Managing multiple Apple IDs and multiple computers

My wife and I have two apple IDs and we have two laptops (an Air and a MacBook Pro). I use my ID for my purchases, and she uses her ID for her purchases. We chop and change the computers depending on what we're doing (although I tend to use the Mac Book Pro, and she the Mac Air). Each of us has our own login on each of the laptops. We both have significant 'libraries' of content for each Apple ID.
My question is this - I logged in on the MacBook Air with my login and attempted to dowload from iTunes via iCloud using iTunes Match a TV episode I had only part watched on my MacBook Pro. I recevied a message saying the Air was associated with my wife's Apple ID and if I downloaded the show, she wouldn't be able to download any of her past purchases for 90 days.
What complete madness is that?
We have so many apple devices (we both have iphones, ipads, an apple TV at home and the two laptops) and use our separate apple IDs for our purchases, syncing, photostream etc etc.
Now, when I want to do something really simple like watch a show on my other laptop I can't unless I block my wife for 90 days...
Am I doing something wrong? Or is Apple's policy really lacking in any commonsense! Keep in my mind Apple's insistence that each person should have their own apple ID....
Thank you in advance for your help/suggestions.

I'm not surprised you haven't seen them on here. The search in these forums is abysmal. I don't remember which I'd seen on here, and can't find it again myself.
Here's a writeup with screenshots:
http://9to5mac.com/2014/09/19/ios-8-how-to-set-up-and-use-family-sharing/
I had a harder time finding out which apple ID an invited family member should use if they have two IDs in the same way that you and I do. It seems that the invited person can do the same - join the family share group with their iCloud ID, then specify the different Apple ID they have been using for their purchases.

Similar Messages

  • HT5625 if i have multiple apple IDS and i would like to delete all of them except the one I wish to continue using what is the method

    In case I have multiple Apple Ids and I want to delete all of them except one , what is the method to be followed.??
    Or is it that there is no scope for deletion and the Ids are just disabled

    Sorry, Apple ID's cannot be deleted or merged. All you can do is stop using an Apple ID.

  • Our family has multiple apple ids and we are setting up a new apple tv. Does it matter which apple id we use if we have home sharing enabled?

    I have an apple id from my mobile me account; I also have the apple id from my itunes account (with which I purchase content for my powerbook); and my husband has an apple id for itunes which he purchases content for his itunes library on his PC.
    Does it matter which apple id we use to set up our new apple tv?
    what issues are caused by my multiple apple ids?

    You cannot merge apple ids, but you can sign out of the apple id and sign in under the other one either on your phone or your mac. On your phone, go to settings, itunes and appstore, tap your apple id, tap sign out, then go back to home screen, then back into itunes an appstore and sign in with the apple id you want to use.

  • Multiple Apple IDs with multiple PCs and multiple AppleTVs - content not authorised

    So, this is a slightly complicated setup; but it should work... and it does, until randomly AppleTV decides that it isn't authorised to play some content.
    Setup is this:
    PC1 - authorised for AppleID1, AppleID2, AppleID3 and AppleID4 - HomeSharing turned off - pirmary AppleID (used for new purchases) is AppleID1
    PC2 - authorised for AppleID1, AppleID2, AppleID3 and AppleID4 - HomeSharing turned off - primary AppleID (used for new purchases) is AppleID2
    AppleID3 and AppleID4 are other AppleIDs and only occasionally used for new purchases depending on content availablity. Yes these are genuine AppleIDs associated with other email addresses in other regions as we split our time between countries.
    PC3 - authorised for AppleID1, AppleID2, AppleID3 and AppleID4 - HomeSharing turned ON (using AppleID1) - this PC isn't used interactively for purchasing content it's only purpose is for HomeSharing.
    Please note that each PC has it's own iTunes library, all content is synchornised between PCs using sync programs (e.g. SuperSync) or a shared drive NAS.
    There are 4 AppleTVs that are sharing the content from PC3.
    Sometimes, when trying to play some content on one of the AppleTVs then the message that this content is not authorised will appear. So far the only way I have found around this is to go to PC3 and re-authorise that PC with the AppleID that was used to purchase the content. The PC _always_ reports that "This computer is already authorised for that AppleID"; however after doing this the content plays on the AppleTV.
    How can I avoid this problem? PC3 is basically used as a HomeSharing server so that I don't have to have the individual PCs turned on. As far as I understand content is licensed to a specific AppleID and NOT (except with rentals) to a specific AppleID _and_ specific device.
    I will happily change to using iCloud to allow all of my devices to access all of my content that I have purchased, but at the moment it seems that this problem will exist no matter how the content gets onto the device. Using a single new AppleID isn't possible either as we need to have different AppleIDs for different places.
    Is there any solution? Why does AppleTV report that the content isn't authorised when the PC which is sharing the content is actually authorised? Why does re-authorising the PC make it work, when it reports that it was already authorised??
    This is becoming seriously annoying.

