Move iCloud Photos and Files to Another Apple Account

By Game Osborne · September 29, 2026 · Mac · iCloud, Apple Account, iCloud Photos

Use your Mac as a safe bridge to copy photos, iCloud Drive files, contacts, and other important information into a different Apple Account.

Before you change accounts

An Apple Account is the sign-in formerly called an Apple ID. Changing it does not automatically pour everything from the old iCloud account into the new one. The safest method is to download your information to the Mac, keep a separate backup, and then upload it while signed in to the new account.

These instructions assume a recent version of macOS using System Settings. Older Macs may call it System Preferences, and some labels may differ slightly. Do not sign out of the old account yet.

1. Write down the email address used by your old Apple Account.
2. Confirm that you know the passwords for both Apple Accounts.
3. Confirm that you can receive the two-factor authentication codes for both accounts.
4. Connect an external drive with enough free space for your photos and files.
5. Create a folder on the external drive named iCloud Transfer Backup.

Download and copy your iCloud Photos

First, make sure the Mac has full-size originals. A smaller, space-saving version may currently be on the Mac while the original remains in iCloud. Downloading can take hours or even days for a large library, so keep the Mac connected to power and the internet.

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Choose Photos > Settings from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
3. Click iCloud in the Photos settings window.
4. Select Download Originals to this Mac.
5. Wait until Photos shows that syncing is complete at the bottom of the Library view.
6. Select the photos and videos you want to transfer.
7. Choose File > Export > Export Unmodified Original from the menu bar.
8. Export the items into the iCloud Transfer Backup folder on your external drive.

Copy your iCloud Drive files

iCloud Drive appears in Finder, the Mac’s file-browsing app. Copying files to an external drive creates an independent backup that will remain available after you sign out. A cloud symbol beside a file can mean it has not been fully downloaded yet.

1. Open Finder from the Dock.
2. Click iCloud Drive in the Finder sidebar.
3. Choose View > as List if you want an easier view of many files.
4. Click each cloud download icon that appears beside an important file or folder.
5. Wait until the cloud download icons disappear.
6. Copy the contents of iCloud Drive into the iCloud Transfer Backup folder on your external drive.
7. Open several copied files from the external drive to confirm that they work.

Save contacts and other important information

Contacts can be moved with a vCard, a standard contact file. Some other iCloud categories do not merge neatly. Save critical information before leaving the old account, especially notes, calendars, Safari bookmarks, and messages you cannot replace.

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Choose Edit > Select All from the menu bar.
3. Choose File > Export > Export vCard.
4. Save the vCard in the iCloud Transfer Backup folder.
5. Export any calendars you need by selecting each calendar in Calendar and using File > Export > Export.
6. Save irreplaceable notes individually as PDFs by using File > Export as PDF where that option is available.
7. Export Safari bookmarks by opening Safari and choosing File > Export > Bookmarks.

Switch to the new Apple Account

Only continue after checking the external-drive backup. Signing out looks serious, but your backup is your safety net. When macOS offers to keep copies of selected iCloud information on the Mac, accept that option where practical.

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. Click your name at the top of the sidebar.
3. Scroll down and click Sign Out.
4. Choose to keep a copy of offered data on the Mac.
5. Complete the sign-out prompts without deleting your external-drive backup.
6. Sign in to the new Apple Account in System Settings.
7. Open the new account’s iCloud settings.
8. Turn on Sync this Mac for Photos and Drive.

Import everything into the new account

The imported information may take time to upload. Leave the Mac awake, plugged in, and connected to reliable internet. Keep the backup drive unchanged until you have checked the new account on another device or on iCloud.com.

1. Open Photos and import the exported photo folder with File > Import.
2. Copy the backed-up iCloud Drive files into iCloud Drive in Finder.
3. Open Contacts and import the saved vCard with File > Import.
4. Import saved calendar files into Calendar with File > Import.
5. Import the Safari bookmark file with File > Import From > Bookmarks HTML File.
6. Wait for each enabled iCloud category to finish syncing.
7. Check the transferred photos and files while signed in at iCloud.com or on another Apple device.

What about apps, music, and movie purchases?

Purchases are separate from personal iCloud data. Apple offers purchase migration for some eligible account combinations, but it has requirements. Both accounts need two-factor authentication and the same purchase country or region. The secondary account may also need to leave Family Sharing, clear its balance, and finish rentals or pre-orders. The option may not appear for every account or region.

If Migrate Purchases appears under Media & Purchases account settings, review every warning before continuing. Check the payment method afterward because the secondary account’s card may become the primary payment method. Do not use purchase migration as a substitute for backing up photos or files.

1. Open the Media & Purchases account settings on a device signed in to your main Apple Account.
2. Select View Account.
3. Choose Migrate Purchases if that option is available.
4. Review the listed source and destination accounts before approving the migration.

Bottom line

Download first, back up second, and switch accounts only after checking the backup. Once the new account contains your photos, files, and contacts—and you have verified them elsewhere—you have safely completed the move.