How do I update the primary email address used by my Apple ID when using Find My iDevice?

Question

I have an Apple ID that I use for both the App/iTunes Stores and for iCloud. Because I originally created it years ago, it's an email address I no longer use, let's call it [email protected]. I would like to replace it with [email protected].

This is easy enough to do from the Manage My Apple ID web interface, however when I change the address and attempt to update my iPhone and iPad I hit a snag: in order to Sign Out of my Apple ID in iCloud Settings, I must first provide my Find My iDevice credentials, since that prevents a thief from simply punting me out of my device were they to steal it.

The problem is, it asks for the Apple ID password for [email protected], and when I enter that, it fails (with the incredibly helpful message "there was a server error"). I have to assume this failure is because that combination of email address and password is no longer part of my Apple ID.

Can someone provide me with a sane, step-by-step way to change my primary Apple ID email address from one email that I control to another, given the use of iCloud and Find My iDevice on multiple devices?

Answer 1

As Tyson says, this might help: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts5223

If you can make your AppleID change back to [email protected] you should then be able to sign out of it on the iDevices. After signing out the iDevices - change the AppleID again to [email protected] and you're good to go.

The place to change your AppleID (which is used by iCloud and iTunes and the Mac App Store) information is at https://appleid.apple.com/

Answer 2

You can try adding the [email protected] email as a secondary email address for your Apple ID and try signing out then. If you feel the need to you can then remove it once again. You can do this at appleid.apple.com

Answer 3

All you have to do is sign out your old primary Apple I'd and sign in with your new one