    Hi
    i ran into the same problem. surprisingly though, i am not using multiple apple id and just one mac.
    i did change both the account (apple id) and the computer (from pc to a mac server), but home sharing is on and the apple tv (1) is synced with the new computer.
    i can connect to the itunes store and browse through it (signed in at all times). i cannot purchase any content and cannot play transferred rentals from the computer (apple tv is not authorised...)
    somehow, it seems the apple tv was stuck with a previous id.
    i have just now re-authorised my computer on the account and will give the apple tv another try. i did notice a message during the re-authorisation process. the apple tv is being authorised. this gives me hope.
    in any case, your setup seems to be a dream come through. i decided to phase out my high end multiroom linn kivor system (over 20k back 6y ago) to an itunes based system. apparently you managed to build something.
    i tried an itunes based nas but gave up due to complex operation (and overheating on top) and went for a mac server. i will be using windows clients though.
    most of my content is cd based. can you sync purchased content between pc's? or with a server?

  • Multiple Apple IDs and Family Sharing

    i am using the multiple Apple ID setup with an old pre-iCloud Apple ID for purchases (to keep my preexisting music) and a new Apple ID for my iCloud data and new email, etc. I am set up per the Apple support article on multiple Apple IDs.
    now the Family Sharing has been released, I would like to merge the two accounts. Will Apple be providing a way to do this?

    I'm not surprised you haven't seen them on here. The search in these forums is abysmal. I don't remember which I'd seen on here, and can't find it again myself.
    Here's a writeup with screenshots:
    http://9to5mac.com/2014/09/19/ios-8-how-to-set-up-and-use-family-sharing/
    I had a harder time finding out which apple ID an invited family member should use if they have two IDs in the same way that you and I do. It seems that the invited person can do the same - join the family share group with their iCloud ID, then specify the different Apple ID they have been using for their purchases.

  • HT5622 Can you have multiple apple ids and all share the same apps and music?

    I have multiple devices, iphone 5s (myself), mini ipad (son), 5th generation ipod (daughter). When I receive imessages they are going to the other devices and not my phone. Is this because I have all devices set up on the same Apple User ID or am I missing something in Settings that needs to be turned on/off? I have all devices under the same User ID to control the purchases. Now I'm thinking maybe each device needs to have it's own User ID and if I switch them now, will we all still share the same apps and music? Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

    Wouldn't you only need to create a new apple ID and put that on your phone instead of your old apple ID that is merged?

  • HT5622 I want to get rid of multiple Apple IDs and just use one. How do I do this?

    I have numerous Apple IDs how do I get rid of them and just keep one?
    peterrstevens

    You can't get rid of them. Just stop using them.
    Sign out of all the ones you want to stop using on all your devices and computers, then sign in with the one ID you do want to use.
    Note that if you have iTunes or App Store purchases tied to any of these accounts, those purchases will forever be tied to that ID and you will have to sign in using that ID to update apps purchased under it. You cannot transfer purchases from one ID to another.

