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Setup for multiple Apple Accounts (Users) to share the one iMac

How do you setup two users with separate Apple Accounts to share the one iMac device

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Feb 9, 2020 9:47 AM

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Posted on Feb 9, 2020 10:26 AM

Hello, johnnybigbird.


Setting up for multiple Apple accounts is as easy as setting up a second user. This must be done from a user account that has administrator privileges on the computer.

Navigate to Apple menu > System Preferences > Users & Groups.

Unlock the panel by clicking the lock in the bottom-left corner, enter your password and click unlock.

Click the add (+) button above the lock now to create a new computer user account. You will be presented with options to create a Standard or other Admin or Restricted account. Define the account and a password and click Create User. I believe you will want to set up this user initially with admin privileges in order to follow up and do the iCloud and Internet Accounts setups. After that you could return to this panel and make the user a Standard User if you wish.


Now click Login Options either disable Automatic Login OR check the box that enables the Show Fast User Switching menu.


Exit the panel and go to Apple menu > Log Out (User...).


Log in the the new user account that was just added, navigate again to Apple menu > System PreferencesiCoud account and precede to set up the new user's iCloud and Internet Accounts accounts using their own Apple ID and passwords, setup their email and other preferences and you're done.


See also:

Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac - Apple Support



1 reply
Question marked as Best reply

Feb 9, 2020 10:26 AM in response to johnnybigbird

Hello, johnnybigbird.


Setting up for multiple Apple accounts is as easy as setting up a second user. This must be done from a user account that has administrator privileges on the computer.

Navigate to Apple menu > System Preferences > Users & Groups.

Unlock the panel by clicking the lock in the bottom-left corner, enter your password and click unlock.

Click the add (+) button above the lock now to create a new computer user account. You will be presented with options to create a Standard or other Admin or Restricted account. Define the account and a password and click Create User. I believe you will want to set up this user initially with admin privileges in order to follow up and do the iCloud and Internet Accounts setups. After that you could return to this panel and make the user a Standard User if you wish.


Now click Login Options either disable Automatic Login OR check the box that enables the Show Fast User Switching menu.


Exit the panel and go to Apple menu > Log Out (User...).


Log in the the new user account that was just added, navigate again to Apple menu > System PreferencesiCoud account and precede to set up the new user's iCloud and Internet Accounts accounts using their own Apple ID and passwords, setup their email and other preferences and you're done.


See also:

Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac - Apple Support



Setup for multiple Apple Accounts (Users) to share the one iMac

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