larrens

Q: Family sharing and iCloud in iOS 10?

Hello

      

 

I am after some advice on iCloud and Family sharing. (devices have been upgraded to iOS 10)

      

I used to have multiple devices (2 iPhones & 2 iPads) linked to 1 Apple ID.

      

Due to mixed text messages etc. and cross dialing, I enabled Family Sharing.

    

The original Apple ID (now used for iCloud login as well) is on my iPhone and has the credit card for App store purchases linked.

 

 

My wife has her own Apple ID / iCloud login & the “family purchases” are linked to the ‘original’ ID.

 

2 Questions:

 

 

1. I want to be able to share contacts through iCloud sync (currently syncs OTA to Outlook on a Windows PC) – I know this could not be done directly under iOS8/9 but wondering if this can now be done under iOS10?
(I am aware there was a way to have the 2nd iCloud account on each devices for contact syncing but want to avoid workarounds if possible).

 

Perhaps there is a way to have the ‘original’ Apple ID as the master / organiser account (for contact syncing, purchases etc) and set up myself as a family member, much like I did for my wife? (ie. so we have 3 apple IDs for the 2 devices) – is this a possibility?

 

2. Similarly, is there an easy was to back up the photos of each device to that single ‘original’ iCloud account?  (it has 50gb storage, hardly used so lots of space to back up photos from the other phone).

 

thanks

iPhone 6, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 14, 2016 12:01 AM

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Q: Family sharing and iCloud in iOS 10?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by zinacef,

    zinacef zinacef Sep 14, 2016 7:17 AM in response to larrens
    Level 5 (4,067 points)
    Applications
    Sep 14, 2016 7:17 AM in response to larrens

    1. iCloud contacts cannot be shared.

     

    2. in order to back up the photos to each device, as you put it, each device would have to be logged in to the same Apple/iCloud ID.  Why not consider sharing the photos via Family Sharing?

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 14, 2016 10:15 AM in response to larrens
    Level 9 (71,487 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 14, 2016 10:15 AM in response to larrens
  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 14, 2016 10:15 AM in response to larrens
    Level 9 (71,487 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 14, 2016 10:15 AM in response to larrens

    .

  • by larrens,

    larrens larrens Sep 14, 2016 9:04 PM in response to zinacef
    Level 1 (15 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 14, 2016 9:04 PM in response to zinacef

    Thanks - I don't want to share the photos via family sharing as my device will get filled up with loads of her photos that I don't really want.

     

    I will have to use a workaround I guess for contacts and photos.

    thanks anyway ..

  • by DelPez,

    DelPez DelPez Sep 20, 2016 4:00 PM in response to larrens
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 20, 2016 4:00 PM in response to larrens

    Hello Larrens,

     

    I am trying the same thing. Somehow Apple seems to think our families are a security risk. It would be nice if we at least have the option to share Contacts or not. Surely not to much to ask.

    So I did the following.

     

    On my iPhone I login with my AppleID to everything (iCloud, iTunes, Messenger) I am the Master for our Family setup. I added my Gmail mail account separately (only checked off Mail). Under >Settings>iCloud - everything is OFF except Contacts and Calendars and Find My iPhone. You can check ON/OFF whatever else you like to share.

     

    On the other Family members I have two iCloud accounts setup. The first one is their own AppleID and has everything checked OFF except turn ON Find My iPhone (and Mail if they use it). You can add whatever they want to share but leave Contacts and Calendars OFF. They each sign into their Messenger account using their own iCloud account/AppleID. The second iCloud account on each Family member is logged in with my AppleID and has only Contacts and Calendars checked ON. This way they now share your Contacts and Calendars.

     

    Note also that for purchasing I have all phones signed into the iTunes store using my account. I found sharing music is not as easy either. I can only play movies and music on my AppleTV from the account they are purchased under. So if my kid buys a song and we want to play it on our AppleTV we have to logout from my account and back in with theirs. Strange since I’m paying for all of it anyway.

     

    To share Photos I use two methods. First we simply use AirDrop if we’re close. Second I use Dropbox and have a folder on Dropbox for each family member. Each member can then decide to sync whatever folder they want on their phone (Dropbox App) and drop Photos wherever they want to share. Sign everyone into Dropbox with the same Dropbox account ID. I find Dropbox much easier and comprehensive than iCloud Drive. I have iCloud Drive turned off everywhere.

     

    Please let me know what else you find out.

     

    Cheers,

    RBG