Why is iTunes password different from Apple ID?

Did you know that your iCloud username and password, your iTunes Store username and password and your AppleID username and password are all the same? Please re-read that last sentence and give it time to sink in. I commonly hear from frustrated computers users who don’t understand this important fact. All too often, when I look at people’s lists of passwords, I see separate passwords listed for iTunes, iCloud and/or AppleID. I think this leads people to be confused as to why a password does not work. They think it’s a valid password, when, in fact, it is not valid. 

An Apple ID is an account you use to access many services from Apple. This includes but is not necessarily limited to the App Store, the iTunes Store, iCloud, iMessage, the Apple Online Web Store and FaceTime. An AppleID is comprised of an email address and password you use to sign in, as well as all the contact, payment, and security details that you will use across Apple services.

Typically, I do not recommend that you share your AppleID with your spouse or children. Historically, many people used to share their AppleID. This made sense many years ago, when an AppleID was only used to purchase music and other items from the iTunes Store. Now, it’s time to move away from this model. These days, I typically recommend that each family member get his or her own Apple ID. Then, as needed, the individual AppleIDs can be tied together using Apple’s iCloud Family Sharing, which will be the focus of a future Tech Tip. One can use this page to create a new AppleID account.

Apple ID is both your iTunes account and the login for your iCloud account. It's is basically your one-stop-shop for everything Apple. It includes your payment and shipping information for purchasing from both the digital music, movie, and App stores and physical products from Apple.com. It holds your personal information, your passwords, and security, and it also stores all of your subscriptions and in-app purchases on the App Store.

So what's all the confusion?

As Apple transitioned from a company selling music through iTunes to be played on an iPod to a company who sells smartphones and tablets, signing into these products with an "iTunes account" simply didn't make sense. So the iTunes account was renamed to Apple ID.

The Apple ID is used with all of Apple's products from the iPhone to the iPad to the Mac to Apple TV. If you have any of these devices, you have been asked to sign in or create an Apple ID to use the device. You don't need more than one Apple ID. In fact, the experience is better using the same Apple ID across all devices. You can download apps to your iPad that you purchased on your iPhone, and some apps even let you download the Apple TV version.

And while you are asked to sign in to iCloud separately, this is the same as Apple ID. In addition to using iCloud with your Mac, iPhone or iPad, you can sign into icloud.com to gain access to web versions of Pages, Number, Keynote, Notes, Find My iPhone/iPad among others.

Why Do We Have To Sign Into Both Apple ID and iCloud? 

While it may seem confusing to sign into both your Apple ID and iCloud on your iPad, it's actually a pretty cool feature. It allows you to share an iCloud account with your spouse so both can access iCloud Photo Library and other cloud features while keeping the Apple ID separate.

What Is Family Sharing?

Family Sharing is a way to link Apple IDs together into one unit. This allows parents to have greater control over what apps their kids are downloading, even allowing the child to request to download an app and having a dialog box pop up on the parent's device to approve the download. Also, many apps allow every Apple ID on the family account to download it once it has been purchased.

Do you need Family Sharing? Many families simply use the same Apple ID across all of their devices. It's easy enough to childproof an iPad to restrict app downloads among other things. And having the same Apple ID as your spouse makes sharing apps, music, movies, etc. much easier.

This can be a little confusing because you are asked to sign into your device to gain access to the App Store and iTunes and you are also asked to sign into iCloud. But while you can sign in to each separately, you use the same Apple ID account for both.

Read more about Family Sharing

How to Change Your Apple ID Password

It is always a good idea to change your passwords on a regular basis, especially if a company you do business with was the victim of a hack. You can manage your account on Apple's Apple ID website. Simply click the Create a New Password link.

In addition to changing your password, you can also change your security question and set up two-factor authentication. In order to make any changes to your account, you will need to answer your original security questions to verify your identity.

How to Sign Out of Apple ID on Mac

FAQ

• What is the minimum age requirement for an Apple ID?

  Children under age 13 can't create an Apple ID on their own. An adult who is the family organizer for Family Sharing can create an Apple ID for the child.

• What is an Apple ID example?

  Depending on when you created your Apple ID, it ends in @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com. Some people who got their Apple IDs before 2008 may have all three. The portion before @ is what you chose when you originally obtained your Apple ID.

• What is an Apple ID verification code?

  Apple recommends you turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID as an additional layer of security. When you set it up, you designate your trusted devices. Then, when you use your Apple ID to make a purchase, you are asked to enter the verification code sent to your trusted device.

  How do I change my iTunes ID to match my Apple ID?

  Change your Apple ID.

  Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in..

  In the Sign-In and Security section, choose Apple ID..

  Enter the email address that you want to use as your Apple ID..

  Choose Change Apple ID..

  Why is my iTunes using a different Apple ID?

  The reason that it asks for a different iTunes account, rather than the one that you're now using as your main account, is because that particular app(s) was purchased using an the email address it is requesting. Every purchase you make is associated with a specific email, no matter if you now use a new account.

  Why is iTunes saying my password is incorrect?

  Try signing out of the App Store/iTunes, restart, and then sign back in. Check the updates to see if the apps requiring an update are in your Purchases History.

  How do I find out what my iTunes password is?

  If you forgot your Apple ID password.

  Go to Settings..

  Tap your name > Password & Security > Change Password..

  Follow the onscreen instructions to reset your password..