Problem with Apple ID

[Alwyn]

Since writing this I have read the post which is now closed to replies about the possibility that the password for iTunes and Apple ID might be different. That doesn't explain why my wife couldn't log into the iTunes Store after changing her Apple ID password.

I have an Apple suggested strong password, which I know off by heart and is required whenever I switch from the internal HDD to my external SSD. If I need to go to Find my device in iCloud that password doesn't work but on my iMac it comes up automatically but hidden so I have no idea what it is.

 

[ferrarr]

What is going on. Shouldn't there just be one Apple ID for iTunes, iCloud and in the Profile in Settings?

Yes, but it depends how you set up your iTunes ID/Apple ID/iCloud ID?

For me I have 2 distinct Apple/iCloud Accounts (ID). My first ID I setup in iTunes, with my Hotmail email address. My newer ID I got when I purchased an iPhone 4S and is an iCloud email address. Both ID's work with all Apple apps/services that require login.

Here is an article which could help you take better control of your Apple Account (ID's).

 

[MacBiter]

If I need to go to Find my device in iCloud that password doesn't work but on my iMac it comes up automatically but hidden so I have no idea what it is.

I don't know if it's changed between OS X and OS 13, but you should be able to see your passwords in Keychain Access (Applications / Utilities).

 

[pm-r]

If I need to go to Find my device in iCloud that password doesn't work but on my iMac it comes up automatically but hidden so I have no idea what it is.

That sounds like a call to Apple text support is in order to get your Apple ID and password sorted out once and for all.

They sound a bit screwed up and Confused but bottom line, they aren't working the way you want or should be.




- Patrick
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[IWT]

Alwyn,

A little "history" may help in understanding the present chaos.

Long before Apple ID existed as we know it now, there was "your name"@iMac.com and then some others I don't recall.

This meant that there was "system" set up for iTunes and for the App Store which was "name"@Mac.com or similar.

Then there was "name"@me.com which appeared and then finally Apple ID came along, closely followed and linked to iCloud for which a separate "system" was required: "name"@iCloud.com

From those days till now, it has not been possible to "combine" the @Mac.com or the @me.com with your Apple ID.

So those of us who lived through this have one [email protected]/@me.com for the App Store and iTunes and a different [email protected] for Apple ID and other recent developments.

What I did at the time, was to make my Password the same for all of these because it was bad enough having to sign in to iTunes or the App Store with its own Password and then remember another Password for the Apple ID stuff.

This may, or may not, explain or assist you in understanding your current difficulties.

Ian

 

[Jimmysb]

As a PC user, many years ago I registered for iTunes, and did not pick an "Apple designated" ID, but used my own email address, and when I got my first iPhone, I continued with this ID, and have done until quite recently, so have only had a single ID although I have been registered for many many years. Recently I took up an **@iCloud email address, and after waiting the 28 days required, made this my primary Apple ID. Why, well using the same ID for Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and Apple, caused confusion in my system (and to me), so I use each companies own email, as their login ID.

 

[MacBiter]

... many years ago I registered for iTunes, and did not pick an "Apple designated" ID, but used my own email address, and when I got my first iPhone, I continued with this ID, and have done .... so have only had a single ID although I have been registered for many many years.

ditto

 

[MacInWin]

...

Then there was "name"@me.com which appeared and then finally Apple ID came along, closely followed and linked to iCloud for which a separate "system" was required: "name"@iCloud.com

From those days till now, it has not been possible to "combine" the @Mac.com or the @me.com with your Apple ID.

So those of us who lived through this have one [email protected]/@me.com for the App Store and iTunes and a different [email protected] for Apple ID and other recent developments.

...

Ian

Ian, I find that curious. In my case, when I got my first Mac (I admit I was late to the game, as that was only about 20 years ago), I created an account with Apple. They asked for my email, which I gave, and then for me to enter a password, which I did. I think the OSX version at the time was Leopard, and very soon thereafter, Snow Leopard. At one time I then was advised by Apple that the account was going to be moved to the me.com domain, and that I should use "name"@me.com for my account. I did so, creating that account. I had not done much with the first account, so it wasn't any real bother. I think I had to repurchase one minor app under the new account. I do remember the mac.com phase, but as I recall, no action was required as it was merged from me.com seamlessly. In any event, Apple later changed "me.com" and "mac.com" to "icloud.com" but said that mail to any would still arrive at the same account, so there was no need to recreate the me.com/mac.com account to make a third icloud.com account. And that is how it is to this day. I can log into the app store with either me.com or icloud.com, and the login to Apple ID is the same as the others. In effect I have ONE account. I haven't used mac.com in a very long time, so I don't know if it works or not, but I suspect it would.

I think what may have happened is that in the various transitions the messaging from Apple wasn't clear about what was happening and some folks did what you did, creating multiple accounts and leading to the situation you are in. But for me, I basically did nothing and it all "floated" through the various changes with no effort on my part.

 

[IWT]

Hi Jake, I have no problems now. I was trying to give the OP a sort of "history" of the circumstances in the past as best I could recall them. I certainly did have a separate email and PW for iTunes and the App Store for some time; then got the iCloud.com which was, then, a separate thing with its own PW.

But, as you said, things changed eventually; but even now, if I want to log into "Music", I can only do this via the original email address associated with it rather than the email address I use for iCloud.

Ian

 

[ferrarr]

You can use "Family Sharing" to share all Apple media purchases

 

[Alwyn]

That sounds like a call to Apple text support is in order to get your Apple ID and password sorted out once and for all.

They sound a bit screwed up and Confused but bottom line, they aren't working the way you want or should be.




- Patrick
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Thanks Patrick,

Graham in Apple Supportpatiently checked everything out in a 48 minute call. We still couldn't get into iCloud after my wife's password had supposedly been changed for all things Apple so he said try rebooting and call back if it still doesn't work. It did. Really helpful and patient.

 

[pm-r]

so he said try rebooting and call back if it still doesn't work. It did. Really helpful and patient.

That's great that your problems seem to be solved and once again the good old restart seems to fix things when things are looking hopeless.

Thanks for posting back with your results and success. And a good thing you had the fair bit of patience.



- Patrick
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