Changing Developer Account type from Organization (Business) to Individual

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Created 1w

Replies 2

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I have just started the process of closing down my limited company and would like to change my Apple Developer ID account type from Business (Organization) to Individual to release my apps under my own name.

I was planning on releasing software in the App Store under my limited company, but I encountered an issue (https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/759605) that has blocked the development for almost a year and Apple has never bothered to fix the issue.

This has forced me to close down the company. I have decided I will be releasing the software as an open source project. All I want now is to be able to sign the software using my regular, personal Apple Account ID. However, my Apple Account is currently tied to my company's Organization Developer Account. It is registered as a business with business accounts, the App Store Connect agreements are signed by my company, and everything else on my Developer profile is tied to that company.

I do not see the option to close down the company/business account. The only relevant post I found online was here: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/702447 Unfortunately, people mention in the comments that the workaround does not actually work.

I have tried reaching Developer Support but had no response via email, and I cannot schedule a call back via the Support page because I cannot verify my overseas phone number. Seems like I have a really tough luck with Apple Developer ecosystem...

Has anyone ever managed to do this? Any help much appreciated!

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Answer 1

paligiannis OP

1w

Yes, I have the same issue. 20 days now. I think we need to wait.

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Answer 2

Vantabyte OP

5d

Following my previous post about switching from a business to individual account, I finally received a response from Apple Developer Support.

Here's what they told me:

From your email, I understand you would like to revert your organization account back to an individual. Once an account has gone through a migration from an individual to a company, this action cannot be undone. I know you mentioned you planned on closing the business, we can disable your team account. You would still be able to take advantage of our Xcode Program. However, you would not be able to publish apps on the App Store.

This is incredibly disappointing and frustrating.

The email I use for my Apple ID is over 20 years old. I now need to create a new Apple ID to handle Development. This account is essentially broken forever because Apple decided that account migrations should be one-way with no possibility of reversal.

What's most infuriating is that Apple never clearly communicated this limitation before I migrated to a business account. There was no warning.

My entire experience with the Apple Developer program has been a sh*tshow right from the beginning, it's bug on bug, and it is baffling to me how such a big, reputable company can have such low quality development ecosystem and support.

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