Two Apple IDs on new iMac

[MikeeW]

I have been using MacBooks for a while with one Apple ID. No particular issues. However, I just got a new iMac and set it up with a new Apple ID. Several reasons for this, but the end result is I now have two Apple IDs.

I'd like to load some of the purchased apps onto the new iMac. I've read a variety of sources, but the focus is always on iTunes and such. I just want to get some of my purchased OS X apps onto the new iMac.

From what I can gather, I assume I just open the App Store on the new iMac, log in with the older Apple ID, and download the apps I have purchased.

What I am confused about are the mentions in other online sources that I will have a 90 day (or is it one year) lock in to the Apple ID I use. I think I am missing something here. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[keysofanxiety]

From what I can gather, I assume I just open the App Store on the new iMac, log in with the older Apple ID, and download the apps I have purchased.

Yep.

What I am confused about are the mentions in other online sources that I will have a 90 day (or is it one year) lock in to the Apple ID I use. I think I am missing something here. Can anyone enlighten me?

Nope, but they do ask for verification (normally payment information) if there's a period of inactivity with an Apple ID.

 

[MikeeW]

Thanks. I also assume the new iMac needs to be one of the (up to ) five computers authorized for use.

 

[kiwipeso1]

Thanks. I also assume the new iMac needs to be one of the (up to ) five computers authorized for use.

That is only for iTunes.

 

[MikeeW]

Aha! This may explain why I am so unclear about the issue of using two Apple IDs. I do have several iOS devices which are synced to my older MacBook. I don't intend to mess with that for the moment.

For now, I just want to download some of the apps I have on my older MacBook onto the new iMac. These are the apps I've purchased with my original Apple ID.

Somehow I got the impression there were limits on how many Mac devices I could download these apps onto. I assumed it was the "authorized" macs. Altogether, I own six macs, MBA, MBP and one iMac. Large family!!

Five of these Macs I have used with the older Apple ID. It is just the newer iMac which has a new Apple ID.

 

[MikeeW]

I discovered one critical detail in this process. I created a second user on the new iMac. This user I set up with the old Apple ID. Worked like a charm. I then went to the App Store and was able to begin downloads of the apps I had previously purchased. Slow,Internet where I live, so I can't say it worked, yet. However, the process has begun with no need to "deauthorize" any of the macs. Crossing fingers

 

[kiwipeso1]

Aha! This may explain why I am so unclear about the issue of using two Apple IDs. I do have several iOS devices which are synced to my older MacBook. I don't intend to mess with that for the moment.

For now, I just want to download some of the apps I have on my older MacBook onto the new iMac. These are the apps I've purchased with my original Apple ID.

Somehow I got the impression there were limits on how many Mac devices I could download these apps onto. I assumed it was the "authorized" macs. Altogether, I own six macs, MBA, MBP and one iMac. Large family!!

Five of these Macs I have used with the older Apple ID. It is just the newer iMac which has a new Apple ID.

No, there is no limit to AppleID mac app store apps, you are thinking of iTunes songs that require a limit of 5 authorised macs.
To get around this on iTunes, simply download your purchased songs to the older mac with the largest storage, then convert the playlist "purchased" songs to MP3 from AAC, and share over the network (whichever way you like, but ethernet is best for large collections.)