Switch accounts by signing out and signing in with a different Apple ID

To change the account on your iPad, you sign out of your current Apple ID in Settings, then sign in with a different one. The process takes about five minutes and does not erase your device — though you will lose access to content tied to the old account, like apps, photos in iCloud, and email.

Before you start, know that signing out removes access to iCloud services on that device. If you have photos, notes, or documents stored in iCloud under the old account, they will no longer appear on the iPad after you sign out. You can still access them by signing back in with that account later, or by downloading them to your computer first.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Sign Out" to disconnect from your current Apple ID.
  • You will be asked whether to keep or delete data stored in iCloud — choose based on whether you want that content to stay on the device.
  • After signing out, go back to Settings, tap "Sign In to your iPad," and enter the new Apple ID and password.
  • Two-factor authentication may be required for the new account, which means you will need access to a trusted device or phone number to complete the sign-in.
  • Apps purchased under the old account will remain on your iPad but will not update unless you sign back in with that account.

Step-by-step: signing out of your current account

Open the Settings app on your iPad. Tap your name and profile picture at the very top of the screen — this takes you to your Apple ID settings page.

Scroll all the way to the bottom of this page. You will see a red button labeled "Sign Out." Tap it. A pop-up will ask whether you want to keep or remove data on this iPad — specifically iCloud data like photos, notes, reminders, and contacts. If you want these to stay on the device, tap "Keep on My iPad." If you want them deleted, tap "Remove from My iPad." Choose based on whether you plan to use this data with the new account or not.

You will be asked to enter your Apple ID password one more time to confirm. Type it in and tap "Turn Off." The iPad will disconnect from your account. This takes a few seconds.

Step-by-step: signing in with the new account

After you have signed out, you are back at the main Settings screen. Tap "Sign In to your iPad" — this button appears near the top where your name used to be.

Enter the email address or phone number associated with the new Apple ID, then tap "Next." On the next screen, enter the password for that account and tap "Next" again.

If the account has two-factor authentication turned on — which is common for security — you will see a message asking you to verify your identity. The iPad will send a code to a trusted device (like an iPhone) or phone number linked to that account. Enter the code when it arrives, then tap "Next." If you do not have access to a trusted device, you can use your recovery key instead, but you will need to have saved it when you first set up two-factor authentication.

Once verified, the iPad will sign in and begin syncing data from the new account's iCloud. This can take several minutes depending on how much data is stored there. You will see a progress screen while this happens.

What happens to apps after you change accounts

Apps you downloaded with the old account stay on your iPad, but they will not update automatically. When an update is available, the App Store will show it, but you cannot install it unless you sign back in with the account that purchased it.

If you want to keep using an app with the new account, you have two choices: delete it and read it again using the new account (if the new account has purchased it or if it is free), or keep the old version. Apps that were free when you downloaded them can usually be reinstalled under any account.

Paid apps are tied to the account that bought them. If the new account did not purchase the same app, you cannot update or reinstall it without buying it again under the new account.

Recovering data from the old account

If you chose to delete iCloud data when you signed out, you can still recover it. Sign back in with the old account, and your iCloud photos, notes, contacts, and other synced data will reappear on the iPad. You can then save them to your computer or export them before signing out again.

For photos, open the Photos app, select the ones you want to keep, tap "Share," and choose "Save to Files" or email them to yourself. For notes, open Notes, select a note, tap the three dots, and choose "Share" or "Print to PDF." For contacts, open Contacts, tap a contact, tap "Share Contact," and email it to yourself or save it as a file.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you see an error message saying "This Apple ID is not valid," double-check that you typed the email address or phone number correctly. Apple IDs are case-sensitive for passwords but not for email addresses. If you have forgotten the password, tap "Forgot password?" on the sign-in screen and follow the recovery steps.

If two-factor authentication is blocking you and you do not have access to a trusted device, you can use your recovery key instead. Tap "Don't have access to your trusted devices?" on the verification screen, then enter your recovery key. If you do not have your recovery key, you will need to use a different trusted device or wait until you can access one.

If the iPad is stuck on a syncing screen after sign-in, leave it plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi for at least 30 minutes. Large iCloud libraries can take time to read. If it is still stuck after an hour, restart the iPad by holding the power button until "Slide to Power Off" appears, then slide to turn it off. Wait 10 seconds and turn it back on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing accounts erase everything on my iPad?

No. Changing accounts does not erase the iPad itself. You will lose access to iCloud data tied to the old account — like synced photos, notes, and contacts — but apps, photos stored locally, and files will stay on the device. You choose whether to keep or delete iCloud data when you sign out.

Can I have two Apple IDs on one iPad at the same time?

No. An iPad can only be signed into one Apple ID at a time for iCloud and the App Store. However, you can set up multiple user accounts on iPad using the Accounts & Passwords settings, which lets different people use the device with their own home screens and data — but only one account can access iCloud at a time.

What if I forget the password for the new account?

Tap "Forgot password?" on the sign-in screen. Apple will send a reset link to the email address on file or ask you to answer security questions. You can also go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer to reset it there, then use the new password on your iPad.

Do I need Wi-Fi to change accounts?

Yes. You need a stable Wi-Fi connection to sign out and sign in. The iPad will also need Wi-Fi to read iCloud data after you sign in with the new account. Make sure you are connected before you start.

Can I use a different Apple ID for the App Store and iCloud?

No. On iPad, the Apple ID you use to sign into iCloud is the same one used for the App Store and other Apple services. If you want to use a different account for apps, you have to change your main Apple ID.