Trasmc

Q: Multiple Devices, One Apple ID, iMessage Chaos

Hi all,

 

Wanted to bring up a new "feature" of iOS 6 - probably already has been discussed here a few times, but this is a real pain and something that I think Apple has backwards.

 

My wife, daughter and I each have an iPhone 4, and son has an iPod Touch.  All of us have upgraded to iOS 6, and we all share one Apple ID.

 

Everyone is able to turn iMessage on without any issue, but - every OTHER device is given the option of accepting messages sent to the newly activated device.  They can either accept or deny the ability to do so, but then going into the iMessage settings they can reactivate this "feature." 

 

Shouldn't the setup be that when activating iMessage from a device, it gives THAT device and only that device the option of whether the other devices have the ability to send / receive messages?

 

We were all wondering why on earth we were all receiving iMessages from friends of my wife, friends of my daughter, people I work with, etc.  It's a huge hassle - so much so that we have all turned iMessage off. 

 

Big disappointment in this implementation - the option to share should be owned by the device that is turned on, not the other devices that are already on the account. 

 

Thanks,

 

Scott

iOS 6

Posted on Sep 28, 2012 3:30 PM

Close

Q: Multiple Devices, One Apple ID, iMessage Chaos

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 3 of 4 last Next
  • by fjmanso,

    fjmanso fjmanso Jan 10, 2013 12:17 AM in response to cwebber1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 10, 2013 12:17 AM in response to cwebber1

    A little more detailed  is this post:

     

    http://gigaom.com/2012/05/26/how-many-apple-ids-should-your-family-have/

     

    I hope this helps

  • by cwebber1,

    cwebber1 cwebber1 Jan 10, 2013 9:32 AM in response to fjmanso
    Level 1 (47 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 10, 2013 9:32 AM in response to fjmanso

    fjmanso wrote:

     

    A little more detailed  is this post:

     

    http://gigaom.com/2012/05/26/how-many-apple-ids-should-your-family-have/

     

    I hope this helps

    Both are great articles.  Thanks for posting them.

     

     

    It would be nice and clean if you could just create an family@mymail.com and have everybody add that to their AppleID.  But it doesn't work that way.  So instead, the only method I know of, is to send/receive Group Messages (those messages addressed to 4-5 other people).

     

    Not sure if there's a way to put a lable on a group of email addresses, or create a group contact.??

  • by gueebs88,

    gueebs88 gueebs88 Feb 18, 2013 7:45 AM in response to Trasmc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 18, 2013 7:45 AM in response to Trasmc

    I have an iphone, and an old iphone that currently works under wifi kinda like an ipod touch does. I can't make calls or send SMS messages, but I've always been able to send and receive iMessages using my same phone number. I did an IOS update  yesterday, and now I can only send and receive iMessages using my email address. Anyone know how I can get it back to using my number? My telelphone number is dimmed out and I can't select it in the "send & receive" tab.

  • by Kapasi,

    Kapasi Kapasi May 20, 2013 4:51 PM in response to Trasmc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 20, 2013 4:51 PM in response to Trasmc

    If I have an iPhone 4 and an iPhone 5, and I need to use both but my cellular service is only set up with the iPhone 5, can I use the iPhone 4 with the same apple Id without messing up any of my apps, contacts, music, photos etc...

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA May 20, 2013 7:01 PM in response to Kapasi
    Level 9 (79,660 points)
    iTunes
    May 20, 2013 7:01 PM in response to Kapasi

    Kapasi wrote:

     

    If I have an iPhone 4 and an iPhone 5, and I need to use both but my cellular service is only set up with the iPhone 5, can I use the iPhone 4 with the same apple Id without messing up any of my apps, contacts, music, photos etc...

    Yes.

  • by Vesstess,

    Vesstess Vesstess Jul 3, 2013 2:43 AM in response to fjmanso
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 3, 2013 2:43 AM in response to fjmanso

    Ok. That sounds great. But. ..

    I had entered my @gmail when I first registered my iphone and apple automatically created @me.com email. Now, can I use my @gmail as my family appleID and set the @me as my iCloud account on my iphone and have the 2x5GB storage. Or do I have to crate new appleID.

  • by proaudioguy,

    proaudioguy proaudioguy Jul 26, 2013 6:10 PM in response to Vesstess
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2013 6:10 PM in response to Vesstess

    This thread was the top hit on google for my query.  I have 3 family members, a total of 6 devices.  My apple ID pays for all itunes and apps.  Each family member has their own apple ID for everything else.  I figured all this out myself to great frustration.  What I would like to do is associate the other 2 apple IDs with the account so they can use itunes and app store without MY apple ID and MY password, but I still want all the apps and music to be shared among all 6 devices.  Currently everyone syncs to my computer which is device 6.  If they have completely indepenant IDs simply using the same credit card, then I cannot share an app or song throughout the house.  I have the computer set up to download apps and music automatically when someone gets something.  I think that would break as well.  So I'd like to authorize them to purchase without having to enter my password, but I still want to be able to share so I need it all to be under 1 account with different IDs.

     

    How do businesses handle this?

  • by Richard Apple2,

    Richard Apple2 Richard Apple2 Oct 14, 2013 1:10 AM in response to Trasmc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 14, 2013 1:10 AM in response to Trasmc

    Help, can you guys help me out with a suggestion how to solve this problem? I have my old IPad to my son, he is living in another country with my seperated wife. Now you imagine my horror finding out that my ex is enjoying all my text messaging from my IPhone to my friends. I have now switched off Imessaging on my Iphone, but then I lose all other features. I have one Iphone and one Ipad which I can reprogram, but my Apple Id I would like to stay on also the other Ipad for my son to buy games.

