Changing the Apple ID...

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Due to the upcoming changes to my ISP, I have a need to change my Apple ID from one .com email address to another. This seemed simple enough, after reading the Apple recommended steps:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202667#otheraddress

Quote:

Use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 10.3 or later

1.Go to Settings > [your name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email.
2.Next to Reachable At, tap Edit, then delete your current Apple ID.
3.Tap Continue. Enter the Apple ID that you want to use.
4.Tap Next.

Except that between step 2 and 3, the iOS asks for entering the iPhone passcode:

passcode.jpg

After entering the passcode, iOS is going in to a loop, constantly asking for the passcode and I cannot get it to pass. Locked the iPhone and unlocked it with the very same passcode without an issue.

I did sign out my Apple ID on my Macbook, even shut it down, but that did not make a difference. Also tried by signing in to my Apple ID via a browser, but that did not change the email address either. The account does have TFA enabled, maybe that should be disabled first?

Any advice would be appreciated, TIA...

PS: iOS version is 11.4...
 
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Update...

After disabling 2FA, iOS asked for the security questions and answers, all three of them instead of the passcode for the iPhone, and then proceeded to allow typing in the new email address. Interestingly, at least for me, I had to select the questions as well; they have not been pre-populated. For some reason, iOS did not allow using one of the trusted email addresses I have with Apple and had to specify a new one. It's good to have seven or eight email addresses... ;) Apple sent a verification email to the new address with the six digit code to complete changing the email address.

Once the change had been completed, the 2FA promptly had been enabled.
 

IWT


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How unbelievably complicated; but more importantly, how very secure. Despite the hassle, I'm relieved that security is so tight.

Thanks for that post and its solution. Very useful for future members coming across this problem.

Ian
 
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I am fine with the security surrounding this process, but...

It should not be trial and error type of process. It's not enough that one has to guess, there's also the infamous "If it suppose to do that, then why the .... it doesn't work" type of reaction. I mean, is that hard to state on the high level:

  • Disable Two Factor Authentication, if you use it
  • Log out from your iCloud account and Apple ID on all of your devices
  • Delete your email address
  • Remember your secret questions and answer all of them
  • Type in your new email address, cannot use any of the trusted email addresses
  • Check your email verification to the new email address and type the number in to your device

After these steps, the iPhone logged in to the Apple ID and iCloud.

The chances are that there are better documentation on the subject, than my initial link, but I could not find it.

Once the iPhone had been set up with the new email address, it was mostly all set. Mostly, since I could not sign in to the Macbook with either of the accounts. The login process to iCloud required to:

  • Sign in with the old email address and password to iCloud
  • Get the Two Factor Authentication Code from the iPhone (I did enabled it)
  • Answer two of the security questions
  • Enter the password used for logging in to the account (Why Apple has that is beyond me...)

And voila, signed in to iCloud to the new email address, just had to repeat the same for my other account as well. It took me awhile to realize that initially, I have to sign in with the old not the new email address.

Then, there's the issue that logging in with the new email address actually enabled the previously disabled "Guest" account. I don't really know what else changed on both Apple devices, did not have time for checking my settings.

I am all for security, but this process is cumbersome and it can easily trip up people trying to change their email addresses...
 
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The chances are that there are better documentation on the subject, than my initial link, but I could not find it.
… … …
I am all for security, but this process is cumbersome and it can easily trip up people trying to change their email addresses...



I dare say that a new to Apple user would have stumbled big time with the same situation and I have noticed a lot to Apple's "directions" on the 'net are not accurate or complete and too often even erroneous. Not good and certainly not a good user experience.

Anyway, I'm glad your experience got you through the over-complicated and confusing process.




- Patrick
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