Using macOS without an Apple ID?
I am thinking about buying myself a mac. The problem is that I don't want to use my Mac with my AppleID because I am very afraid that it will sync with my other apple devices and I'm not a big fan of this at all. I also don't want to maintain a seperate AppleID. Do I really need an AppleID for macOS and which parts of macOS I cannot use without an AppleID ?
macos apple-id
add a comment |
I am thinking about buying myself a mac. The problem is that I don't want to use my Mac with my AppleID because I am very afraid that it will sync with my other apple devices and I'm not a big fan of this at all. I also don't want to maintain a seperate AppleID. Do I really need an AppleID for macOS and which parts of macOS I cannot use without an AppleID ?
macos apple-id
add a comment |
I am thinking about buying myself a mac. The problem is that I don't want to use my Mac with my AppleID because I am very afraid that it will sync with my other apple devices and I'm not a big fan of this at all. I also don't want to maintain a seperate AppleID. Do I really need an AppleID for macOS and which parts of macOS I cannot use without an AppleID ?
macos apple-id
I am thinking about buying myself a mac. The problem is that I don't want to use my Mac with my AppleID because I am very afraid that it will sync with my other apple devices and I'm not a big fan of this at all. I also don't want to maintain a seperate AppleID. Do I really need an AppleID for macOS and which parts of macOS I cannot use without an AppleID ?
macos apple-id
macos apple-id
asked yesterday
Emil
463
463
add a comment |
add a comment |
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
No, you do not absolutely need one.
It is mostly used for synchronizing with your other devices, which you’ve stated that you do not want anyways.
However it will still be most practical if you create a new Apple-ID to be used exclusively for that computer. If you do not, you’ll not be able to download software from the App Store.
Note that you do not have to enter that Apple-ID in any of the systems that would otherwise sync data. Your files, photos, calendars, mails, contacts, etc. will stay completely private and not synced with anything, even if you use an Apple-ID for purchasing or otherwise downloading software from Apple.
1
AFAIK you still get security updates without an Apple ID. But that's it.
– Michael Hampton
14 hours ago
add a comment |
The problem is that I don't want to use my Mac with my AppleID because I am very afraid that it will sync with my other apple devices and I'm not a big fan of this at all.
You can turn off sync and iCloud which will stop devices syncing.
Do I really need an AppleID for macOS and which parts of macOS I cannot use without an AppleID
An Apple ID is heavily recommended. A lot of services will be disabled. You won’t be able to download any apps from the App Store or iTunes.
These are some of the most widely used services that you access with
your Apple ID:
App Store
Apple Music
Apple Online Store
Apple Retail services and programs (Concierge, Joint Venture, workshops, and youth programs)
Apple Store app
Apple Support Communities
FaceTime
Find My Friends
Find My iPhone
Game Center
Books Store
iCloud
iMessage
iTunes Genius
iTunes Home Sharing
iTunes Match
iTunes Store
iTunes U
Mac App Store
Photo Print Products
2
For what it's worth, I've never used most of those, despite doing an awful lot of things with my Mac. I do have an Apple ID, but only ever use it to update a few Apple productivity apps: I sign in, update them, and sign out again. All my other apps were installed directly (not through the Store), and I've never had any desire to use any of the other features on that list. Maybe I'm just showing my age :-) Anyway, yes, it is very possible to use a Mac without an Apple ID!
– gidds
17 hours ago
1
Oh, and you may need an Apple ID if you get your Mac repaired at an Apple Store. But you could cross that bridge if/when you need to.
– gidds
17 hours ago
add a comment |
No you don't need one at all. I don't get what with those recommendations. Just like Windows 10, you will not able to sync to iCloud (equivalent of OneDrive), download apps from the store, sync contacts, photos and pretty much all apple services that needs an apple id.
You can still perform updates, sideload apps with pkg or app extension.
Thats about it.
New contributor
You can download apps from Windows Store without logging in! +1 For Windows
– FreeSoftwareServers
5 hours ago
add a comment |
It would seem to me that you could setup the new Mac using an account tied to your Apple ID. You can set this account up to not sync with your other machines. You could also create another account which does not have an Apple Id. You could then choose which account to login to.
