How to Locate the Apple ID Associated With an iOS App

· by · MGG Answers

Question:

Adam writes: I’ve used a number of different Apple IDs over the years to purchase iOS apps. Now, I’m trying to update apps but I can’t remember which Apple ID is associated with each app. How can I find out which Apple ID I need to log in and update my apps?

Answer:

Locating the Apple ID associated with an iOS application is thankfully an easy process. First, launch iTunes on the computer that your apps are stored on. Navigate to the Apps section of iTunes and right-click on the app that needs to be updated. Choose “Get Info” to bring up the app’s information.

Now, under the Summary tab, look where it says “Account Name.” The email address listed here will be the Apple ID that was used to purchase the app and is the Apple ID you’ll need to log in with in order to update the app.

Locating an Apple ID

This question was originally answered on MGG 370: Finder Tips, PDF Tricks, Cool Stuff Found & More!

About MGG Answers:

Each week Dave Hamilton and John F. Braun provide some great troubleshooting advice to listeners of the Mac Geek Gab podcast. Here with MGG Answers we share some of those tips with the rest of the world!

Jim Tanous

Jim Tanous

Jim writes TekRevue, a general interest technology site covering the most important Mac, Windows, Mobile, and Gaming stories each day, along with tons of tips and tutorials. He also stops by The Mac Observer each week to drop off a tip or two from the Mac Geek Gab podcast.

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4 Comments

mrmwebmax

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Is there any way to change the Apple ID associated with an iOS app? My original Apple ID was just “mrmgraphics,” but with iCloud and Find My iPhone, I changed my Apple ID to my full mrmgraphics email address. I’d like to only have one Apple ID and keep it consistent. Am I stuck with the old AID on apps such as Angry Birds?

Lee Dronick

Thanks Jim. I wrestled with that matter today.

Hagen

Is there any way to change the Apple ID associated with an iOS app? My original Apple ID was just ?mrmgraphics,? but with iCloud and Find My iPhone, I changed my Apple ID to my full mrmgraphics email address. I?d like to only have one Apple ID and keep it consistent. Am I stuck with the old AID on apps such as Angry Birds?

I believe that as long as it’s the same AppleID account, you can download a new copy of the app with the new ID on it. You can find them from the Quick Links section (top right square of any iTunes Store page) under “purchased”.  You’ll have to erase the old copy first, of course.

JD

These steps are fine if the app is on the computer.  What if the app is only on the iPad and you can’t transfer it to the computer because you don’t know which Apple ID purchased it?

I’m in a school setting and trying to figure out what Apple ID a student used to download a game onto a school-owned iPad.

Any help is much appreciated!

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