Richard Hutto

Q: Family sharing when you have a shared iTunes ID for purchases

I can not solve my Apple ID problem and my need for Family Sharing. Here is the issue: I have 7 Apple IDs but Family Sharing only allows six. This is my breakdown:

 

1.) Shared Apple ID for purchases

2.) My Apple ID

3.) Wife's Apple ID

4.) Son's Apple ID

5.) Son's Apple ID

6.) Son's Apple ID

7.) Daughter's Apple ID

 

If I drop the shared account I loose all my purchases. If I drop mine or my wife's individual account I loose all of our contacts, mail, etc. Also, because the shared account is not an @iCloud account but a @ymail account I would still have to have second @icloud account for email anyway.

 

Is there anyway to merge the purchase account to my individual account or transfer the purchases? If not, is there a way to change the purchase account to a new @iCloud account so I don't have to use two accounts?

 

I would love any help.

 

Thanks

Posted on Sep 15, 2015 8:42 PM

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Q: Family sharing when you have a shared iTunes ID for purchases

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Sep 15, 2015 8:49 PM in response to Richard Hutto
    Level 9 (54,210 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2015 8:49 PM in response to Richard Hutto

    Accounts can't be merged, nor content transferred.

  • by Richard Hutto,

    Richard Hutto Richard Hutto Sep 15, 2015 8:57 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2015 8:57 PM in response to Limnos

    So I guess I'm just stuck. I will just always have to use two separate Apple IDs and I will loose the content in my individual iCloud account. Man, it just seems like there ought to be a solution to this. Bummer.

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Sep 15, 2015 8:57 PM in response to Richard Hutto
    Level 7 (26,244 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 15, 2015 8:57 PM in response to Richard Hutto

    If you are using a Shared ID for purchases, then not sure why that ID needs to be on Family Sharing? By Shared ID for Purchases, are you indicating that each of you have that shared ID signed in to the iTunes & App Store on your devices? If so, then again, it doesn't need to be a part of the Family Sharing account because you are all already sharing it.

     

    You can have your own personal Apple IDs signed into iCloud, but the same shared ID signed into the iTunes & App Store.

     

    Does that help?

     

    GB

  • by Richard Hutto,

    Richard Hutto Richard Hutto Sep 15, 2015 9:07 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2015 9:07 PM in response to gail from maine

    Thanks Gail. Well, I though about that but if I am understanding it correctly you can only use an Apple ID on 10 total devices if it is not on Family Sharing. Unfortunately we are moving well beyond that as we have 4 computers, 2 phones (for now), 4 iPads, and an Apple TV. We are a big family (there are 6 of us) and we use the devices for personal, education, and business so we have a lot of devices. That's why I think I have to be on family sharing. Unless I'm missing something.

  • by gail from maine,Helpful

    gail from maine gail from maine Sep 15, 2015 10:06 PM in response to Richard Hutto
    Level 7 (26,244 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 15, 2015 10:06 PM in response to Richard Hutto

    You can Associate an Apple ID with 10 devices and 5 computers, so you are still under the limit:

     

    Manage your associated devices in iTunes - Apple Support

     

    You can Authorize 5 computers:

     

    Authorize your computer in iTunes - Apple Support

     

    If you have 5 computers Associated with a particular Apple ID, those 5 computers must also be Authorized for that Apple ID as well.

     

    So, you would sign the Shared Apple ID into the iTunes and App Store on all of your devices, your Apple TV and your computers. You would Authorize the computers to that Apple ID if they were not already Authorized for that ID.

     

    The only issue you might run into with this approach is if you had a different Apple ID signed into iTunes or into the iTunes & App Stores and you had downloaded a past purchase, had Automatic Downloads turned on for that other Apple ID, or had iTunes Match turned on for that Apple ID. Those criteria are what Associate a particular device or computer to a specific Apple ID, and a different Apple ID can not be associated (i.e., cannot be signed into the iTunes or iTunes & App Store for downloading past purchases, using Automatic downloads, or using iTunes Match) for 90 days.

     

    It's kind of confusing, but if your family has been using that shared ID for all your purchases and downloads of those purchases, then it is likely that those devices and computers are already associated with the Shared Apple ID, so you would be good to go.

