Management & Responsibility
Wake Forest University (WFU) does not require or manage Apple accounts.
You may use a personal Apple account on WFU-managed devices or create a new one using your WFU email. Because Information Systems does not manage these accounts, you must add valid recovery information early. If you lose access, you must contact Apple Support directly for recovery.
What You Need To Know:
While signing into an Apple Account is optional and can be skipped during device setup, it is required to access several Mac-specific features:
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App Store Downloads: Required for all apps.
Note: Even for free apps, the App Store may require payment information to be on file. -
Passkeys & Security: The Mac will default to using the iCloud Keychain feature.
Learn more about iCloud Keychain →
iCloud is not required, but it allows you to synchronize your passkey across multiple devices. - iCloud Syncing: Enables Find My, Photos, Passwords, and Messages across devices.
- Apple Pay & Subscriptions: Required for managing payment methods and paid app content.
Best Practices & Privacy
If you choose to set up an Apple account, please keep these critical points in mind:
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Document Storage To protect Wake Forest University data, do not use iCloud or any other external/personal cloud storage service to sync WFU files. Instead, use official university storage services available through your WFU account, such as Google Drive for Desktop. Please see Data Backup and Restore for document sync options. How to turn off iCloud Desktop/Document sync |
Privacy & Backups If you sync a personal account, personal photos or messages may be included in WFU-managed backups (like CrashPlan). Be mindful of this if you prefer to keep personal files off WFU storage. |
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Account Support Information Systems cannot reset your Apple password or unlock your Apple account. All support requests must go through Apple Support. |
Account Retention Before you leave the university and lose access to your WFU email, make sure you update your iCloud account to use a personal email address. |
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