"Unhiding" your Apple ID typically refers to one of two scenarios: either making your Apple ID account settings accessible if they are restricted, or unrevealing previously hidden purchases associated with your Apple ID. This guide will cover both, with a focus on enabling access to your Apple ID settings.
If your Apple ID account settings appear greyed out or unselectable in the Settings app, it's often due to Screen Time restrictions. These settings, commonly used for parental controls or personal digital well-being, can prevent changes to accounts.
Step-by-Step Guide: Enabling Apple ID Account Changes
To unhide or enable your Apple ID account settings, you'll need to adjust your Screen Time Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Open Settings: Tap the Settings app icon on your iPhone or iPad home screen.
- Navigate to Screen Time: Scroll down and tap Screen Time.
- Access Content & Privacy Restrictions: Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Check Restrictions Status:
- If Content & Privacy Restrictions is turned off, your Apple ID account should be accessible. If it's still not, there might be another issue (e.g., a device managed by an organization).
- If Content & Privacy Restrictions is turned on, proceed to the next step.
- Allow Account Changes: Scroll down to the Allow Changes section.
- Tap Account Changes: Select Account Changes.
- Set to Allow: Tap Allow to permit modifications to your account settings.
Important Note: If you cannot tap "Content & Privacy Restrictions" or "Account Changes," it might be locked by a Screen Time passcode. You'll need to enter this passcode to make changes.
Understanding Screen Time Restrictions and Your Apple ID
Screen Time's "Account Changes" setting is designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical account information, including:
- Changing your Apple ID password.
- Updating contact information.
- Adding or removing payment methods.
- Signing out of your Apple ID.
By setting "Account Changes" to "Allow," you grant full access to manage these aspects of your Apple ID directly from your device's settings.
How to Unhide Hidden Purchases on Your Apple ID
Another common interpretation of "unhiding Apple ID" refers to making previously hidden App Store, iTunes Store, or Apple Books purchases visible again. You might hide purchases to declutter your purchase history or for privacy reasons.
Steps to Unhide Purchases (General):
While specific steps can vary slightly by device and iOS version, the general process involves:
- Open the relevant app: For apps, open the App Store. For music, open the iTunes Store or Music app. For books, open Apple Books.
- Access your Account: Tap on your profile picture or initials, usually located in the top-right corner.
- Go to Purchases/Account Settings: Depending on the app, you'll look for "Purchased" (App Store) or "Account" and then "Hidden Purchases" (iTunes Store, Apple Books).
- Find the Hidden Items: Locate the items you wish to unhide.
- Unhide: There will typically be an option (e.g., an "Unhide" button) next to the item.
Unhiding a purchase makes it visible in your purchase history again and allows you to redownload it without charge, just as if it had never been hidden.
