The Expat’s iCloud Conundrum

You might not realize this, but your iCloud account is tied to a specific location. For expats, this can be a real hassle. I still rely on US news sources like the Wall Street Journal and New York Times daily, and my professional network is primarily in the US. Plus, all my photos sync to a US-based account, so my iCloud remains linked to the US.

You might be wondering why this matters if you have separate accounts for Taiwan and the US. The main issue is that a US account prevents me from installing apps specific to Taiwan. While shopping apps are manageable (I just miss out on loyalty points), others, like car apps, are incredibly frustrating. I recently bought a car, and they require a connection to their app exclusively for regions outside the US, even though the car brand is international.

However, the most inconvenient app is Apple Fitness+. It’s not available in Taiwan, only in the US. I’ve been a subscriber for years and am a big fan of their HIIT workouts, especially with a particular trainer. I used to do HIIT every day in the US, needing that intense, short burst of exercise to get my fix. I’ve tried other apps, but they’re just not as effective as the trainer I follow. When I first arrived in Taiwan, I used to run early in the mornings, around 6 AM. But now I prefer to have breakfast at home, so I need to go back to my routine from the pandemic: quick, intense workouts. After several weeks back to HIIT, I’m getting into the swing of things—HIIT isn’t easy; your body needs to adjust. I don’t want to jinx it, but it seems like I’m finally back on track after about 18 months away from my HIIT routine. I’m really thankful to have my energy and workout level back to where it used to be.

I really hope Apple considers allowing multiple accounts to run concurrently. That would be incredibly helpful for expats like me who need to switch between Taiwan and the US.