I assume if you sign out of iCloud before logging out, the the account will not sync. You could then always log in to the account without an Apple Id. You would only log in to the account with the Apple Id when you want to use the Apps Store.
A more drastic approach would be to actually delete the account with the Apple Id after downloading from the Apps Store.
add a comment |
I have a Mac that is not associated with an Apple ID. There are a few caveats such as being unable to obtain software from The App Store and content from services listed in Daniil Manokhin's answer.
Software can generally be found from other sources such as vendors' websites with the exception of new operating system versions. These can be copied from another Mac that is associated with an account or they can sometimes be found on the internet from sources of varying repute.
add a comment |
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5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
No, you do not absolutely need one.
It is mostly used for synchronizing with your other devices, which you’ve stated that you do not want anyways.
However it will still be most practical if you create a new Apple-ID to be used exclusively for that computer. If you do not, you’ll not be able to download software from the App Store.
Note that you do not have to enter that Apple-ID in any of the systems that would otherwise sync data. Your files, photos, calendars, mails, contacts, etc. will stay completely private and not synced with anything, even if you use an Apple-ID for purchasing or otherwise downloading software from Apple.
1
AFAIK you still get security updates without an Apple ID. But that's it.
– Michael Hampton
14 hours ago
add a comment |
No, you do not absolutely need one.
It is mostly used for synchronizing with your other devices, which you’ve stated that you do not want anyways.
However it will still be most practical if you create a new Apple-ID to be used exclusively for that computer. If you do not, you’ll not be able to download software from the App Store.
Note that you do not have to enter that Apple-ID in any of the systems that would otherwise sync data. Your files, photos, calendars, mails, contacts, etc. will stay completely private and not synced with anything, even if you use an Apple-ID for purchasing or otherwise downloading software from Apple.
1
AFAIK you still get security updates without an Apple ID. But that's it.
– Michael Hampton
14 hours ago
add a comment |
No, you do not absolutely need one.
It is mostly used for synchronizing with your other devices, which you’ve stated that you do not want anyways.
However it will still be most practical if you create a new Apple-ID to be used exclusively for that computer. If you do not, you’ll not be able to download software from the App Store.
Note that you do not have to enter that Apple-ID in any of the systems that would otherwise sync data. Your files, photos, calendars, mails, contacts, etc. will stay completely private and not synced with anything, even if you use an Apple-ID for purchasing or otherwise downloading software from Apple.
No, you do not absolutely need one.
It is mostly used for synchronizing with your other devices, which you’ve stated that you do not want anyways.
However it will still be most practical if you create a new Apple-ID to be used exclusively for that computer. If you do not, you’ll not be able to download software from the App Store.
Note that you do not have to enter that Apple-ID in any of the systems that would otherwise sync data. Your files, photos, calendars, mails, contacts, etc. will stay completely private and not synced with anything, even if you use an Apple-ID for purchasing or otherwise downloading software from Apple.
edited 19 hours ago
nohillside♦
51k13109149
51k13109149
answered yesterday
jksoegaard
15.8k1643
15.8k1643
1
AFAIK you still get security updates without an Apple ID. But that's it.
– Michael Hampton
14 hours ago
add a comment |
1
AFAIK you still get security updates without an Apple ID. But that's it.
– Michael Hampton
14 hours ago
1
1
AFAIK you still get security updates without an Apple ID. But that's it.
– Michael Hampton
14 hours ago
AFAIK you still get security updates without an Apple ID. But that's it.
– Michael Hampton
14 hours ago
add a comment |
The problem is that I don't want to use my Mac with my AppleID because I am very afraid that it will sync with my other apple devices and I'm not a big fan of this at all.
You can turn off sync and iCloud which will stop devices syncing.
Do I really need an AppleID for macOS and which parts of macOS I cannot use without an AppleID
An Apple ID is heavily recommended. A lot of services will be disabled. You won’t be able to download any apps from the App Store or iTunes.
