A Tale of Two iPhones and One iTunes

So this little problem has plagued us for years... nearly three to be more precise. We have two iPhones and one PC. Wife syncs contacts with GMail and I sync contacts with Outlook. Funny thing was that the tab for contact sync would not 'stick' with the phone... if I synced mine first, when I plugged hers in it would still be setup for Outlook. Or if I changed it to Google for her and then plugged mine in it wouldn't remember my phone wanted Outlook and would sync with Google. I gave up trying to get it working and setup a seperate profile on the PC for my wife that really was only used for her to sync her phone. The only drawback we could see was we couldn't have a single repository for apps and I had to add music to libraries twice (one for each profile on the computer).
Well, now that we're on the 4S I thought I'd see if iTunes has evolved since 3 years ago when I gave up. I uninstalled all Apple applications and loaded the latest iTunes. The cool part of iOS 5 and the new iTunes is we don't have to connect phones any more So now both phones show up at the same time. I can toggle through all the tabs and see how they differ... different sets of applications are selected, different photo options, music options, etc. EXCEPT the tab with contacts. If I set her phone to google, my phone changes too. I set mine back to Outlook and hers changes to Outlook. We've mixed and matched contacts several times trying to get them to stay in tune and that is a huge PITA to clean up.
I tried the Genius bar. The Genius answer was that we should probably do a restore on the phone. I asked him to help me understand how restoring one phone would solve a problem that existed across 4 phones (two 3G's and two 4S's) and untold versions of iTunes over three years. He just insisted that we probably need to do a restore on the 4S. You know, because that would clearly explain the problem we also had on the 3G. His backup plan was to call Apple support.
So before I submit a ticket to Apple, anyone else able to confirm this limitation? I've checked with my friends and the ones that have iPhones don't sync their contacts anywhere. iCloud will help but we use XP and the PC software requires Vista or better so for now we're still unable to sync our contacts to our PC.
Thanks!
david

On your wife's phone, when you said you've done a restore, was that a restore from backup or as a "new" device? I would suggest deleting the .ipsw file/files on your computer, connecting your wife's phone and restore as "new". When finished, DO NOT SYNC, rather eject the phone and test, verify that all is working correctly. If so, connect her phone & sync her content back.
The .ipsw file is located here, delete all you find, there should only be one:
~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates
If this works, under preferences, devices, in itunes, delete her backups, as they are most likely corrupted.

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Hi. We have two iphones and one Itunes account. How do back up each one without getting the others contacts

Hi. We have two iphones and one Itunes account. How do back up each one without getting the others contacts and without syncing each phone to each other?

Welcome to the Apple community.
Ideally you should each have your own iCloud account, providing you with your own contacts, calendars etc, not doing so will result in exactly what you have experienced. The contacts have likely been lost due to the options you have chosen at the login stage on each device.
Unless you have the missing contacts in a backup file, they won't be recoverable unfortunately. You can add them manually to the contracts that already exist and continue to share the iCloud account if you wish, but I suggest that you each have your own iCloud account.
Note, you can each have your own iCloud account, but continue to share an iTunes account for purchases of apps, books, music, TV shows etc etc.

Two iPhones and one iTunes account`

Ok, my scenario. I have a single iTunes account on my Windows pc for both my wife and me. All of our music is on there. I had an iPhone and when I got the new iPhone4, I gave my wife my 3G iPhone. Here's what I want to do:
* Have iTunes treat both phones separately. Meaning different contacts, different apps and different music/photo playlists.
* Is this possible with a single iTunes account?
* Can my wife have different apps installed on her phone than I have on mine and still be able to sync?
* What about a different music playlist?
* For contacts, since we both have a master contact list on the PC, can you chose WHICH contacts from that master list to put on each phone? For instance, she doesn't need my employee's home phone numbers in her contacts on her phone.
I think the iTunes sync feature stinks...wish they gave you more manual control over what is happening on your phone.

hi mate when you open itunes press shift button that will give you make new itunes all you have to do is click wich one you want

TS3367 I have two IPhones and one IPad all with the same Apple ID. I can call facetime between the two IPhones, but I cannot call the IPAD from either of the IPhones and when I call my IPhone from the IPad it rings my wife's IPhone after briefly calling m

I have two IPhones and one IPad all with the same Apple ID. I can call facetime between the two IPhones, but I cannot call the IPAD from either of the IPhones and when I call my IPhone from the IPad it rings my wife's IPhone after briefly calling mine.

