My kids have an apple ID in the settings on their iPads - which is the same as my apple log-in. They have their own apple IDs on the app store settings on their iPads.
I tried changing the iPad email to their address but it won't let me (assume because it recognises it as being used for a different account?)
Does this matter? Which ID is associated with the apps and data on their iPads (they both have stuff they don't want to lose)?
Thank you
iPad, iPadOS 14
Yes, it matters - a lot!
If all your family devices are sharing a common AppleID for iCloud, you’ll encounter all kinds of issues with unintentional sharing of sensitive/private information (including your keychain - in which website passwords are security stored). Account lockout is also a serious risk; aside from inconvenience, this may cause considerable pain.
The Golden Rule: Don’t share an AppleID between users. Each user should have their own AppleID for their own exclusive use - linked to their own primary email (and secondary/recovery email addresses and trusted telephone numbers).
You would be best advised to separate your digital identities and configure a new AppleID for the second user:
How to create a new Apple ID – Apple Support
After separating your identities, you can continue to selectively share purchased Apple Services, Subscriptions, Apps and Media using Apple’s Family Sharing features:
Set up Family Sharing – Apple Support
Share App Store, iTunes Store and Apple Books purchases with Family Sharing – Apple Support
https://www.imore.com/how-set-up-family-sharing-iphone-ipad
You might be best advised to manually backup any important/irreplaceable data from your children’s iPads - and then to prepare them properly:
What to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support
After preparing the iPads, set them up from scratch using the correct AppleIDs - and then manually copy any data back to the respective devices.
As for backup and restoring data, you’ll not be able to use the automatic iCloud or iTunes backup - as these will be associated with your own AppleID.
Yes, it matters - a lot!
If all your family devices are sharing a common AppleID for iCloud, you’ll encounter all kinds of issues with unintentional sharing of sensitive/private information (including your keychain - in which website passwords are security stored). Account lockout is also a serious risk; aside from inconvenience, this may cause considerable pain.
The Golden Rule: Don’t share an AppleID between users. Each user should have their own AppleID for their own exclusive use - linked to their own primary email (and secondary/recovery email addresses and trusted telephone numbers).
You would be best advised to separate your digital identities and configure a new AppleID for the second user:
How to create a new Apple ID – Apple Support
After separating your identities, you can continue to selectively share purchased Apple Services, Subscriptions, Apps and Media using Apple’s Family Sharing features:
Set up Family Sharing – Apple Support
Share App Store, iTunes Store and Apple Books purchases with Family Sharing – Apple Support
https://www.imore.com/how-set-up-family-sharing-iphone-ipad
You might be best advised to manually backup any important/irreplaceable data from your children’s iPads - and then to prepare them properly:
What to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support
After preparing the iPads, set them up from scratch using the correct AppleIDs - and then manually copy any data back to the respective devices.
As for backup and restoring data, you’ll not be able to use the automatic iCloud or iTunes backup - as these will be associated with your own AppleID.
Purchased Apps are permanently associated with the AppleID account that was used to make the purchase. If using Family Sharing, this is of little consequence - as all purchased Apps are shared by all members of the Family Group.
Whilst App sharing effectively makes App “ownership” transparent, any App data will relate to the device or the AppleID used to sign-in to iCloud; data is either locally stored on the device, iCloud storage, or both.
Hi - I am still struggling with this. I have read the suggested link on what to do before selling etc - the backup methods there are icloud and itunes which I assume will be associated with the wrong IDs? I can't see how to manually backup without using one of these methods. Any suggestions please?
An iCloud backup will be created in iCloud - this being associated with a specific AppleID. iTunes provides other opportunities.
A selective backup of individual files will require you to manually identify and save the files to suitable a bulk storage device - or other cloud service. Clearly this is not a full backup, but allows you to save and avoid loss of any important files. You might, by example, consider Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive storage; there are other cloud providers - you might already be using one or more.
As you are beginning understand, sharing an AppleID creates significant challenges. You might even conclude that your children have no critical data that merits targeted backup.
Thank you - I really appreciate the comprehensive response.
One question - which of the IDs will their apps be associated with. My son plays Minecraft and is desperate not to lose his game progress
Two Apple IDs on one device