These are some of the most widely used services that you access with
your Apple ID:
App Store
Apple Music
Apple Online Store
Apple Retail services and programs (Concierge, Joint Venture, workshops, and youth programs)
Apple Store app
Apple Support Communities
FaceTime
Find My Friends
Find My iPhone
Game Center
Books Store
iCloud
iMessage
iTunes Genius
iTunes Home Sharing
iTunes Match
iTunes Store
iTunes U
Mac App Store
Photo Print Products
2
For what it's worth, I've never used most of those, despite doing an awful lot of things with my Mac. I do have an Apple ID, but only ever use it to update a few Apple productivity apps: I sign in, update them, and sign out again. All my other apps were installed directly (not through the Store), and I've never had any desire to use any of the other features on that list. Maybe I'm just showing my age :-) Anyway, yes, it is very possible to use a Mac without an Apple ID!
– gidds
17 hours ago
1
Oh, and you may need an Apple ID if you get your Mac repaired at an Apple Store. But you could cross that bridge if/when you need to.
– gidds
17 hours ago
add a comment |
The problem is that I don't want to use my Mac with my AppleID because I am very afraid that it will sync with my other apple devices and I'm not a big fan of this at all.
You can turn off sync and iCloud which will stop devices syncing.
Do I really need an AppleID for macOS and which parts of macOS I cannot use without an AppleID
An Apple ID is heavily recommended. A lot of services will be disabled. You won’t be able to download any apps from the App Store or iTunes.
These are some of the most widely used services that you access with
your Apple ID:
App Store
Apple Music
Apple Online Store
Apple Retail services and programs (Concierge, Joint Venture, workshops, and youth programs)
Apple Store app
Apple Support Communities
FaceTime
Find My Friends
Find My iPhone
Game Center
Books Store
iCloud
iMessage
iTunes Genius
iTunes Home Sharing
iTunes Match
iTunes Store
iTunes U
Mac App Store
Photo Print Products
2
For what it's worth, I've never used most of those, despite doing an awful lot of things with my Mac. I do have an Apple ID, but only ever use it to update a few Apple productivity apps: I sign in, update them, and sign out again. All my other apps were installed directly (not through the Store), and I've never had any desire to use any of the other features on that list. Maybe I'm just showing my age :-) Anyway, yes, it is very possible to use a Mac without an Apple ID!
– gidds
17 hours ago
1
Oh, and you may need an Apple ID if you get your Mac repaired at an Apple Store. But you could cross that bridge if/when you need to.
– gidds
17 hours ago
add a comment |
The problem is that I don't want to use my Mac with my AppleID because I am very afraid that it will sync with my other apple devices and I'm not a big fan of this at all.
You can turn off sync and iCloud which will stop devices syncing.
Do I really need an AppleID for macOS and which parts of macOS I cannot use without an AppleID
An Apple ID is heavily recommended. A lot of services will be disabled. You won’t be able to download any apps from the App Store or iTunes.
These are some of the most widely used services that you access with
your Apple ID:
App Store
Apple Music
Apple Online Store
Apple Retail services and programs (Concierge, Joint Venture, workshops, and youth programs)
Apple Store app
Apple Support Communities
FaceTime
Find My Friends
Find My iPhone
Game Center
Books Store
iCloud
iMessage
iTunes Genius
iTunes Home Sharing
iTunes Match
iTunes Store
iTunes U
Mac App Store
Photo Print Products
The problem is that I don't want to use my Mac with my AppleID because I am very afraid that it will sync with my other apple devices and I'm not a big fan of this at all.
You can turn off sync and iCloud which will stop devices syncing.
Do I really need an AppleID for macOS and which parts of macOS I cannot use without an AppleID
An Apple ID is heavily recommended. A lot of services will be disabled. You won’t be able to download any apps from the App Store or iTunes.