Each device needs a separate address. Use an email address (gmail.com) on the iPad.
Using FaceTime http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4319
Troubleshooting FaceTime http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3367
The Complete Guide to FaceTime + iMessage: Setup, Use, and Troubleshooting
http://tinyurl.com/a7odey8
Troubleshooting FaceTime and iMessage activation
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4268
Using FaceTime and iMessage behind a firewall
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4245
iOS: About Messages
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3529
Set up iMessage
http://www.apple.com/ca/ios/messages/
Troubleshooting Messages
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2755
Setting Up Multiple iOS Devices for iMessage and Facetime
http://macmost.com/setting-up-multiple-ios-devices-for-messages-and-facetime.htm l
FaceTime and iMessage not accepting Apple ID password
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/facetime-and-imessage-not-acc epting-apple-id-password/
Unable to use FaceTime and iMessage with my apple ID
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4649373?tstart=90
For non-Apple devices, check out the TextFree app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/text-free-textfree-sms-real/id399355755?mt=8
How to Send SMS from iPad
http://www.iskysoft.com/apple-ipad/send-sms-from-ipad.html
 Cheers, Tom

If you registrate one Apple ID for each iPhone/iPad, you'll get 5GB on iCloud for each Apple ID, right? I have two iPhones and one iPad with the same Apple ID, why can't I get 5 GB fo each of them?

If you registrate one Apple ID for each iPhone/iPad, you'll get 5GB on iCloud for each Apple ID, right? I have two iPhones and one iPad with the same Apple ID, why can't I get 5 GB fo each of them?

Actually, everyone missed one point, when a device is priced, the cost of icloud storage space for that device is also included in it that is why they are able to give you 5gb each for each user ID, in nutshell there is nothing free coming with apple device purchase, it is paid for. What they are trying by giving only 5gb per user ID irrespective of the number of devices used is pure broadlight looting, they take money from you when you buy each device and give you nothing, This is a case of goods and services bought but not fully deliverd ie apple can be suied for discreminatory treatment towards it's users. I wonder why no one tried this yet in America where everyone sue everyone for petty things..... there is no one to take up this issue? . if tim got any love for the guys who shell out money for the devices his company makes, he should be implimenting this as priority before someone wake up from sleep and sue him.

Multiple iPhones and one iTunes Library

I have a question about multiple iPhones and one iTunes Library.
Currently I have 3 PC's, 2 iPods and 2 iPhones.
My PC had the iTunes library on it and everyone was just listening to mine via the iTunes sharing.
Well I bought a Buffalo LinkStation and told itunes to move my library to M:\My Music\..... and then did a Consolidate Library which in turn moved all the music from my C: drive to the M: drive.
My wife's computer has it's own Library with no music (only app store apps, and ringtones).
Now my question is what happens if I tell my wifes computer that M:\My Music\....... is her new location of the library and restart itunes. I am pretty sure this will work fine. But what happens if she syncs her iPhone now? Will all my apps now be on her phone and she will lose hers? She does have her own itunes store account with her own apps. Is there a way to have it so only her apps are on her phone and my apps are on my phone? Can she choose different playlists to be synced than what I have?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Brad

Since the three of you are using separate iTunes accounts, then you each need to run your own itunes, which should be logged into the itunes store using each individual account. For that, on a laptop, you each need to have your own computer accounts.