  • Issues with multiple apple IDs and iTunes accounts

    I work in an office that is all mac based and have mac computers at home.  I have an apple ID and iTunes account for personal use where I purchase books and music and I have an office apple ID and iTunes account to share calendars with colleagues using iCloud and purchase work related apps like upgrades to operating systems, etc. 
    I have an iPhone that is set up with my personal apple ID so that my music is on my phone and so that the photo streaming is attached to personal photos, etc.  Is there a way to sync my personal contacts with my contacts that are registered with my professional apple ID?  Ideally, I would like to have my iOS devices syncing my calendar and contacts with my work apple ID and my music and photos with my personal ID.  Is there any hope or am I stuck?
    Thanks for any help anyone might have...

    Welcome to the Apple community.
    So far as contacts and calendars go, you can share your works data and your personal data with your iOS device by entering the second account as a secondary account in settings > mail, contacts and calendars.
    You should also be aware that your iCloud and iTunes accounts and different accounts, you do not have to use the same ID for both.

  • Multiple Apple Ids and iCloud

    I am cursed by having more than one appleID. I am also finding iCloud to be a very poorly devised system.
    I keep getting reminders from somewhere posted to  my gmail account. I do not want these cluttering up my inbox and so,  set about trying to locate the source and to turn them off.
    I went over all my devices and turned iCloud off. I then went to my iMac and tried to log in to icloud with each of my separate AppleIDs, making sure that all the others were off.
    I can sign in with one of my IDs and can extinguish as much of iCloud as I wish. However, when I sign out of that ID and attempt to log in under another ID, I am told that the password or ID are incorrect.
    I have spent more than four hours with Apple tech support to no avail. Incidentally, Apple tech support is now populated by 'specialists' who are obliged to concentrate upon one tiny facet of the apple universe and appear to have no knowledge of antything outside their little segment of that.
    Is there anyone out there who has had similar problems with this dratted iCloud fiasco? If so, and if he/she could throw light upon my problem, I shall be exceptionally grateful.
    David Amies

    Reminders about what exactly.
    If you've forgotten your password, go to iForgot.com

  • How do I manage two apple ids and iCloud for my teen's iPad?

    Before my son turned 13, he used my Apple ID to set up his purchases for his first iPad.  Now he has his own apple ID.  He has his own iPhone and a different iPad for school.  The school wants him to use iCloud to back up everything. 
    I just set up iCloud but it wants to back up the items from my ID only.  How do I get it to back up from his ID too? 
    How can I even figure out which items are linked to his Apple ID and which ones are linked to my Apple ID? 
    For next school year, I want everything to work with his ID, not mine.  I wish I had just made him one in his name when he was 12!
    I'm not so worried about the apps, photos, etc.  I am more concerned about his documents from Pages, Keynote, iBooks... I think when he does his schoolwork it is saving to my Apple ID and not his.
    I've avoided syncing to the computers because we have 3 users with different IDs and several different devices and after a while it gets really confusing to know what belongs to whom.
    I know that a lot of people are frustrated that you can't merge Apple IDs -- seems like Apple ID is built for single people and not growing families who hand down older devices to other family members.

    You can see which ID he is signed into for iCloud by going to Settings>iCloud on his device(s) and viewing the ID shown next to Account.  This is the account that his documents are being store in, and the one his device is backing up to (if he is backing up to iCloud). 
    While it is possible to have more than one iCloud account on a device, there are limitations to the typed of data that additional ("secondary") accounts will sync.  Only the primary account (the one listed in Settings>iCloud) can be used for photo stream, bookmarks, documents, iCloud backup and Find My iDevice.  Because of this limitation, it isn't possible to sync (or "back up") documents from iWork to more than one iCloud account.

  • HT5649 Our family has a shared computer with itune software. We have multiple apple devices and multiple itunes accounts. Can we share the computer and iTunes software to back up each apple device separately?

    How do multiple users with multiple devices share one computer with iTunes software to back up multiple devices and individual iTune libraries?