These are some of the most widely used services that you access with
your Apple ID:
App Store
Apple Music
Apple Online Store
Apple Retail services and programs (Concierge, Joint Venture, workshops, and youth programs)
Apple Store app
Apple Support Communities
FaceTime
Find My Friends
Find My iPhone
Game Center
Books Store
iCloud
iMessage
iTunes Genius
iTunes Home Sharing
iTunes Match
iTunes Store
iTunes U
Mac App Store
Photo Print Products
answered yesterday
Daniil Manokhin
1,952524
1,952524
2
For what it's worth, I've never used most of those, despite doing an awful lot of things with my Mac. I do have an Apple ID, but only ever use it to update a few Apple productivity apps: I sign in, update them, and sign out again. All my other apps were installed directly (not through the Store), and I've never had any desire to use any of the other features on that list. Maybe I'm just showing my age :-) Anyway, yes, it is very possible to use a Mac without an Apple ID!
– gidds
17 hours ago
1
Oh, and you may need an Apple ID if you get your Mac repaired at an Apple Store. But you could cross that bridge if/when you need to.
– gidds
17 hours ago
add a comment |
2
For what it's worth, I've never used most of those, despite doing an awful lot of things with my Mac. I do have an Apple ID, but only ever use it to update a few Apple productivity apps: I sign in, update them, and sign out again. All my other apps were installed directly (not through the Store), and I've never had any desire to use any of the other features on that list. Maybe I'm just showing my age :-) Anyway, yes, it is very possible to use a Mac without an Apple ID!
– gidds
17 hours ago
1
Oh, and you may need an Apple ID if you get your Mac repaired at an Apple Store. But you could cross that bridge if/when you need to.
– gidds
17 hours ago
2
2
For what it's worth, I've never used most of those, despite doing an awful lot of things with my Mac. I do have an Apple ID, but only ever use it to update a few Apple productivity apps: I sign in, update them, and sign out again. All my other apps were installed directly (not through the Store), and I've never had any desire to use any of the other features on that list. Maybe I'm just showing my age :-) Anyway, yes, it is very possible to use a Mac without an Apple ID!
– gidds
17 hours ago
For what it's worth, I've never used most of those, despite doing an awful lot of things with my Mac. I do have an Apple ID, but only ever use it to update a few Apple productivity apps: I sign in, update them, and sign out again. All my other apps were installed directly (not through the Store), and I've never had any desire to use any of the other features on that list. Maybe I'm just showing my age :-) Anyway, yes, it is very possible to use a Mac without an Apple ID!
– gidds
17 hours ago
1
1
Oh, and you may need an Apple ID if you get your Mac repaired at an Apple Store. But you could cross that bridge if/when you need to.
– gidds
17 hours ago
Oh, and you may need an Apple ID if you get your Mac repaired at an Apple Store. But you could cross that bridge if/when you need to.
– gidds
17 hours ago
add a comment |
No you don't need one at all. I don't get what with those recommendations. Just like Windows 10, you will not able to sync to iCloud (equivalent of OneDrive), download apps from the store, sync contacts, photos and pretty much all apple services that needs an apple id.
You can still perform updates, sideload apps with pkg or app extension.
Thats about it.
New contributor
You can download apps from Windows Store without logging in! +1 For Windows
– FreeSoftwareServers
5 hours ago
add a comment |
No you don't need one at all. I don't get what with those recommendations. Just like Windows 10, you will not able to sync to iCloud (equivalent of OneDrive), download apps from the store, sync contacts, photos and pretty much all apple services that needs an apple id.
You can still perform updates, sideload apps with pkg or app extension.
Thats about it.
New contributor
You can download apps from Windows Store without logging in! +1 For Windows
– FreeSoftwareServers
5 hours ago
add a comment |
No you don't need one at all. I don't get what with those recommendations. Just like Windows 10, you will not able to sync to iCloud (equivalent of OneDrive), download apps from the store, sync contacts, photos and pretty much all apple services that needs an apple id.
You can still perform updates, sideload apps with pkg or app extension.
Thats about it.
New contributor
No you don't need one at all. I don't get what with those recommendations. Just like Windows 10, you will not able to sync to iCloud (equivalent of OneDrive), download apps from the store, sync contacts, photos and pretty much all apple services that needs an apple id.