Can I sych and back up two Iphones with one Itunes on Win 7 without loosing data?

hello,
I just purchased an iphone 4s for my wife and I want to connect it to Itunes. I am affraid that if I do so I will loose my Iphone contacts or get them mixed with her phone. Is there a way to connect two phones to one Itunes program and have two of them backup and sych without a conflict? Can we share the same music library or paid apps? I understand that there is a way but this is not too clear to me. Please help!
I have made a copy of my library just in case before I start messing with it.
Thank you!

How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer

Hi. I currently have two iPad's and two iPhones and one Apple ID, I want to keep the current Apple ID on one iPad and one phone and set up another Apple ID for the second iPad and iPhone, is this possible?

Hi. I currently have both my iPhone's and iPad's on one Apple ID and I was hoping to use one iPhone and one iPad with another Apple ID, does anyone know if this is possible and how I would do it.
Thanks TMM39

You should be able to. The only hiccup will be that any apps that you have purchased with the older ID you will have to repurchase with the newer ID to be able to keep using them.
Though of course this actually depends on how you plan to use the IDs. For example, I had an Apple ID through iTunes a few years before I opened a .Mac/MobileMe account (what iCloud is now in case you are new to Apple). Thus, my iPhone and iPad actually have two IDs on them, one for iTunes/App Store, and one for anything associated with iCloud. I've never really had any problems assoctiated with having two IDs on one device. Usually just an extra step when I get a new device or have to restore either of them for some reason. Though I understand that this is probably not what you plan on doing, I thought I would use it as an example of what the IDs are really associted with on the devices.

Synching two iphones on one itunes

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When syncing an iPhone with iTunes when logged into a particular iTunes account with iTunes if more than one iTunes account is involved, that iTunes account, the login for that account will be available on the iPhone. And if you sync contacts with more than one iPhone with the same address book under the same computer login account, the contacts will be the same on each iPhone and with the address book both iPhones were synced with.
This didn't happen by accident - by simply connecting the iPhone to iTunes. You were trying to do what with your wife's iPhone when connected to iTunes on your computer?

Syncing two iPhones with one iTunes account, archive and install

I had a blue screen and had to archive and install.
I re-synched my iPhone and at that time put my iPhone contacts in my address book with
my group name, that I just created. I created a group for her and now want to re-synch her iPhone
with my computer and with my iTunes account, like before. I get a message that the info on that her iPhone is synched with another user account. A choice to merge info from this user account or replace info from this user account. I want to make sure that her contacts go into the address book, under
her group. I don't want to lose her her contacts on the phone, when I re-synch her iphone.

I want to make sure that her contacts go into the address book, under her group. I don't want to lose her her contacts on the phone, when I re-synch her iphone.
You should select the Merge option. If you don't, the existing contact information in the Address Book on your Mac will replace all contact info in her iPhone's address book.

I have two iPhones and one new iMac. I need two iTunes accounts in order to sync both on the same computer. How??

We acually have 3 but one is supported on another computer

Read this: How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495

How do we sync contacts and calendars (ONLY) between two iCloud accounts, two iPhones and one iMac with two user accounts?

