Divorce, Family Sharing, and App Data

Question

Divorce, Family Sharing, and App Data

I have a couple apps that store data locally, not backed up anywhere. My spouse and I recently discontinued and I purchased my own Apple Music subscription, etc. however I have two apps that store personal data locally on my phone, one of which had synced to my spouses copy of the same app. My phone is saying I need to repurchase the apps in order to use them, which I'm willing to do, however when I click the prompt to do so there is no purchase option, only the blue "Open" button which takes me back to the app blocked by the prompt to repurchase it. I've read the threads on here about deleting and re-downloading the app however with these two apps in particular I'm very concerned and unwilling to risk losing the personal data stored in them. Any suggestions?

iPhone X, 12

Posted on Feb 6, 2019 7:39 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 6, 2019 8:36 PM in response to gail from maine

I inadvertently found a work around. I purchased one of the apps in question. I purchased the app on my iPad, which reauthorized its use on my iPhone. Yea!

Gail, to answer your question, if I recall correctly the app is built so as to secure the privacy of the data by intentionally not allowing the stored content to be backed up to iCloud or iTunes.

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Answer 2

Feb 6, 2019 8:40 PM in response to financial_foodie

That doesn't sound right. iCloud backups are encrypted by default. If you go to Settings>your name>iCloud>Manage Storage>Backups>select your device, do you see the app listed under the "Choose Data to back up" section?

Best,

GB

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Answer 3

Feb 6, 2019 8:19 PM in response to financial_foodie

If you are signed into the device with your own Apple ID, and the purchased tab says "Open", then the app was purchased under your ID, and is owned by you.

It's your ex-spouse that will eventually not be able to use the app. When it need to be updated, it is going to ask for the password to your Apple account, so it is he who will have to delete it and re-purchase it.

You do need to back up the app, however, or risk the possibility of losing your data permanently. Is there a reason why it wasn't included in your regular iCloud or iTunes backups?

Best,

GB

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Answer 4

Feb 6, 2019 8:14 PM in response to Eric Root

Sorry, I probably should be more specific. The apps were purchased originally under family share. I don't recall which of us purchased them but the data I'm fearful of losing by a typical delete/repurchase of the app is stored on my iPhone. In trying to open one of the apps my phone prompts me to repurchase the app since family share has been turned off (by my spouse). I'm more than happy to repurchse the app but the App Store doesn't give me an option. It's just put me in a loop of...

1 - open app, app prompts to repurchase with link to App Store

2 - viewing app in App Store shows the app is already downloaded and has the blue "Open" button instead of a "Buy" button

3 - tapping "Open" take me back to the app, which is still prompting me to repurchase

Hence the loop I'm stuck in. :'(

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

685,311 points

Feb 6, 2019 7:59 PM in response to financial_foodie

If I'm understanding your post correctly, you need your spouse's Apple ID/password to access the apps and retain your data.

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Divorce, Family Sharing, and App Data

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