Apple ID and cell phone number being used by minor family member to create their personal accounts for gaming and most recently social media. I cannot access my social media accounts because it opens to my family members profile. I see three profiles under my Facebook account; two are names of the family member the other is my account, but I can’t login to my account. I can see the family members account.
iPhone 11, iOS 17
Make sure that each family member has a unique Apple ID as suggested in this support article --> Make sure that each family member has a unique Apple ID - Apple Support
For a child (age varies according to country), read this support article about how to create an Apple ID for your child --> Create an Apple ID for your child - Apple Support
This support article describes how to create a new, non-child Apple ID = create an Apple Account. --> How to create a new Apple ID - Apple Support
Apple has no formal account merging or transferring process. The things below will help you in doing ongoing or one-time transfer of as much as possible from one account to the other, but some things can never be transferred (namely purchases), only shared.
You can use various iCloud sharing features for some ongoing data sharing.
Share folders with iCloud Drive --> Share files and folders in iCloud Drive on iCloud.com - Apple Support
Read How to use Shared Albums in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Apple Support about how to share photos.
Sharing music playlists —> How to share an Apple Music playlist on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
Apps and media bought with one ID are permanently associated with that ID. Look into using Family Sharing to continue to be able to use items purchased with one Apple ID with other Apple IDs, and for some data sharing features.
- Family Sharing - What is Family Sharing? - Apple Support
- Set up Family Sharing - Set up Family Sharing - Apple Support
The next section may sound tricky but it lets you merge some things on a device where you have already signed in with an old account but want to use a new account and incorporate data that is already on the device from the old account. Incidentally, the data will then propagate to other devices using iCloud with that new ID. (I haven't tried this with a computer but it may also work with a computer account signed into an old ID.)
If you have signed into the first ID on a device then fortunately when you sign out of that ID it asks you if you wish to retain the data from the old ID on your device (toggle the ones you want to on). If you keep data on the device then when you sign in with the other ID it will merge this data with the account signing into the device. You can later delete individual items from the old ID that you do not want. Similar information can be found in this post I have 2 apple IDs i want to merge them h… - Apple Community Note that only content physically present on the device like contacts, photos and videos will be retained. Meta data such as a game play scores that are tied to a specific ID or are only on a vendor's Apple ID-specific database remotely will not be retained. Also turn off storage optimization before doing this. With Optimize Storage, smaller, space-saving photos and videos are kept on your device while all of your original, full-resolution versions are stored in iCloud. Make sure photo optimization is turned off so the full quality versions from the old account are actually on the device before merging the content into your new account. Manage your photo storage - Apple Support You can turn optimization back on again once you are fully using your new ID on the device.
Even though apps may remain on a device and may work for a while, you will not be able to update them or redownload them unless you buy them again with this ID or download them with this ID using Family Sharing.
Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac --> https://support.apple.com/HT208242
If another Apple ID is signed in you may need to enter the password for that ID to sign out of that ID first.
Click on this link to learn how to 'Sign in with your Apple ID' --> https://support.apple.com/HT204053
Make sure that each family member has a unique Apple ID as suggested in this support article --> Make sure that each family member has a unique Apple ID - Apple Support
For a child (age varies according to country), read this support article about how to create an Apple ID for your child --> Create an Apple ID for your child - Apple Support
This support article describes how to create a new, non-child Apple ID = create an Apple Account. --> How to create a new Apple ID - Apple Support
Apple has no formal account merging or transferring process. The things below will help you in doing ongoing or one-time transfer of as much as possible from one account to the other, but some things can never be transferred (namely purchases), only shared.
You can use various iCloud sharing features for some ongoing data sharing.
Share folders with iCloud Drive --> Share files and folders in iCloud Drive on iCloud.com - Apple Support
Read How to use Shared Albums in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Apple Support about how to share photos.
Sharing music playlists —> How to share an Apple Music playlist on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
Apps and media bought with one ID are permanently associated with that ID. Look into using Family Sharing to continue to be able to use items purchased with one Apple ID with other Apple IDs, and for some data sharing features.
- Family Sharing - What is Family Sharing? - Apple Support
- Set up Family Sharing - Set up Family Sharing - Apple Support
The next section may sound tricky but it lets you merge some things on a device where you have already signed in with an old account but want to use a new account and incorporate data that is already on the device from the old account. Incidentally, the data will then propagate to other devices using iCloud with that new ID. (I haven't tried this with a computer but it may also work with a computer account signed into an old ID.)
If you have signed into the first ID on a device then fortunately when you sign out of that ID it asks you if you wish to retain the data from the old ID on your device (toggle the ones you want to on). If you keep data on the device then when you sign in with the other ID it will merge this data with the account signing into the device. You can later delete individual items from the old ID that you do not want. Similar information can be found in this post I have 2 apple IDs i want to merge them h… - Apple Community Note that only content physically present on the device like contacts, photos and videos will be retained. Meta data such as a game play scores that are tied to a specific ID or are only on a vendor's Apple ID-specific database remotely will not be retained. Also turn off storage optimization before doing this. With Optimize Storage, smaller, space-saving photos and videos are kept on your device while all of your original, full-resolution versions are stored in iCloud. Make sure photo optimization is turned off so the full quality versions from the old account are actually on the device before merging the content into your new account. Manage your photo storage - Apple Support You can turn optimization back on again once you are fully using your new ID on the device.
Even though apps may remain on a device and may work for a while, you will not be able to update them or redownload them unless you buy them again with this ID or download them with this ID using Family Sharing.
Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac --> https://support.apple.com/HT208242
If another Apple ID is signed in you may need to enter the password for that ID to sign out of that ID first.
Click on this link to learn how to 'Sign in with your Apple ID' --> https://support.apple.com/HT204053
Every person needs their own Apple ID. If you’re sharing, stop.
If he is figuring out you password then you need to change the password for a stronger one. Also consider doing some or all of the things in the articles below.
Read this document if you think your Apple ID has been compromised. --> If you think your Apple ID has been compromised - Apple Support
For iOS 15 or earlier, if you want to see if anyone else has access to your device or accounts, click here --> See who has access to your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
For iOS 16 or later see how Safety Check on iPhone works to keep you safe. How Safety Check on iPhone works to keep you safe - Apple Support
Use the information in this document to check your Apple ID device list to find where you're signed in --> Check your Apple ID device list to find where you're signed in - Apple Support
Related materials:
Personal Safety User Guide
Personal Safety User Guide - Apple Support
> open the Table of Contents and review the articles
A document with general information about security and your Apple ID --> Security and your Apple ID - Apple Support
Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security. This page provides country-specific Apple Support contact information ➞ Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
Thanks for the information. I did not share my Apple ID. My family member used my phone number to link to the apps for the games that he plays. My phone number is linked to my Apple ID and he was able to use my information for his accounts. He has figured out passwords that I have never written down before not mentioned to anyone else. It’s a huge mess. I have spoken with several admins from Apple who couldn’t figure how to fix the problem, so they escalated my issue to Apple management who is baffled and hasn’t been able to to resolve the problem yet. They did say that my kid should work for Apple. He is 12 years old and very smart when it comes to technology. Seems like the only choice left now is to wipe his gaming laptop and electronic devices. I don’t think he’s that concerned if I do that because he backs up everything.
Removing Apple ID and contact info from my family members
