Ramifications of separate Apple IDs

My iMac runs OSX Mavericks and my wife's runs OSX Mountain Lion. We also each have an iPhone and iPad. We have always used the same Apple ID but this causes some confusion. For example: In Contacts, when I mark my card as "me" it also makes that designation in her Contacts, which leads to problems with calendar notifications and, I think, in email. We are thinking that it would be better if we each had our own Apple ID. I wonder if anyone could summarize what ramifications this would have to the way we use the computers and what things might change. Also, would we each have to get a new Apple ID or could one of us keep the current one and simply change the ID on the second computer? How would we go about doing that? Thanks!

While it is certainly possible to share an Apple ID, it's an inconvenience for the reasons you describe, and more. Creating separate Apple IDs is really the only way to avoid them. Otherwise you will find yourselves receiving each other's text messages, etc, which is fun only until the novelty wears off.
The implications of it are that they will remain two separate identities with two separate purchase histories. They will be as separate from each other are yours is from anyone else's.
... could one of us keep the current one and simply change the ID on the second computer?
Yes, that is certainly recommended.
Creating a new one is easy: https://appleid.apple.com/account
Don't forget the answers to the security questions you choose, and consider using two step verification to preclude the possibility of pictures of yourself and / or your spouse appearing on websites that cater to prurient interests: Frequently asked questions about two-step verification for Apple ID.
Just like your security questions, don't lose the Recovery Key.
After creating the new Apple ID, "sign out" of all services that require it, and sign in using the new one. The list is a lengthy one, and growing more so. Use this as a checklist: Where can I use my Apple ID?

Similar Messages

My family has multiple iOS devices, all with 1 Apple ID. With iCloud coming, should I create separate Apple IDs for each member of my family?

Hello,
Between my family, we have 2 iPhones, multiple computers, iPads, and an Apple TV ALL tied in to the same Apple ID (the one I created when I got my first device). With iCloud coming, I wanted to know if I need to create separate Apple IDs for each family member (for emails, contacts, calendars, etc.). For instance, I would like to share certain contacts and a calendar with only my wife, all media between all family members, and have home sharing so that I can play/stream content on my Apple TV. Will there be a way to have multiple and distinct me.com accounts and yet share the same Apple ID?
Apologies for being verbose — just wanted to give ample info/background.
Thanks,
Jay.

I happened to stop at the Apple store yesterday for a separate issue and had a discussion about iCloud. Seems like this is how iCloud works (also, there's another thread on this forum that explains it well).
Each member of the family can have their own iCloud ID, which will be used for Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Apps, Bookmarks, Media, Photos, etc. and having this content synced automatically with a Mac (computer). The iCloud IDs work in tandem with the associated Apple ID — so while you cannot have multiple Apple IDs, you can certainly have multiple iCloud IDs tagged with a certain Apple ID.
While all this makes sense from the iOS device standpoint, I'm unclear on how things will sync with a Mac computer, especially if the family uses a single iMac with multiple login IDs for various members. For instance, I currently have an iMac and iTunes content resides in my Public folder, which my wife can still access when she logs in with her login ID. I'm guessing that I'll be able to set up her iCloud ID using her login, set up my iCloud ID using my login, while both our iMac logins will retain the same Apple ID. This would take care of syncing Photos, Contacts, Calendars, etc.
Another (not sure if unique) problem I face is our Address Book — right now, we have one GIANT address book with different groups set up. Certain groups sync to her iPhone, while others to mine. Some contacts are common between both of us. I'm hoping that if she/I updates a common contact, then the change will be reflected in both our groups of contacts. I hope this makes sense — for instance, I update a contact named Joe, and he's on my group of contacts in my iPhone. Hope iCloud updates the master contact card for Joe on the iMac, which would then automatically trigger the update on my wife's group of contacts—that Joe also belongs to— leading to an update on her iOS device as well.
Apologies for the lengthy response..

I have iTune accounts under two separate Apple IDs. Can I merge them into one account under one ID?

I have iTune accounts under two separate Apple IDs. Can I merge them into one account under one ID? I have purchased music and video in both.

No, it is not possible to merge accounts. Choose one as the primary account and keep a local backup of all purchases so you don't get into the mess where you encounter a 90 day freeze on re-downloading past purchases from multiple accounts.

Can we use two separate apple ids on one laptop to upgrade apps

can we use two separate apple ids on one laptop to upgrade apps

Welcome to the Apple Community.
Only if you use two separate user accounts.

Can my family use 'find my iphone' for each other if we each have separate apple ids? recently had to create separate ones b/c we were getting each others texts/facetimes and i read this happens when you share an apple id.