This is complex. Until today we had one iMac with two user accounts - one for me and the other for my wife. We sync'd our calendars and contacts between our two user accounts using my iCloud account, thereby keeping our schedules coordinated and our contacts information always the same between us. Also, as I had an iPhone, I sync'd my phone with my iCloud account, thereby keeping the contacts and calendars in the two user accounts on the iMac AND my iPhone sync'd. (I also sync'd other things, like Notes and Mail and Safari settings, between my iPhone and my user account on the iMac, but my wife did not want to be burdened with all my emails showing up in her email account and I wasn't interested in hers, etc., so we didn't sync anything between us other than calendars and contacts.)
We've finally bought my wife an iPhone and set up an iCloud account for her. And of course she now wants to sync several items from HER account on our iMac to HER iPhone, but I don't want them, just as she doesn't want all of my other stuff. But we still want our mutual calendars and contacts to sync to HER new iPhone, just like they already do to mine. But I can't figure out how to CHANGE her iMac user account from using MY iCloud account on the iMac to using HER new iCloud account, and then having HER iCloud account speak to MY iCloud account but share JUST our calendars and contacts.
Originally I tried a workaround by simply having her iPhone log into my iCloud account. That works great for the calendars and the contacts. But...she can't sync anything else from her iMac account to her new iPhone because she's presently "forced" to use my iCloud account. And neither of us want to sync our other things to each other's iMac accounts or iPhones. Also as we're both using my iCloud account, in things like the Find My iPhone app, the Cloud is seeking two phones labeled with my name and none with her's. So we definitely don't want this as the set-up and communications network between our devices.
We want to set up our users on the iMac to sync to our SEPARATE AND DIFFERENT iCloud accounts and then have those iCloud accounts sync calendars and contacts (ONLY) between themselves, and then push that data to our separate iPhones (or the other way, from either of our iPhones to the individual accounts on our iMac and the other person's iPhone). Does this description make sense to you? I've diagramed it nicely using Keynote, but even thiough I can draw it, I can't figure out how to set up and configure all the devices to make it work. If you would like me to send the Keynote slides (just two of them - the current and desired configurations - please send your email address to me at [email protected] and I'll be happy to forward it to you.
If anyone can help me set this up I'd be most appreciative! Thanks so much. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all readers in this community!

BobT.
I had the same problem, and decided to look into it last night.
First of all, the solution I would like to have is for Apple to allow for selection of iCloud accounts per application, i.e. Contacts to one, Photo Stream to another. I believe this would be the most straight forward solution for the problem we are facing.
Since this is not an option I came up with a workaround. I was most interested in solving this for Contacts, so this is what I tested for. Now I have all 3 devices with the same contacts.
1) Turn off iCloud for Contacts on all devices. On the device that has the Contacts list that you would like to propagate to all others select to keep the contacts, and on the others select not to keep them.
Note that the current backups still exist on iCloud, so in case something goes wrong you can still turn the iCloud for Contacts back on to get your current Contacts back.
2) In iTunes, sync All Contacts with the phones, starting with the one with the Contacts content you chose to keep.
From this point on, the 3 devices should sync contacts with each other.
This, of course, will stop your iCloud backups of Contacts, but I don't think this is really needed. You are already storing copies of your Conacts on 3 devices, which for good parts of the day are likely not all co-located. You also potentially have Time Machine backups turned on, which would mean there is a 4th copy there as well. For the case of Contacts iCloud only complicates matter ... that is until Apple implements the solution I first wrote about.

IMessage trouble with two iPhones and one Apple ID

Hi,
I'm having trouble with iMessage after updating both of my iPhones to iOS 6 and not being able to use iMessage with one of the phones.
Some background:
-I have two iPhones, one on AT&T in the U.S., and one on NTT DoCoMo in Japan, both with separate phone numbers, using the same Apple ID.
-The AT&T iPhone is a 4, the NTT is an unlocked 4S.
On my 4 (AT&T), on iMessage, I have the option to send/receive as my U.S. phone number and my Apple ID. Works just like before updating.
On my 4S (NTT), on iMessage, before I updated, I was able to send/receive using my Japanese number and Apple ID. After updating, I have the option to send/receive using my U.S. number and Apple ID. My Japanese number is greyed out and I cannot select it. When I turn on iMessage, it says "Waiting for activation..." and does not do anything. Turning iMessage off and on, some times I get an error message staying that activation cannot be completed.
I have rebooted the phone multiple times, turned on/off iMessage and FaceTime, turned the Set Date & Time Automatically option on/off, and reset Network settings several times. Nothing works; iMessage will not activate on my NTT 4S. Please help!

