Apple Dropping AOL Sign-In for iTunes and App Store in March - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Dropping AOL Sign-In for iTunes and App Store in March

by

itunesiconApple has added a support document to its website stating that customers who use an AOL username to sign into the iTunes Store, App Store or iBooks Store will be unable to continue doing so starting March 31 (via 9to5Mac). Apple customers must convert their AOL username to an Apple ID account in order to maintain access to the storefronts following the deadline.

"Starting March 31, 2015, AOL will no longer allow customers to use their AOL Username (also known as an AOL Screen Name) to sign in to the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store. You must convert your AOL Username to an Apple ID in order to maintain access to the stores and to content you purchased previously."

Apple will no longer provide support for AOL usernames that are not converted following March 31. The transition does not affect any iTunes purchases made with the AOL username or any other AOL services that may be associated with the account. To begin the transition process, users must sign into iTunes with an AOL username and follow the on-screen instructions.

Related Forum: Mac Apps

Top Rated Comments

Klae17 Avatar
146 months ago
AOL? More like LOL
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
146 months ago
Honest question, any word on when users with separate iCloud and iTunes accounts will be able to merge them? So tired of being forced to manage separate accounts. It's just awkward, and yeah, maybe somewhat my mistake initially, but the fact is, I wasn't a Mac user and didn't have a "me" account when I first registered and started making purchases on iTunes.

I am one person, I should only need to maintain one account.

Can't wait for the cynical, biting replies.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
myrtlebee Avatar
146 months ago
Ridiculous how people scoff at AOL email addresses. It's just juvenille and petty. I've had the same AOL primary personal email address for 15 years and it has been the most reliable service out of the 4 providers I use. If something works, what is the problem?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
146 months ago
[Door slams shut]
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
146 months ago
Oh great, the next thing they'll tell us is that our CompuServe logins are going to quit working too...

At this rate, I guess i have to get rid of my 1400-baud modem and maybe take a drastic step and upgrade to OS X.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oneMadRssn Avatar
146 months ago
Honest question, any word on when users with separate iCloud and iTunes accounts will be able to merge them? So tired of being forced to manage separate accounts. It's just awkward, and yeah, maybe somewhat my mistake initially, but the fact is, I wasn't a Mac user and didn't have a "me" account when I first registered and started making purchases on iTunes.

I am one person, I should only need to maintain one account.

Can't wait for the cynical, biting replies.

This is a very valid request, but Apple accounts in general are a mess.

My peeve currently is being forced to make a new password every 3 months. There used to be a setting that made passwords to expire after a certain amount of time. They took the setting away, but left it set as it was when the setting did exist. So my password expires every 3 months, and I have no way to change this.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Accessory

Monday May 4, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns. The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49. There...
iOS 26

Apple Says iOS 26.5 Adds Three New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday May 5, 2026 7:36 am PDT by
iOS 26.5 includes three new features for iPhones, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week. As discovered during beta testing, iOS 26.5 enables end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iOS and Android devices. Apple says this security upgrade is limited to supported carriers around the world and will continue to roll out....
Instagram Feature 2

PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8

Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...