Can my family still use the 'find my iphone' app from our iphones / ipod touch to locate each others phone if we have separate apple ids? We were sharing a single apple id but recently we started getting each others texts/facetimes .. I read that this happens when you share an apple id. Will we just have to sign in with the others' apple id to locate their phone ?

Use Find My Friends app instead. Much easier to manage, and you won't need each other's id/pw's to do it. They only need to accept your invitations and vice versa.

How do I configure ONE iCloud account with 2 iOS devices each with separate Apple IDs?

We have two iPhones (husband and wife), each with separate Apple IDs. The phones are 5S running iOS 7. We want both phones to use the same iCloud account so each phone will have equal access to the same email, calendar and contacts - all synced in ONE iCloud account.
We will use husband's Apple ID for the iCloud ID. I would like to know exactly how to configure Wife's iPhone so that all email. calendar and contacts synced with iCloud will be identical to that available on Husband's iPhone. I would appreciate step-by-step instructions. Thank you. Dale

On your wife's phone, settings iCloud, sign out and don't keep data when prompted. Then sign in again using the husbands Apple ID.

HT204053 My husband and I have separate apple IDs, how do we use the same iTunes account

My husband and I have separate apple IDs , how do we use the same iTunes account

You don't. Each ID is associated with a separate account. Each of you should maintain a separate user account on your computer so as to maintain separate iTunes Libraries. Do not sync your phone with your husbands account or Apple ID and vice-versa or your data will become inter-mixed or worse - deleted from the phone.
Try to understand that iDevices are intended for use by one person with one Apple ID, one iTunes Library, and one iTunes account. They are not multi-user devices.

HT204053 I only have one e-mail, how do I set up separate apple IDs for three family members ?

How do I create apple IdS for three family members with the same e-mail? They are kids and have no e-mail.

You can configure a new email address for them using the @cloud.com server suffix. Do that when you open an iCloud account for each and set up the separate Apple IDs that will each be tied to a different email address.
Apple iCloud - Pertinent Questions
Apple IDs and iCloud
iCloud Help
Creating an iCloud account- Frequently Asked Questions

HT1206 Lots of info about one user using multiple computers. What about multiple users with separate Apple IDs using same computer? Having problems getting my wifes new iPhone talking to her apple account on the computer we share (2 users)

Lots of info about one user using multiple computers. What about multiple users with separate Apple IDs using same computer? Having problems getting my wifes new iPhone talking to her apple account on the computer we share (2 users)

You need to create a user account for your wife (or yourself depending on who has the current user account). When syncing, each of you should sign in as a separate user, login to iTunes and then sync. I had this problem when my sister got an iPhone. When we did her initial sync, everything on my iPhone showed up on hers. Apple gave me this solution.

HT204053 What are the pros and cons of 1) choosing to use the SAME Apple ID for iCloud services on one side, and purchases on the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore, on the other side; or 2) to have and use two separate Apple Ids for these "two sides

All is in the title, so I repeat it below with a better identation.
What are the pros and cons of
1) choosing to use the SAME
Apple ID for iCloud services on one side, and
purchases on the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore, on the other side; or
2) to have and use two separate Apple Ids for these "two sides"?
P.S.
I have loads and loads of free podcasts in iTunes in my iMac, that are certainly more thant the 5 gigas the iCloud provides for free, so I don't want those to go to the cloud. But this is perhaps a different question...
Also need to mention that I have itunes on a mac, a pc and an iphone.
Sorry to look so silly with this question, but I don't get the "big picture".

You need to create a user account for your wife (or yourself depending on who has the current user account). When syncing, each of you should sign in as a separate user, login to iTunes and then sync. I had this problem when my sister got an iPhone. When we did her initial sync, everything on my iPhone showed up on hers. Apple gave me this solution.

Can separate apple ids be set up for individual family members that use different devices? Several iPads are tied to one Apple ID (email address). Thank you.

Can separate apple ids be set up for individual family members that use different devices (iPads & iPhones)? Several family members are tied to one apple id (email address). Thanks.

How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495
How to Share a Family iPad
http://www.macworld.com/article/1163347/how_to_share_a_family_ipad.html
Using iPhone, iPad, or iPod with multiple computers
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1202
iOS & iCloud Tips: Sharing an Apple ID With Your Family
http://www.macstories.net/stories/ios-5-icloud-tips-sharing-an-apple-id-with-you r-family/
How To Best Use and Share Apple IDs across iPhones, iPads and iPods
http://www.nerdsonsite.com/blog/2012/06/07/help-im-appleid-confused/
 Cheers, Tom

I have two phones under the same apple ID and I want to put them on two separate apple IDs. how do I do this?