Finally resolved this issue after months of off and on troubleshooting.
I have no idea exactly which steps "fixed" the issue, but here's what I did. None of the basic troubleshooting steps that are on here worked for me, and this is including restoring both phones in iTunes as a "last resort" step that two Apple technical service representatives suggested.
I found a post on here from user "tungddao" who suggested:
"Turn on iMessage then make a phone call to : 011+445773142076
With Facetime & Siri: 011+447786205094"
I called both numbers with my NTT 4S, and both numbers hung up right away. I also texted both numbers, and the FaceTime one went through, while the iMessage number did not. I then checked my SMS blocking settings with NTT. There were no blocks, but I reset the settings to "unblock all" anyway.
I was able to activate iMessage and FaceTime with my Apple ID and my NTT phone number. Halfway there.
I then turned on my ATT 4, and while I could send/receive using my Apple ID and NTT phone number, the ATT number was greyed out, which was the opposite of what had happened before, when I could use the ATT number, but not the NTT one. On my NTT 4S, I could select my ATT number, but it was stuck on "verifying" for days, and I knew it wouldn't go through.
So, I signed out of my Apple ID on iMessage and FaceTime on my ATT 4, and turned both services off. I turned on data roaming, and turned off WiFi. *This step was key to activating both services, as they would not activate over WiFi for some reason.
I turned on iMessage and FaceTime without signing in to my Apple ID just yet. They both activated successfully, and then I signed into my Apple ID on both services, and from then on, I can use both numbers and my Apple ID on both phones! Finally!
These are my current options:
Phone 1 (4S on NTT): Phone 1's #, Phone 2's #, Apple ID
Phone 2 (4 on ATT, roaming here in Japan on Softbank): Phone 2's #, Phone 1's #, Apple ID
Hope this helps someone out there, as this issue was real frustrating for me.

Easiest way to untangle two iPhones on one iTunes account

I blame myself for this problem.
My wife and I have two iPhones. I'm into the music so I set up an iTunes account a long time ago for my multiple iPods. It's now come time to disengage my wife's iPhone from my iTunes account. I know how to set up a new iTunes account. I'll get her a separate e-mail address and create the new iTunes account. The problem is I do not want to lose all her photos, contacts, etc., from her iPhone when I go to link her phone to her iTunes account.
I'm guessing if I set up the new iTunes account and then back up her phone to the new account's iCloud file I may be able to get around most of these issues. Is that correct? Please advise if not. Any suggestions will be welcome. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Wife and I use same iTunes account (log in for iTunes) for our stuff.
We both sync with same computer.
However, we have separate logins for the computer thus we each have our own Profiles.
While you can do it with one profile (iTunes knows difference between phones) it will become a pain if you sync contacts/calendars as you only have one set on the computer thus you may end up mixing your data there. This is why you should have different logins for your computer thus.
Using one iTunes account does make things easier though as you only need to buy an app once and sync it to both devices (can do that with two accounts as well if both are authorized together in iTunes but becomes a pain).

How do I sink two iPhones to one itunes account

Is it possible to sink a 3G iPhone my wife now has and my older 2G iPhone to the same computer laptop using one itunes account. I would like to be able to put different applications on each iPhone. I did lose some notes thinking I could delete from my wife's 3G and keep on my older 2G.

Under the Applications tab for the iPhone sync preferences with iTunes for each iPhone, choose selected Applications. Select the applications in the window below that you want installed on the connected iPhone followed by a sync.
You can do the same with Music by using an iTunes playlist or playlists. You can create a primary iTunes playlist for the music that you want on your iPhone, and your wife can create a primary iTunes playlist that she wants on her iPhone. You can create and transfer multiple playlists if you like.
Under the Music tab for the iPhone sync preferences with iTunes for each iPhone, choose selected playlists. Select the playlist or playlists in the window below that you want transferred to your iPhone followed by a sync. Your wife will select the iTunes playlist of playlists that she wants transferred to her iPhone followed by a sync.
To remove add additional music to your iPhone, add the music to a designated playlist in iTunes that you have selected to be transferred to your iPhone followed by a sync. Your wife does the same with her iPhone. To remove a song from your iPhone, remove the song from the playlist in iTunes you have selected to be transferred to your iPhone followed by a sync, and your wife can do the same with the playlist in iTunes she has selected to be transferred to her iPhone followed by a sync.

A Tale of Two iPhones and One iTunes

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