I have a problem.
I entered theApplesystem about 17 years ago, in the days before iCloud and the App Store.
Of course isnt an overwhelming issue.
Everything works, after all.
But it is ungraceful.
I mean, there could well be purchases on both?
Im neither clairvoyant nor motivated enough to find out for certain.
The issue rears its head with particular force whenever I get a new Apple product.
Most recently, this was mynew MacBook Pro.
It fills me with the opposite of joy.
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Why dont I just merge the Apple IDs?
Well, come closer, let me tell you a secret:you cant.
Merging Apple IDs is impossible.
And its unlikely to ever change.
What?!
Why the hell is merging Apple IDs impossible?
From all my reading, there are two overarching reasons: security and complexity.
Lets assume for a moment that someone accesses your Apple ID.
Then, we have the technical side.
Merging all this is far from simple.
To illustrate the complexity, lets look at one single thing: app data.
Lets say each of the two Apple IDs youre trying to merge contain the same app.
How would merging this work?
And thats just a simple example.
Imagine throwing iCloud encryption, data laws from different regions, and national software regulations into this mix.
So what are your options for merging Apple IDs?
There area few tips and tricks it’s possible for you to tryto transfer your data across accounts.
On top of this,Family Sharingcan also mitigate some of the negatives of having multiple Apple IDs.
The problem is these options are fiddly and inelegant.
Lets remember that final term.
The company makes sleek products that interoperate slickly.
A significant part of sales strategy is making things as seamless as possible to its users.
You have an iPhone and want a wearable?
Try the Apple Watch!
Throw in a MacBook and so it goes on and on.
Not being able to merge Apple IDs is the opposite of this seamlessness.
One that allows you to access your bank accounts via face scans?
And is trusted enough to have its own payment infrastructure?
I have no doubts Apple could make merging IDs a thing.
Even if it needs a proper verification process akin to opening a bank account.
And all I want is freedom.
So, Apple, hey just let me merge my Apple IDs into one super account.
Ill do a little dance for you and everything.