    Hi Goodguy147,
    Welcome to the Support Communities!
    The easiest way to have multiple users with multiple devices share a single computer is to create a User Account on your Windows PC for each person.  Each person should also have a unique Apple ID.  That will keep each individual's iTunes Library separate from the others and each individual can associate and backup several devices to their iTunes library. 
    Using your Apple ID for Apple services
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4895
    The article below is a troubleshooting article for Windows.  I'm just quoting the section from it that explains how to create user accounts:
    iTunes for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8: Fix unexpected quits or launch issues
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1717?viewlocale=nl_nl
    Follow the steps below to create a new user account in Windows Vista or Windows 7:
    Choose Start > Control Panel.
    Open "Add or remove user accounts." (If you're using the Classic view in Windows Vista, open "User Accounts," and then open "Manage another account.")
    Select "Create a new account" and follow the instructions to set up the account.
    Once you create the new account, choose     Start > Log Off.
    Log in to the new user account.
    iTunes Store: Associating a device or computer to your Apple ID
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4627
    I hope this information helps ....
    - Judy

  • HT5312 How Do I Stop email Harassment from same person creating multiple apple Ids?

    Hi,
    I am being harassed by someone who is creating multiple apple ids and deleting them.  The person is constantly trying to get me to click on links.  When I tried to reply to one ID the person created, an error came up stating "this user does not exist" It then provided me with a code for that user.  I believe this person has hacked into my account on multiple occassion because a lot of time right after I change my password, it stopped working again a few days later. 
    I feel I have no privacy.  This person sends all kinds of emails using the names of major brands as the front.  All the emails look cheap and it seems as if it wants you to select the "unsubscribe" button which then phishes my info someone.  Can someone tell me who I can report these emails at apple to investigate?  The would have to know who created the email links, which are used once then deleted, but the person who is doing this is the same I'm certain. 

    Hello ascending404,
    Thank you for the details of the issue you are experiencing with the emails you have been receiving.  I would be concerned about this too.  I found a resource that provides some good information about identifying and reporting emails like the ones you are recieving. 
    I recommend reviewing the full article, but this specific section provides steps for reporting these emails:
    What to do with suspicious iCloud emails
    If you receive a suspicious email, select the message text so that it is highlighted. Choose Forward as Attachment from the Message menu (OS X Mail) or the Actions menu (Outlook). Send the email to [email protected] This provides Apple's legal department and law enforcement with useful information to help prevent future phishing emails.
    Note: For suspicious emails related to iTunes, see this article.
    You can view the full article here:
    Identifying fraudulent "phishing" email
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4933
    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
    Best,
    Sheila M.

  • HT4914 How does iTunes match work with multiple Apple IDs?

    I am trying to set up an iTunes Match account that complies the music of my whole family so that we can all acceess it from our devices. First, is it possible to upload music from multiple apple IDs and / or devices. And is it possible to then access the iTunes match library from multiple apple IDs? I know you can access the muysic from up to 10 devices but do they all have to be logged into the same apple ID to do so? Thanks for the help

    You'll need to have the music on a computer or an external drive connected to it.
    (120723)

  • It seems I have multiple Apple IDs.

    It seems I have somehow gotten multiple Apple IDs. and I only have one Apple product. one is the original ID that is attached to an old email address. Well that acct keeps shutting down my icloud email. and I can't get back to it because the email acct is no longer active. How do I get back to one ID? all I can find is how to reset the password and that won't work because I can't access the old acct.
    thanks Barney

    You can try going to http://appleid.apple.com to edit your information.

  • I have multiple apple ids was backing up everything to iCloud from iPhone 5. I just bought iPhone 6 and perform a iCloud restore. I received a message that all files did not restore.   How can I restore apps, files manually?

    I have multiple apple ids was backing up everything to iCloud from iPhone 5. I just bought iPhone 6 and perform a iCloud restore. I received a message that all files did not restore.   How can I restore apps, files manually?

    Yes - I connected my phone to my computer / Itunes and went into the apps section, but from there I have no idea how to manage the push notifications.  I even tryied going into itunes that is installed on my phone.  I still cannot find anyplace to manage these popups.  I have also gone into settings - notifiations - and tried turning all notifications for these apps all off but that didnt work either.  Any guidance is MUCH appreciated - Im not sure where to go from here.

Maybe you are looking for