You can still perform updates, sideload apps with pkg or app extension.
Thats about it.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 7 hours ago
kachan64
111
111
New contributor
New contributor
You can download apps from Windows Store without logging in! +1 For Windows
– FreeSoftwareServers
5 hours ago
add a comment |
You can download apps from Windows Store without logging in! +1 For Windows
– FreeSoftwareServers
5 hours ago
You can download apps from Windows Store without logging in! +1 For Windows
– FreeSoftwareServers
5 hours ago
You can download apps from Windows Store without logging in! +1 For Windows
– FreeSoftwareServers
5 hours ago
add a comment |
It would seem to me that you could setup the new Mac using an account tied to your Apple ID. You can set this account up to not sync with your other machines. You could also create another account which does not have an Apple Id. You could then choose which account to login to.
I assume if you sign out of iCloud before logging out, the the account will not sync. You could then always log in to the account without an Apple Id. You would only log in to the account with the Apple Id when you want to use the Apps Store.
A more drastic approach would be to actually delete the account with the Apple Id after downloading from the Apps Store.
add a comment |
It would seem to me that you could setup the new Mac using an account tied to your Apple ID. You can set this account up to not sync with your other machines. You could also create another account which does not have an Apple Id. You could then choose which account to login to.
I assume if you sign out of iCloud before logging out, the the account will not sync. You could then always log in to the account without an Apple Id. You would only log in to the account with the Apple Id when you want to use the Apps Store.
A more drastic approach would be to actually delete the account with the Apple Id after downloading from the Apps Store.
add a comment |
It would seem to me that you could setup the new Mac using an account tied to your Apple ID. You can set this account up to not sync with your other machines. You could also create another account which does not have an Apple Id. You could then choose which account to login to.
I assume if you sign out of iCloud before logging out, the the account will not sync. You could then always log in to the account without an Apple Id. You would only log in to the account with the Apple Id when you want to use the Apps Store.
A more drastic approach would be to actually delete the account with the Apple Id after downloading from the Apps Store.
It would seem to me that you could setup the new Mac using an account tied to your Apple ID. You can set this account up to not sync with your other machines. You could also create another account which does not have an Apple Id. You could then choose which account to login to.
I assume if you sign out of iCloud before logging out, the the account will not sync. You could then always log in to the account without an Apple Id. You would only log in to the account with the Apple Id when you want to use the Apps Store.
A more drastic approach would be to actually delete the account with the Apple Id after downloading from the Apps Store.
answered 21 hours ago
David Anderson
12.2k41643
12.2k41643
add a comment |
add a comment |
I have a Mac that is not associated with an Apple ID. There are a few caveats such as being unable to obtain software from The App Store and content from services listed in Daniil Manokhin's answer.
Software can generally be found from other sources such as vendors' websites with the exception of new operating system versions. These can be copied from another Mac that is associated with an account or they can sometimes be found on the internet from sources of varying repute.
add a comment |
I have a Mac that is not associated with an Apple ID. There are a few caveats such as being unable to obtain software from The App Store and content from services listed in Daniil Manokhin's answer.
Software can generally be found from other sources such as vendors' websites with the exception of new operating system versions. These can be copied from another Mac that is associated with an account or they can sometimes be found on the internet from sources of varying repute.
add a comment |
I have a Mac that is not associated with an Apple ID. There are a few caveats such as being unable to obtain software from The App Store and content from services listed in Daniil Manokhin's answer.
Software can generally be found from other sources such as vendors' websites with the exception of new operating system versions. These can be copied from another Mac that is associated with an account or they can sometimes be found on the internet from sources of varying repute.
I have a Mac that is not associated with an Apple ID. There are a few caveats such as being unable to obtain software from The App Store and content from services listed in Daniil Manokhin's answer.
Software can generally be found from other sources such as vendors' websites with the exception of new operating system versions. These can be copied from another Mac that is associated with an account or they can sometimes be found on the internet from sources of varying repute.
answered 19 hours ago
Wes Toleman
1313
1313
add a comment |
add a comment |
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