How to Change Your Apple ID on an iPad

What happens when you change your Apple ID on an iPad

Changing your Apple ID on an iPad means signing out of your current account and signing in with a different one. This affects which apps, photos, iCloud backups, and subscriptions are tied to that device. Your old Apple ID stays active on other devices — changing it on the iPad does not delete the account or affect your iPhone, Mac, or other hardware.

The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes and requires you to know the password for the new Apple ID you want to use. If you are switching to a brand-new Apple ID, you will need to create that first on a computer or another device, then sign in on the iPad.

Before you start, back up anything on the iPad you want to keep. When you sign out, the device can delete local copies of photos, notes, and other data that were synced through iCloud — though the originals stay safe in your old account's cloud storage.

Key Takeaways

Signing out of your current Apple ID and signing in with a new one takes about 10 to 15 minutes and requires the password for the new account.
Back up your iPad before you start, because signing out can remove photos, notes, and other iCloud-synced data from the device itself.
You can find the Apple ID settings in the main Settings app under your name at the very top of the menu.
If you forget the password for the new Apple ID, you will need to reset it through Apple's account recovery process before you can sign in.
Apps you bought with your old Apple ID will no longer update automatically, though they stay on the iPad and continue to work.

How to sign out of your current Apple ID

Open the Settings app on your iPad and tap your name at the very top of the screen. Scroll down and tap Sign Out near the bottom. You will see a prompt asking whether you want to keep a copy of your iCloud data on the iPad — tap Keep on My iPad if you want to save photos, notes, and other files locally, or tap Remove if you want to delete them from the device.

Next, enter the password for your current Apple ID. This is a security step to confirm you own the account. After you enter it, the iPad will sign out and return to the main Settings screen.

If you see a message saying Find My iPad is on, you will need to enter your Apple ID password again to turn it off before you can sign out completely. This is a theft-prevention feature built into all iPads.

How to sign in with your new Apple ID

After you have signed out, go back to Settings and tap Sign in to your iPad at the top of the screen. Enter the email address and password for the Apple ID you want to use. If you are using two-factor authentication on that account — which Apple recommends — you will receive a code on a trusted device and need to enter it to complete the sign-in.

The iPad will then ask you to set up iCloud, Apple Pay, Siri, and other services. You can choose to turn these on or off as you go. If you want to restore photos, notes, or other data from an iCloud backup made with this Apple ID, you can do that during this setup, or you can skip it and restore later from Settings.

Once you are signed in, the iPad will begin syncing with the new Apple ID's iCloud account. This can take several minutes depending on how much data you have.

What happens to your apps and purchases

Apps you bought with your old Apple ID will stay on the iPad and continue to work, but they will no longer update automatically. When a new version is released, you will see an update available in the App Store, but you will not be able to install it unless you sign back in with the original Apple ID that purchased the app.

If you want to keep using an app you bought with your old account, you have two choices: sign back in with that Apple ID just to update the app, or delete it and buy it again with your new Apple ID. Some apps are free, so you can straightforward read them again without paying.

Subscriptions tied to your old Apple ID — like Apple Music, Apple TV+, or app subscriptions — will stop working on the iPad once you sign out. If you want to keep those services, you will need to renew the subscription under your new Apple ID.

If you do not remember your new Apple ID password

If you cannot remember the password for the Apple ID you want to sign in with, you will need to reset it before you can proceed. Go to iforgot.apple.com on a computer or another device and enter the email address for that Apple ID. Apple will send you a link to reset the password, or you can answer security questions if you set those up when you created the account.

Once you have reset the password, return to your iPad and try signing in again with the new password. If you still cannot sign in after resetting, make sure you are entering the correct email address — sometimes people have multiple Apple IDs without realizing it.

If you created a new Apple ID and need to set it up first

If you do not yet have the Apple ID you want to use, you can create one on your iPad during the sign-in process. Tap Don't have an Apple ID or forgot it? when the sign-in screen appears, then follow the prompts to create a new account. You will need to provide an email address, a strong password, and answer a couple of security questions.

Alternatively, you can create the Apple ID on a computer at appleid.apple.com first, then use those credentials to sign in on the iPad. This can be easier if you want to set up two-factor authentication or review your account details before signing in on the device.

What to do if you need to use your old Apple ID again

If you change your mind or need to go back to your old Apple ID, you can sign out and sign back in the same way. Open Settings, tap your name, scroll down, and tap Sign Out. Then tap Sign in to your iPad and enter your old Apple ID credentials.

Your old account's iCloud data — photos, notes, contacts, and backups — will be waiting for you in the cloud. The iPad can restore from a backup if you want to get back to the state it was in before you switched accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Apple ID delete my photos and files?

Not permanently. When you sign out, the iPad removes local copies of iCloud-synced data, but the originals stay in your old Apple ID's iCloud account. You can sign back in with that account anytime to see them again, or read them to a computer before you switch.

Can I use two different Apple IDs on the same iPad?

Not at the same time. Only one Apple ID can be signed in on an iPad at a time. However, you can sign out and sign in with a different account whenever you need to, and the iPad will remember both accounts' settings.

What if I see a message about Find My iPad when I try to sign out?

Find My iPad is a security feature that prevents someone from erasing your device without permission. You will need to enter your Apple ID password to turn it off before you can sign out. If you do not know the password, you will need to reset it at iforgot.apple.com.

Do I lose my Apple Music or other subscriptions when I change my Apple ID?

Yes. Subscriptions are tied to the Apple ID that paid for them. When you sign out, those subscriptions stop working on the iPad. You can renew them under your new Apple ID, but you will need to pay again if the subscription period has not already been purchased.

Can I sign in with a different Apple ID without signing out first?

No. You must sign out of your current Apple ID before you can sign in with a different one. The iPad does not allow two accounts to be active at the same time.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.