Next. ..

Can you have 2 Apple IDs one iPhone?

Not many people are aware of this, but it is possible to sign in and use multiple Apple IDs on an iPhone or iPad. You can log in and set up multiple Apple IDs on an iOS device from the Settings app, and use them for different purposes like contacts, email, notes, bookmarks, etc.

Can you have 2 Apple IDs on iCloud?

An iPhone is meant to be a single Apple ID device. You can use one Apple ID for iCloud and another for Messages/FaceTime, but you can't use 2 Apple IDs for one sign in such as iCloud.