I have two phones under the same apple ID and I want to put them on separate apple IDs, how do I do this??

If you sign out of an Apple ID under Settings > iCloud, you should be prompted for an option to 'Keep on my iPhone' in regards to Contacts and other related data. Then, when signing in with another Apple ID on that same iPhone, you should be prompted to 'Merge'. If you do both, then you won't lose any Contacts, and the iCloud Contacts will then be merged into the new Apple ID iCloud, but also will stay on the old Apple ID iCloud.
In the future, it might be best to post your own question thread instead of bumping a thread that is over two years old.

Can I have 2 iPhones with 2 separate Apple IDs access the same Library on a single computer?

Here's our current set-up:
- Dad has a laptop with iTunes and his music, iPhone and iPad all running off of his Apple ID.
- Mom has a laptop with iTunes and her music, and iPhone running off of her Apple ID.
- 2 kids with new iPods that we haven't set up yet (getting them for Christmas)
We would like to create a SINGLE library with all family music and media on Dad's laptop, then use his laptop to sync all music, movies, audiobooks, podcasts, and other media libraries so that we can each pick and choose what gets synced to our devices without messing up any other data that is personal such as apps (with embedded personal profiles such as Evernote and Facebook), bookmarks, photos, iMessage, iCloud, etc.
We assume that we need to maintain our two separate Apple IDs, and potentially set up some for the kids so that they can have some personal apps on their iPods, but if that is not the case we would appreciate some direction.
Thanks. If you can offer a solution please be specific in the steps required.

Hi, we don't have two iPhones in the family as yet but as I understand it each device can have separate settings for syncing calendars and contacts. For example my iPhone syncs these over the air with the Exchange server at work so if/when my wife gets an iPhone it would be easy to have hers sync to Outlook on our computer
To make sure apps purchased on one device don't inadvertently merge with others turn off Automatically sync new apps from the apps tab when you connect your device.
The Apple support document How to use multiple iPods with one computer suggests a number of ways for managing the media content. I use method two (Sync with selected playlists) with a slight twist. Rather than regular playlists I set the grouping field to indicate which users should receive which tracks and create smart playlists based on the content of this field.
e.g.
"Alice's Tracks" is "Grouping contains Alice" + "Kind contains audio"
"Bob's Videos" is "Grouping contains Bob" + "Kind does not contain audio"
Tracks that both Alice & Bob want on their iPods have the grouping set to "Alice/Bob"
etc.
I currently manage our family's five iDevices using this system, each getting a different selection to suit their tastes and the capacity of their device. An advantage of using the grouping field is that it is stored in file tags (for non-wav audio files anyway) so that it is relatively easy to recreate the playlists should the iTunes library get trashed and need rebuilding. Also useful if you move files about manually as playlist membership is preserved when you delete & re-import the tracks.
So far we have managed everything with a single Apple ID, but that will probably change as the kids leave home. Managing app updates from multiple IDs is a pain as you have to manually sign in to each account in turn, however there are other benefits to each user having their own account.
tt2

I appear to have two separate Apple IDs and have purchased music under both. Is there any way to consolidate the accounts into one?

I appear to have two separate Apple IDs and to have purchased music under both of them (one is my husband's email account, the other is mine). Is there a way to consolidate them, or is it possible to make the purchases made under two separte IDs downloadable on the same device(s)?

Not at this time. There is no way to merge two Apple IDs or be signed into the iTunes Store with more than one Apple ID at a time on an iOS device. However, you can USB sync the music to more than one device at a time, no problem. As long as all the music is on the same computer.

My wife and I each have an iPhone4 with separate Apple IDs. We are hopefully about to purchase the 4th gen iPad; can we use iCloud on the iPad with separate IDs on the iPhones?

My wife and I each have an iPhone4 with separate Apple IDs. We are hopefully about to purchase the 4th gen iPad; can we use iCloud on the iPad with separate IDs on the iPhones?
We would like to have all our music, photos, etc. on the iPad - is it best to create a new combined Apple ID for the iPad and simply upload our music, photos, etc. via our laptop instead? Does this not then render the iCloud useless to us?

And just in case you were wondering, installing one purchased copy on all the Macs you own is specifically called out as allowed in the Mac OS X Lion license.
If you do not want to download multiple times, just copy the Applications -> Install Lion app to a safe place BEFORE you do the first install. Then copy that copy to any Mac you own where you want to install Lion.

Ramifications of separate Apple IDs

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