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Moving iPad to a different computer

PhoKingGuy

PhoKingGuy

Diamond Member
Hey guys, I just got my parents a brand new iMac (first apple ever) and was wondering how to move the iPad from my computer to theirs. The sales girl at the apple store said I would have to erase it and restore on the new one, but I have like 40 apps installed on the thing, I would rather not want to have to redo them all. Thanks guys!
 
PhoKingGuy said:
Hey guys, I just got my parents a brand new iMac (first apple ever) and was wondering how to move the iPad from my computer to theirs. The sales girl at the apple store said I would have to erase it and restore on the new one, but I have like 40 apps installed on the thing, I would rather not want to have to redo them all. Thanks guys!
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Kiss your apps goodbye - or log in your parents under your account as part of the 5 computers allowed.

I'm surprised at how many don't raise issue about this once people start making serious investments into apps. I guess everyone's too busy revelling in the Fisher-Price of 'the new mobile revolution'.

Talking to Apple couldn't hurt - they could conceivably elect to refund you for the apps as long as your parents make the same purchases.
 
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Wait....so its impossible to move it from one computer to another without trashing the whole thing? I don't care if its still tied to my apple account, I just want to move it from my desktop to their iMac.
 
open up itunes on the mac and select backup purchases from app store. then you log in to your account, which then will sync whatever apps you have on your ipad to the new computer. that is all
 
When you attach the iPad to the new computer, iTunes should give you an option to transfer purchases. Then iTunes will give you the option to erase the iPad and sync to the new computer. Then you can go deactivate the old computer's iTunes account so you don't waste one of your 5 computers.

I've done something like that with my iPhone and iTunes for Windows. I would guess it works with an iPad on a Mac too.
 
Leros said:
When you attach the iPad to the new computer, iTunes should give you an option to transfer purchases. Then iTunes will give you the option to erase the iPad and sync to the new computer. Then you can go deactivate the old computer's iTunes account so you don't waste one of your 5 computers.
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When I went from my un-synced iPhone to the 4, I had to manually invoke the transfer purchases option by right clicking the phone line in the left hand column of iTunes.
 
vbuggy said:
Kiss your apps goodbye - or log in your parents under your account as part of the 5 computers allowed.

I'm surprised at how many don't raise issue about this once people start making serious investments into apps. I guess everyone's too busy revelling in the Fisher-Price of 'the new mobile revolution'.

Talking to Apple couldn't hurt - they could conceivably elect to refund you for the apps as long as your parents make the same purchases.
Click to expand...

This at its core doesn't feel any different than the fact that it isn't allowed to sell your old laptop and leave your copy of PhotoShop on there.

It seems that the OP got an iPad for his parents, but put all the app purchases under his iTunes account. He has now gotten his parents their own computer and wants to move syncing from his computer to their computer. If he had put the purchases under their account, it would absolutely not be an issue.

However, a second account can be added to the iPad, and the existing apps should be able to stay on there, and new ones can be added under the parents' iTunes account.

I think if the OP were to log in to his iTunes account on the parents' iMac, sync the iPad and then log in as the parents, it shouldn't be a problem. Unless he doesn't mind them using his iTunes account, in which case just follow the first step, log in as him in iTunes on their iMac.
 
Well, the simple answer is that apps are tied to an account. If the OP doesn't mind being logged in as him on his parents iTunes (and bear in mind that the password will also need to be stored as every update will need it) and being treated as one of his 5 allowed devices it shouldn't be a problem.

If he wants to keep things separate however, then what I said

TheStu said:
This at its core doesn't feel any different than the fact that it isn't allowed to sell your old laptop and leave your copy of PhotoShop on there.
Click to expand...

Appleblinkers again? No - it's like saying you can never sell your boxed copy of Photoshop, not even when handed over, keys and all, with the PC. It's a problem now that others are adopting it as a successful model - I know I'll probably never see it on an Apple product (because of course the total lock-in is part of the strategy), but while it can't be a free-for-all like Maemo, I'd definitely like a 'reassign account' or 'I've sold my phone to x' option for other mobile OS's.
 
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Another option..

You can authorize multiple iTunes accounts on one computer, so authorize "your" account on their computer so that they can use those apps, but then set them up with their own account for future purchases... unless you don't mind them using your account.
 
Kmax82 said:
Another option..

You can authorize multiple iTunes accounts on one computer, so authorize "your" account on their computer so that they can use those apps, but then set them up with their own account for future purchases... unless you don't mind them using your account.
Click to expand...

Can you on one login? I've never seen that work.
 
vbuggy said:
Well, the simple answer is that apps are tied to an account. If the OP doesn't mind being logged in as him on his parents iTunes (and bear in mind that the password will also need to be stored as every update will need it) and being treated as one of his 5 allowed devices it shouldn't be a problem.

If he wants to keep things separate however, then what I said



Appleblinkers again? No - it's like saying you can never sell your boxed copy of Photoshop, not even when handed over, keys and all, with the PC. It's a problem now that others are adopting it as a successful model - I know I'll probably never see it on an Apple product (because of course the total lock-in is part of the strategy), but while it can't be a free-for-all like Maemo, I'd definitely like a 'reassign account' or 'I've sold my phone to x' option for other mobile OS's.
Click to expand...

You can have an unlimited number of iDevices on your account, the 5 limit is on systems (aka computers).

Appleblinkers? I don't know what that means. Did you mean Apple blinders?

What if the OP was selling the iPad and forgotten to wipe it? If he was selling it to a friend, then it wouldn't necessarily need to be wiped and he could give them his account info. If it was to a stranger then he would probably want it to be wiped.

In the case of the photoshop analogy it isn't a perfect comparison since the iPad needs a computer to operate completely. You are saying that it is the same as not being able to sell an unused copy of PS, but it isn't. iPad apps are sold under your account, and once they are sold to you, can be used on any of your iDevices, and they install instantly. If you want to just buy them but not install them... then get a gift card I suppose. Also, I think the average price for apps is $2 or something. PS on the other hand is fairly identical except with the following exceptions, it is generally not tied to you at purchase, and it doesn't instantly install after purchase.

I am not saying that the situation is perfect, and there are many places where Apple could improve things, but not everything they do is evil and the worst possible thing ever.
 
TheStu said:
You can have an unlimited number of iDevices on your account, the 5 limit is on systems (aka computers).
Click to expand...

I honestly prefer this method to having the apps tied to a serial #. Yes, you could then sell the apps if you had a serial #.. but who would the market be for used $1-5 apps? Those are bargain bin prices already. I could maybe see reselling some of the more expensive GPS/Medical apps.. but really, I don't see this as an issue at all.
 
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