April 22, 2025, 12:35 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
For users of iPhones, iPads, or Macs, the Apple ID was one of the most important logins. Without the Apple account, the manufacturer’s devices and services cannot be used. But now Apple has dropped the name.
The Apple ID has been around for more than two decades. It allowed users to authenticate themselves and link their devices. Without it, access to Apple’s own cloud or the App Store was not possible. Over time, the name Apple ID almost became a brand. So, the fact that Apple has now dropped the name is noteworthy.
Apple ID Becomes Apple Account
About a year ago, insider sources already indicated that Apple was considering a name change. The company has now fully implemented this step. Currently, the following notice appears on its support pages:
“The Apple ID becomes the Apple Account. You can still sign in with the same email address or phone number and the same password.”
While the change of a name might sound like a minor adjustment, it is not. System applications need to be adjusted accordingly, as does Apple’s website. The transition is almost complete. Only a few Apple websites in languages other than English still contain the old name. For users, aside from a new designation, little is likely to change. They just need to get used to the new name.
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The term Apple Account is not entirely new, however. On Apple’s website, the Apple ID was already closely associated with the account designation in the past. This is not surprising, as it is the user account.
Reasons for the Rebranding Unknown
The reasons for this rebranding remain unclear. However, Mark Gurman reported last year that there was already an “Apple Account” team working on the implementation. The transition was therefore planned well in advance.
Apple often tries out several marketing names or at least keeps them in reserve. For example, before the launch of Vision Pro, it was long unclear what the associated system would be called–realityOS, xrOS, and visionOS were discussed–until the company decided on the latter.