     

    Post back with any questions,

     

    GB

     

    P.S. You have one computer and 3 devices to go before you reach the limit for that Shared Apple/iTunes ID!

  • by Richard Hutto,

    Richard Hutto Richard Hutto Sep 15, 2015 9:30 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2015 9:30 PM in response to gail from maine

    Thanks Gail, That really helps. I didn't realize it was 10 devices plus 5 computers.

     

    The shared Apple ID is the only one with any purchases so that shouldn't be a problem. I will just continue to log all devices and computers into the shared ID for iTunes and App Store and then let everyone have their own iCloud account.

     

    The only question I have is about my kids Apple IDs then. since they are under 13 I guess I could still do Family Sharing in order to get them their own Apple ID?

     

    Can you use family sharing and still have the separate iTunes account for purchases?

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Sep 15, 2015 9:58 PM in response to Richard Hutto
    Level 9 (54,210 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2015 9:58 PM in response to Richard Hutto

    Family Sharing - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT201060 - "Family Sharing makes it easy for up to six people in your family to share each other’s iTunes, iBooks, and App Store purchases without sharing accounts. Pay for family purchases with the same credit card and approve kids’ spending right from a parent’s device. And share photos, a family calendar, and more to help keep everyone connected."

     

    Sharing purchased content with Family Sharing - http://support.apple.com/HT201085 - "With Family Sharing, family members get immediate access to each others’ music, movies, TV shows, books, and apps, and can download them to their own devices any time they like.*" "* Not all content and content types are available in all countries. All family members must use the same iTunes Store country or region. Music, movies, TV shows, and books can be downloaded on up to 10 devices per account, five of which can be computers. Apps can be downloaded to any devices the family member owns or controls.

     

    One person actually pays for any purchases made, though if another person has credit in their account such as from a gift card and they make a purchase their credit pays for it.

  • by gail from maine,Solvedanswer

    gail from maine gail from maine Sep 15, 2015 10:22 PM in response to Richard Hutto
    Level 7 (26,244 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 15, 2015 10:22 PM in response to Richard Hutto

    OK, so if you are wanting to do the Family Sharing so you can have kids under 13 with an Apple ID, then you might want to go a different route. For the Apple ID that has been used for all purchases up to this point, do you have a single computer that has the iTunes Library for that Apple ID?

     

    Here's what I'm thinking:

     

    If you have a Mac with an iTunes library that has the purchases done by the currently shared ID, then you could sync all of your devices to that library to get any of the purchases to date on the individual devices (music, books, movies, etc.). So you would get those existing purchases to the devices by syncing.

     

    Then you would set up Family Sharing with your Apple ID as the Organizer and put a credit card on it that can be used for future "Family Sharing" purchases.

     

    Add the rest of your family to the Family Sharing account, setting up your kids' Apple IDs, and turn on Ask to Buy for the minors.

     

    Going forward, any new purchases would be under your Apple ID, but would be shared by the entire family.

     

    If the computer where your library resides required downloading some purchases in order to get the library "up to date", then you would not be able to do the next step for 90 days, otherwise, you could do it immediately:

     

    On the computer where the Library of the purchases from the original Shared ID resides, sign on your Apple ID and authorize the computer to that ID. Then as you do new Family Sharing purchases with that ID, you can download those to that same iTunes library, so that it will contain both the old shared ID purchases and any new purchases you make with your Apple ID.

     

    That way, if someone wants to re-sync their device they will have an iTunes library to sync with that has the full compliment of all of your purchases.

     

    Does that make sense?

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB

     

    BTW - not sure if you have seen these links, but thought I would share in case you haven't:

     

    http://www.apple.com/icloud/family-sharing/

     

    Family Sharing and Apple IDs for kids - Apple Support

  • by Richard Hutto,

    Richard Hutto Richard Hutto Sep 15, 2015 10:23 PM in response to gail from maine
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2015 10:23 PM in response to gail from maine

    That sounds helpful. I'm going to give it a try. Thanks so much Gail.

  • by gail from maine,

    gail from maine gail from maine Sep 15, 2015 10:25 PM in response to Richard Hutto
    Level 7 (26,244 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 15, 2015 10:25 PM in response to Richard Hutto

    You are most welcome! Best of luck, and don't hesitate to post back if anything else comes up!

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB