HT201342 How do i Change the apple ID email address used to set up my iPad and iCloud?

Question

I set up my ipad using an @me email address.  but most of my data is stored on a separate iCloud account that is linked to a different email address.  When I try to change the default address on the iPad icloud, I can't add a new apple ID or email address, and am only shown @me or @icloud in a drop down box.  How can I change the setting on my iPad to another apple ID and email address?   

Answer 1

If you want to change your iCloud ID to another existing ID you'll have to delete the account, create a new account with the other ID, and migrate your data to the new account.
Before deleting the account, if you have any photos in photo stream that are not in your camera roll or backed up somewhere else save these to your camera roll or you will lose them.  To do this, open the photo stream album in the thumbnail view, tap Edit, tap all the photos you want to save, tap Share, then tap Save to Camera Roll.
Once this is done, go to Settings>iCloud, scroll to the bottom and tap Delete Account. When prompted about what to do with the iCloud data, be sure to select Keep On iPad.  Next, set up a new iCloud account using a different Apple ID (if you don't have one, tap Get a Free Apple ID at the bottom).  Then turn iCloud data syncing for contacts, etc. back to On, and when prompted about merging with iCloud, choose Merge.  This will upload the data to the new account.