Other Apple Store app and upgrading family member devices?

[jnick]

Is there anyway, using the Apple Store app from my iPhone, to upgrade my Wife’s device? I want to use my Apple Card when doing her upgrade but from the app I see no way to “switch device”. It keeps defaulting to my own. Am I forced to do the pre-approval and upgrade for her through their website versus the app?

Thanks!

 

[bbj77]

I have same question. My phone is on iUP now. I’m not updating at the moment. My wife wants to sign up fresh and get new phone with the iUP. Do I do it on her device and have it run my credit or does she just do it? What’s the best way to manage this ?

 

[dyfine]

In the Apple App, start the buying process. Select your phone and carrier. When it asks if you want to pay monthly are all at once, choose monthly. Once you do this, it will show you options including your carrier's monthly option, the Apple Card 24 month option, and the IUP option. When you choose that, it will ask if you want to upgrade the phone your using (assuming it's on the program) or start a new program - choose start a new program and you're on your way to get pre-approved. Note: the IUP option won't show up if you choose SIM free/no carrier.

 

[dyfine]

Don't know if it makes a difference who's phone you do it from. In the Apple App, start the buying process. Select your phone and carrier. When it asks if you want to pay monthly are all at once, choose monthly. Once you do this, it will show you options including your carrier's monthly option, the Apple Card 24 month option, and the IUP option. When you choose that, it will ask if you want to upgrade the phone your using (assuming it's on the program) or start a new program - choose start a new program and you're on your way to get pre-approved. Note: the IUP option won't show up if you choose SIM free/no carrier.

 

[jnick]

Thank you, but I'm not trying to do the IUP. I'm looking to buy the device on the Apple Card and when choosing that option, it doesn't say anything about which phone to upgrade.

Am I overthinking this? Do I simply purchase a SIM free/no carrier model, when it comes swap the SIM from my wife's phone and then activate the device with my carrier when it comes? That's ultimately the same thing, isn't it?

 

[dyfine]

Thank you, but I'm not trying to do the IUP. I'm looking to buy the device on the Apple Card and when choosing that option, it doesn't say anything about which phone to upgrade.

Am I overthinking this? Do I simply purchase a SIM free/no carrier model, when it comes swap the SIM from my wife's phone and then activate the device with my carrier when it comes? That's ultimately the same thing, isn't it?

Ah -yes. You can just do that. If you want to use the same carrier/number as your wife’s current phone, you can choose a carrier and give the number (it will ask if you want to provide) and they’ll prepare the phone for that number. The phone will still be unlocked if you’re doing the Apple Card plan. My understanding is they pre-match the phone’s IMEI to the phone number to make the change seamless. Sometimes just popping a SIM into a unlocked phone is trickier and needs you to contact the phone carrier to make a change in their system (e.g. get the IMEI into their system). I’ve had to do that when I’ve got SIMs when traveling overseas. So if you know the carrier, I’d choose the carrier upfront. They don’t care what you’re upgrading from unless you say you have a trade in.