    How to solve this? I cannot remotely disable?

  • by cwebber1,

    cwebber1 cwebber1 Oct 14, 2013 5:09 AM in response to Richard Apple2
    Level 1 (47 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 14, 2013 5:09 AM in response to Richard Apple2


    Richard Apple2 wrote:

     

    Help, can you guys help me out with a suggestion how to solve this problem? I have my old IPad to my son, he is living in another country with my seperated wife. Now you imagine my horror finding out that my ex is enjoying all my text messaging from my IPhone to my friends. I have now switched off Imessaging on my Iphone, but then I lose all other features. I have one Iphone and one Ipad which I can reprogram, but my Apple Id I would like to stay on also the other Ipad for my son to buy games.

    How to solve this? I cannot remotely disable?

    Making changes to your iPhone will not prevent your son's iPad from viewing any messages that are sent, because they are sent to the "AppleID".  Since the iPad is using that AppleID, any message sent to you (meaning to your AppleID) will be recieved by every device using that AppleID for Messaging.

     

    Here's what you need to understand.

    You can have 1, or 2, or 3 ... or however many AppleID's you want. 

    Think of an AppleID as being like a SAVINGS ACCOUNT at a bank.  You can have more than one.  You can have one for your money, that nobody else can touch, and you can have another account that you and your Son share.  An AppleID works much the same way.

     

    AppleID's are used for the iTunes.

    AppleID's are also used for Messages, and for FaceTime.

    The AppleID (account) for iTunes DOES NOT have to be the same AppleID (account) used for Messaging.  (that's how you have it set up right now).

     

    By turning off iMessaging on your phone, you've given the iPad exclusive use of iMessaging.   In other words, the iPad is free to send/receive messages to your friends without you knowing about it.  Probably not what you intended.

     

    AppleID's a tricky to deal with.  We all started with a single AppleID, and then later found out that we need two or more  (one to identify the family so we can share purchased apps on several devices, and another to identify each user in the family).   The problem is, and I've found no guidance for this, is that you now need to separate your ONE AppleID into multiple AppleID.  Not so hard if you have access to each device.  But that is not always the case (as your case proves)

     

    You can Login to  appleid.apple.com, and then change the password for your AppleID.  This may or may not (I don't really know for sure) prevent that iPad from using your AppleID until they enter a password.  Problem is, it might disable all of the purchased apps on until the password is entered.  Nonetheless, if you're going through a divorce, the cost of Apps pales in comparison to the potential loss giving your Ex access to your private conversations.

     

    Second, you should create a second AppleID for JUST YOU (like the savings account that is only for you... not your and your family).  Use this new Personal AppleID for Messaging and FaceTime.  Use the old one for Apps.

     

    Lastly, keep in mind that some of your contacts will be trying to contract you on your old AppleID (the one shared by your Phone and your iPad).

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Oct 14, 2013 10:24 AM in response to Richard Apple2
    Level 9 (79,660 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 14, 2013 10:24 AM in response to Richard Apple2

    Richard Apple2 wrote:

     

    Help, can you guys help me out with a suggestion how to solve this problem? I have my old IPad to my son, he is living in another country with my seperated wife. Now you imagine my horror finding out that my ex is enjoying all my text messaging from my IPhone to my friends. I have now switched off Imessaging on my Iphone, but then I lose all other features. I have one Iphone and one Ipad which I can reprogram, but my Apple Id I would like to stay on also the other Ipad for my son to buy games.

    How to solve this? I cannot remotely disable?

     

    Change your AppleID password here -> https://appleid.apple.com

    Also change your security questions.

  • by Richard Apple2,

    Richard Apple2 Richard Apple2 Oct 15, 2013 5:53 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 15, 2013 5:53 AM in response to Chris CA

    Thanks Chris, I understand I just have to give my son temporarily access to a new password. But will the Aps and Games stay on the Ipad? Can he still use them?

  • by Richard Apple2,

    Richard Apple2 Richard Apple2 Oct 15, 2013 6:03 AM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 15, 2013 6:03 AM in response to Chris CA

    It worked! Very simple solution. Thank you.

  • by Richard Apple2,

    Richard Apple2 Richard Apple2 Oct 15, 2013 6:08 AM in response to cwebber1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 15, 2013 6:08 AM in response to cwebber1

    Changing the password is the most simpel solution, and it worked! Thanks anyway! And the Aps and games remain, I have tested this on my own Ipad. Pfffffffff.

  • by friscofunny,

    friscofunny friscofunny Jan 1, 2014 5:43 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 1, 2014 5:43 PM in response to Chris CA

    9 yr old has one device, 11 yr old has another, I have another couple.  Why on earth would I create seperate Apple ID accounts and NOT take advantage of sharing paid for music, rented movies, etc. with all devices?  It would be ridiculous to restrict the use of one song to one device because it was bought with that one AID.  What am I missing here? 

  • by horse5971,

    horse5971 horse5971 Jan 1, 2014 6:24 PM in response to friscofunny
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 1, 2014 6:24 PM in response to friscofunny

    Keep one Apple ID for the iTunes Store. But have separate for iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and maybe iCloud but iCloud depend on if you want to share photostream, contacts, or use the find my iPhone app for one Apple ID and find all the devices. There are sign ins for each of those apps under settings and the appropriate app. Hope that helps

first Previous Page 3 of 4 last Next