Multiple Users using one iCloud account-Need to "de-Couple"

JTSjr wrote:

Hello all! I need some guidance. Years ago I created my iCloud account. Over time, my family members were added to the account using the same iCloud account ID. Now we have a problem where everything is seen under my name. For example, my wife and I each have an Apple watch but our workouts are combined under the one iCloud account. My kids stuff is coming through as well (their music selections are influencing my Apple Music suggestions). So I believe we should each have our unique iCloud account. However, I'm afraid all our photos will somehow be lost as our photos are associated with the "main" iCloud ID. We have or 40k photos and I'm afraid we may lose photos if I start logging out users on their Apple devices and logging in with their new iCloud ID"s and using Family Sharing.

Are my concerns valid? What's best practice to "de-couple" the devices to one account without losing any date, photos, etc.?

Yes. You should not share Apple IDs.

How to is a bit of an art.

If you start with the mindset that all data is yours, you can offload other members data to a neutral location and they can add it to their accounts once created.

See > https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204055 to start

JTSjr wrote:

When you say offload to a "neutral location" what do you mean?

A location that is neither the target or source.