How to switch Apple IDs between iPhones without transferring data?

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orion202 Author

Level 1

4 points

How to switch Apple IDs between iPhones without transferring data?

So i already have an iphone 16 with lets say sim2 as my Sim Card and apple id registered under sim1

my use of sim1 was on another android so it didnt matter

but now im switching the android to an iphone 17

so what i wanna do is transfer my sim1 apple id to my new clean iphone 17 without carrying over any data

and i wanna make a new apple id using sim2 for my old iphone 16 but keep the data that was already there

data includes photos, messages, files etc

there are no purchases so that’s not an issue

what do i do?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Wanna switch Apple ids between phones but do not want to transfer data to new phone and keeping existing data in old phone

Posted on Nov 24, 2025 10:55 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

426,005 points

Nov 24, 2025 11:29 AM in response to orion202

1) SIMs on iPhone do not store data; only cellular service information.

2) USA iPhones use eSIMS, not cards. If you are going to be using an eSIM, your carrier needs to set that up.

The SIMs are not a data transfer issue.

Now I am a bit confused as to what is being transferred where and which ones have which Apple accounts.

As for the 16 iPhone, when you sign out of the current account on that phone it will ask you if you wish to keep data. Say yes (default will probably be "no"). Note that you may still have issues such as account-specific data might now reappear, and apps will ask for your old account if you try to update them. You may wish to set up Family Sharing with yourself. To learn how to set up Family Sharing, read this support article --> How to set up Family Sharing on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac - Apple Support

So your account on the 16 is now going to be on the 17? Do you want your data from the old account on it, or not? This is where you are talking about multiple devices and multiple accounts and transferring some and not others...

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