Can a deleted Apple ID be used again?
Yes, in most cases a deleted Apple ID can be used again. When an Apple ID is deleted, Apple deactivates the account but does not completely remove it from their systems. This means the email address associated with the old Apple ID can be re-used to create a new account.
There are a few key things to know about reusing a deleted Apple ID:
Waiting period before reusing a deleted Apple ID
Apple requires a waiting period before allowing a deleted Apple ID to be reused. This is to prevent abuse where someone repeatedly deletes and recreates the same account. The waiting period is typically around 180 days.
So if you delete your Apple ID today, you would not be able to create a new account with that same email address until 180 days have passed. This gives Apple’s systems time to fully deactivate the old account before allowing the email to be reused.
You can’t recover a deleted Apple ID
It’s important to understand that once an Apple ID is deleted, it cannot be recovered. All of the data associated with the account – such as purchased apps, music, iCloud data, Keychain passwords, and more – is permanently lost. This data cannot be recovered even if you reuse the Apple ID.
So if you have data you want to keep, be sure to back it up externally before deleting an Apple ID. Reusing the email will let you make a new account but not regain access to anything from the old one.
Limitations on certain email domains
Apple places restrictions on some email domains that can prevent them from being reused after deletion. This includes icloud.com, me.com, and mac.com addresses that were created as Apple IDs.
For example, if your Apple ID was [email protected], you would not be able to reuse that exact address to make a new Apple ID later on. This is because icloud.com addresses are reserved for Apple’s iCloud service.
For most other standard email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, etc., reused addresses are fine after the waiting period.
Tips for reusing a deleted Apple ID
If you want to reuse a deleted Apple ID after the 180 day waiting period, here are some tips:
- Double check it has been over 180 days since the account was deleted before trying to create a new one.
- Use the exact same email address as before. The new account must be identical for Apple’s systems to allow it.
- Make sure you no longer need anything from the old account first, since it cannot be recovered.
- Go through the normal Apple ID creation process at appleid.apple.com or on an Apple device.
- You may need to take extra steps to verify your identity to reuse the address.
Why would someone want to reuse a deleted Apple ID?
There are a few common reasons why someone may want to reuse a deleted Apple ID email address:
Already familiar with the address
If you’ve used an email for a long time, it can become familiar and associated with your identity. Reusing the old address can let you keep that familiarity.
Convenience of existing data
Some data may still exist tied to your old address – like contacts who have it, accounts where it’s registered, etc. Reusing the address can minimize updating all of that existing data.
Difficulty getting new email address
In some cases, it can be hard to get a new email address either from lack of options or desire to stick with a certain provider. Reusing an old Apple ID address can avoid that hassle.
Inadvertent deletion
Sometimes Apple IDs are deleted accidentally or without proper understanding. In those cases, people may want to reuse their old address once realizing it can’t be recovered.
What are the risks of reusing a deleted Apple ID?
While in most cases reusing an Apple ID works fine after the waiting period, there are some risks to be aware of:
Associated personal data
An email address can have a lot of personal data history associated with it over time. That data history remains even if you reuse the address for a new Apple ID. So there are privacy risks if Apple retains data tied to your email.
Account confusion
Reusing the exact same Apple ID can create potential confusion between the new and old accounts – like if you reuse passwords or user names between them.
Security flaws from old account
Any security issues with your old Apple ID – like data breaches, weak passwords, reused passwords, etc. – could carry over and impact the security of a new account using the same email address.
Apple ID bans
In some cases, Apple bans Apple IDs from their services for abuse violations. If your old email was banned, reusing it for a new ID may result in that new account also getting banned.
Unknown Apple restrictions
Apple could implement unknown restrictions on reusing old Apple IDs that prevent the new account from working properly. There is a small risk of unexpected issues.
Best practices for reusing a deleted Apple ID
If you do want to reuse an old Apple ID after deletion, here are some best practices to do it safely:
- Delete any old personal data tied to the address that you can.
- Use new secure passwords different from old account.
- Enable two-factor authentication for improved security.
- Watch for any account or system issues that may stem from reusing the ID.
- Use a different user name than before to avoid confusion.
- Double check Apple has no bans or restrictions on the email address.
Following these tips will help minimize any risks and ensure the best experience reusing your Apple ID.
Can you merge a reused Apple ID with an existing ID?
No, Apple does not allow merging two Apple IDs together – even if one is a reused account. Each Apple ID must remain separate.
The only merging Apple supports is using the “Add an Existing Apple ID” option during account creation. This lets you add an additional Apple ID to use alongside your primary one for iTunes and iCloud.
But there is no way to fully merge the data and purchases from two IDs into a single unified account. The data and transaction history remain separate.
So if you reuse an old Apple ID, it will be distinct from any existing Apple IDs you have. The accounts operate independently and do not combine into one account.
Why Apple prohibits full Apple ID merging
There are a few reasons why Apple does not allow fully merging two Apple IDs:
- Difficulty combining purchase and transaction history from two accounts
- Engineering challenges synchronizing data across iCloud and iTunes services
- Legal and regulatory requirements to keep accounts separate
- Customer service complexities if issues arise from merged data
- Increased security risks from combined account data
Keeping accounts and data separate limits these issues. So Apple only allows adding a secondary ID rather than complete merging.
Workarounds to use two Apple IDs together
While full account merging isn’t possible, there are some workarounds to use two Apple IDs together if you reused one:
- Add the old ID as a secondary account on newer Apple devices
- Sign in to both IDs on iTunes/App Store on a Mac/PC
- Enable Family Sharing to share content across accounts
- Use iTunes Home Sharing to share libraries between accounts
Using these options, you can access content and data from both a reused and existing Apple ID even if they aren’t fully merged.
Should you reuse a deleted Apple ID?
Whether reusing an old Apple ID is recommend depends on your specific situation:
Recommended cases for reusing an Apple ID
- You accidentally deleted the account and need it again
- No sensitive personal data was associated with the account
- The account deletion was over 180 days ago
- You have no other simple way to get a suitable email address
- You have minimal security concerns with the email address
Cases where reusing is not recommended
- The account had sensitive personal data you want to discard
- You have easy access to alternative email addresses
- You want to dissociate yourself from the old account
- The account was involved in security incidents
- Apple explicitly banned the account from their services
Carefully considering these factors will determine if reusing your Apple ID is a good idea or not.
Conclusion
In summary, deleted Apple IDs can usually be reused after a 180 day waiting period, with a few limitations. Reusing an old Apple ID lets you easily get access to a familiar address but carries some risks around data history and account security.
Following best practices around passwords, two-factor authentication, and monitoring account issues can mitigate the risks. Ultimately whether reusing your deleted Apple ID makes sense depends on your specific situation and tolerance for any potential downsides.