The fastest way to switch Apple accounts on your iPhone

To change your Apple account on iPhone, you sign out of your current account in Settings, then sign in with a different one. The process takes about five minutes and does not erase your phone — but it does disconnect you from services tied to that account, like iCloud, the App Store, and Apple Music.

Before you start, know what you are signing out of: your email address, password, and two-factor authentication code (if you have it turned on). You will need the password for the new account you are signing into. If you do not have it, you can reset it on Apple's website before you begin.

The change happens in one place: the Settings app under your name at the top. From there, you scroll to the bottom and tap "Sign Out". Your phone will ask whether you want to keep a copy of your data on the device — choose yes if you want to preserve your photos, contacts, and calendar entries. Then enter your Apple ID password one more time to confirm, and you are signed out.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Sign Out" to disconnect from your current Apple account.
  • You will be asked whether to keep a local copy of your iCloud data on the device — choose yes to preserve photos, contacts, and notes.
  • After signing out, go back to Settings, tap "Sign In to your iPhone", and enter the email and password for the new account.
  • Two-factor authentication will send a code to a trusted device or phone number — have that device or number ready before you start.
  • Apps you bought with the old account will remain on your phone but will not update unless you sign in with that account again.

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

Open the Settings app and tap your name at the very top of the screen. This takes you to your Apple ID page. Scroll all the way to the bottom and tap the red "Sign Out" button.

Your phone will ask you to enter your Apple ID password. Type it in — this confirms you own the account and are not locked out by someone else. After you enter it, tap "Sign Out" again.

Next, you will see a choice: "Keep on This iPhone" or "Remove from This iPhone". If you tap "Keep on This iPhone", your photos, contacts, calendar, notes, and reminders stay on your phone as local copies — they just stop syncing to iCloud. If you tap "Remove", those items are deleted from your phone. Most people choose "Keep" unless they are selling the phone or want a clean slate.

After you make that choice, you are signed out. Your phone will show "Sign In to your iPhone" at the top of the Settings screen.

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

Go back to Settings and tap "Sign In to your iPhone" (or tap your name if it still shows the old account). You will see a field asking for your Apple ID email address. Type in the email for the new account.

On the next screen, enter the password for that account. If you do not remember it, tap "Forgot password or don't have an Apple ID?" and follow the steps to reset it — but do this on a computer or another device first, because you cannot reset it on the same phone while you are trying to sign in.

If the new account has two-factor authentication turned on (which is common), your phone will ask for a verification code. This code goes to a trusted device you set up with that account — usually another iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Open that device, look for the six-digit code in a notification or in Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security, and type it into your iPhone.

Once you enter the code, your phone syncs with the new account. This can take a few minutes. You will see your new name, email, and photo at the top of Settings when it is done.

What happens to your apps and data

Apps you bought or downloaded with the old account stay on your phone, but they will not update unless you sign back in with that account. If you want to use them with the new account, you have two choices: delete them and read them again from the App Store with the new account, or keep them as they are.

Photos, contacts, and calendar entries that were synced to iCloud will disappear from your phone if you chose "Remove" during sign-out. If you chose "Keep", they stay on your phone as local copies but will not sync to the new account's iCloud unless you manually add them. To sync them, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, turn on Photos, Contacts, or Calendar, and your phone will upload those items to the new account.

Messages, mail, and notes work the same way. If you set up mail for the new account in Settings > Mail, you can see messages from both accounts on your phone. Old messages from the previous account stay in the Mail app but will not sync to the new account's iCloud.

If you forgot the password for the account you are signing out of

You cannot sign out without entering the password for the account you are currently signed into. If you have forgotten it, you have two options: reset it on a computer or another device, or use "Forgot password?" on the iPhone itself.

To reset on another device, go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps. You will receive a link by email or answer security questions to prove you own the account. Once you reset the password, return to your iPhone and try signing out again with the new password.

If you do not have access to another device, tap "Forgot password?" on your iPhone during the sign-out screen. Apple will send a reset link to your email address or ask you to answer security questions. Complete the reset, then sign out with the new password.

If you do not have a second Apple account yet

You can create a new Apple ID on your iPhone during the sign-in step. When you tap "Sign In to your iPhone", look for the option "Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it?" and tap "Create one". You will be asked for your name, email address (you can use an existing email or create a new one), a password, and a phone number for recovery.

Apple will send a verification code to your email and phone number. Enter both codes, and your new account is ready to use. Your phone will then sign in with this account.

Creating an account on your phone takes about five minutes. If you prefer to set it up on a computer first, you can go to appleid.apple.com, click "Create your Apple ID", and complete the process there. Then sign in on your iPhone with the new email and password.

Troubleshooting: common problems and fixes

You see "This Apple ID has not yet been used with the App Store": This happens when you are signing in with a brand-new account. It is normal. Tap "Review" and follow the steps to add payment information and agree to the terms. You do not have to add a payment method — you can choose "None" — but you will not be able to read paid apps without one.

Two-factor authentication code does not arrive: Make sure the trusted device is turned on and connected to the internet. If it is, wait a few minutes — codes sometimes take time to send. If nothing arrives, tap "Didn't receive a code?" on your iPhone and choose to receive the code by text message instead. You will need a phone number associated with the account.

Your phone is stuck on the sign-in screen: Force-close the Settings app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and closing it, then open Settings again. If that does not work, restart your iPhone by holding the power button and volume down button until "Slide to Power Off" appears, then slide to turn it off. Wait 10 seconds and turn it back on.

You cannot remember which email is your Apple ID: Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter any email address you think you used. If it is connected to an Apple ID, Apple will tell you. If it is not, try another email. Once you find the right one, you can reset the password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Apple account erase my iPhone?

No. Signing out of one account and into another does not erase your phone. Your photos, messages, and apps stay on the device. You will be asked whether to keep or remove iCloud data — if you choose "Keep", everything stays. If you choose "Remove", only iCloud-synced items (like photos in iCloud Photos) are deleted, but local copies of contacts and calendar entries remain.

Can I use two Apple accounts on the same iPhone?

Not at the same time in Settings. Your iPhone can only be signed into one Apple ID for iCloud, the App Store, and FaceTime. However, you can set up multiple email accounts in the Mail app and use multiple accounts in some apps like Notes or Reminders by signing in separately within those apps. For most purposes, you need one primary account.

What happens to my iCloud photos when I switch accounts?

If you chose "Keep on This iPhone" during sign-out, your photos stay on your phone as local files but stop syncing to iCloud. When you sign into the new account, those photos do not automatically upload to the new account's iCloud. You can manually upload them by turning on iCloud Photos in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos, but this uploads only new photos you take going forward, not old ones.

Do I need a different email address for each Apple ID?

Yes. Each Apple ID must have a unique email address. You cannot use the same email for two accounts. If you want to create a second account, use a different email address or create a new one through Apple's website.

Can I switch back to my old account later?

Yes. Follow the same steps: sign out of the current account in Settings, then sign in with the old account's email and password. Your old data will sync back to your phone if you have iCloud turned on for that account.