Can 2 iPhones be synced to the same computer?

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Level 1

19 points

Can 2 iPhones be synced to the same computer?

I have had an iPhone 3G for the past 2 years, and just bought an iPhone4.
Can I give the 3G to my wife and sync both iPhones to the same iTunes library on ONE computer? Or need she sync to her own iTunes library on her laptop?

We have the same Contacts and Calendar etc on our laptops (through MobileMe), and I would love it if both iPhones behaves identical, i.e. that they had the same content (including the Apps that I downloaded/bought). Is this possible?

Thanks for any pointers/help/suggestions. Cheers, Veit

MacBook and PowerBook G4 (i.e PowerPC), and MacMini (also PowerPC), Mac OS X (10.5.7), iPhone 3G (vers. 4); iPhone4 (vers. 4)

Posted on Oct 1, 2010 5:04 AM

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Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 1, 2010 5:09 AM in response to vburger

You can sync as many devices as you want to the same itunes account, there is no limit. You can have the same content on each device or different content, the choice is yours. Itunes will keep everything straight, by device, upon subsequent syncs.

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Answer 2

vburger Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 1, 2010 5:56 AM in response to wjosten

Many thanks for the very quick response and the "good news".
Just one clarification: are iPhone Apps also included? In other words, since I only bought them once (although most of them are free), can they be used on two different iPhones? That, of course, would be very nice. Thanks in advance.

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 1, 2010 6:05 AM in response to vburger

are iPhone Apps also included?

Yes, all itunes content is available. Again, as long as you sync to the same itunes account, there is no limit to the number of devices that can sync to that account.

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Answer 4

vburger Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 1, 2010 6:14 AM in response to wjosten

Thanks for the clarification and sorry for the follow-up question: I assume that the iTunes account needs to be on ONE and the SAME computer, or can the same iTunes account reside on TWO separate laptops?
(Just curious, is there a paper that introduces the grand concepts of iTunes without going too much into detail? E.g. that many devices can be synced to one iTunes account; that one iPhone can ONLY be synced to ONE account; etc. etc.)

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Answer 5

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 1, 2010 6:27 AM in response to vburger

You can have the same itunes account in use on up to 5 authorized computers. If you want to use that account on a different computer, after logging into the account, in itunes, go up to Store>Authorize this Computer. You can then re-download purchased apps for free to this computer.

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Answer 6

vburger Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 1, 2010 8:20 AM in response to wjosten

Excellent, and many thanks for the quick and comprehensive advice. Much appreciated.
Cheers, Veit

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