It might be time to say goodbye to your Apple ID and say hello to your Apple Account instead
We could soon see a major rebranding of Apple ID, Apple’s name for the account users must use to sign in, link, and manage their Apple devices and services. According to some insiders, Apple is experimenting with changing “Apple ID” to “Apple Account,” and that we could see this come into effect sometime this year.
Apple ID is an important part of Apple and allows users to sign in to their devices and sync data, settings and contacts, and grant access to Apple services such as the App Store and iCloud. You can create an Apple ID when you set up a new iPhone or Mac, through iTunes if you’re using a Windows device (make sure you have the latest version), or on the official Apple ID website.
MacRumors speculates that the rebranding of Apple ID to “Apple Account” will happen sometime in 2024, possibly coinciding with the release of macOS 15 (codenamed Glow) and iOS 18 (codenamed Crystal). This is expected to take effect across all Apple applications, on Apple’s website, and presumably wherever Apple itself refers to Apple ID. However, so far Apple has not officially confirmed that this rebranding will take place.
There are already a number of places where Apple user accounts are called ‘Apple Account’, such as ‘Apple Account Balance’ on the official support page, which explains how users can check and use the money balance associated with their Apple ID (because it currently known).
A rebranding shrouded in mystery
It’s hard to say exactly why Apple is considering the rebrand (if it is, keep in mind that these are still rumors for now), but it is known that Apple’s rebrands are often accompanied by the launch of new products and services.
Of course, the Apple Vision Pro headset, a version of virtual reality headsets, was recently launched, and there are many rumors going around that new MacBooks and iPads could be coming soon. So if your Apple ID starts showing up less and less, it’s (probably) a planned change – that is, if it’s happening at all.
Most, if not all, Apple device users have become familiar with the Apple ID name – so changing it can be risky and confuse people if the rebranding isn’t handled properly. Some of Apple’s rivals know this all too well.