A puzzling question about running two iPads on one computer

apps are linked to your account details i think, so therwefore you cannot just plug anyones ipad into your library and hope the apps will install/run on the ipads.

I run the same way you do but i have not created multiple libraries: i have my ipad names kirisutes ipad 2 and my partners named sarahs ipad...the apps on sarahs ipad dont automatically sync to mine..they both retain their own "tick box" references when they are plugged in.

Although all apps are downloaded to my single library the ipads themselves retain seperate installs and contents.

maybe you went too far in creating multiple libraries? or did you desire seperate payment details etc as well?

You may share your iTunes content with up to five computers that you have authorized. You may share your iTunes content with as many iOS devices as you wish.

Apple recommends three different ways to share your content with various iOS device.

How to use multiple iPods, iPads, or iPhones with one computer

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495

(none) Ctein wrote:

Dear K,

Hmmm, that's the way I would've expected it to work-- that iTunes would just naturally keep segregated apps.

Sounds like you're doing exactly what I want to. Mind if I ask what synch settings you're using? I had my iPad set up to automatically launch iTunes when the iPad is plugged in and to automatically sync apps, not not media (music/movies) content ('cause I'm always messing with that stuff).

Maybe I should reset Paula's iPad back to Square One and start again. Nothing but the standard OS on it yet, so nothing to be lost.

It *does* sound like I'm doing something wrong. Anyone else got a clue what it might be?

Thanks!

pax / Ctein

Set up separate computer user login accounts and you will each have completely separate iTunes libraries.

No need to remember to hold OPtion.

This will also give you your own contacts, calendars and everything else.

"separate login accounts are not feasible-- we use the same computer at the same time or swap off very frequently."

Fast user switching works great.

Just select the account and enter password.

But K indicates that even that shouldn't be necessary

kirisilvermane wrote;

apps are linked to your account details i think, so therwefore you cannot just plug anyones ipad into your library and hope the apps will install/run on the ipads.

This is incorrect. When you plug any iPad in to your computer, you can sync everything in iTunes to the iPad.

You can select the iPad and select only what you want to sync (out of anything/everything in the library).

He is doing it by maintaining separate setup for the two different devices. When a device is attached to your computer, you can configure it completely different than any other device by the content that you choose in each of the different tabs; Info, Apps, Video, Music, etc. So in Apps, if you only check the boxes for your apps when your iPad is connected, it should remember to only sync those apps from that point on. If you have arranged your music content into Playlists and you configure for iTunes to only sync those playlists in the Music tab when your iPad is connected, then it should remember which playlists from that moment on and only sync those playlists.

Ok this is how I did it:

First I use windows 7, shouldn't make a difference though the process is the same

Backed up ipad1.

Synced and activated iPad 2 and set sync options as follows: sync only chosen apps, don't sync music, photos, sync only chosen books

Music and vids etc are personal choices I have iphone4 as my music player so never use my iPad for music at all etc

With all stuff synced to iPad 2 I plugged in iPad 1 and did a RESTORE.

Renamed ipad1 to suitable name.

With all that done both iPads now are set to sync on plugging in, but not to automatically sync all items! I've kept all syncing to the option of " sync only chosen items"

The iPads will copy all purchases back to the same iTunes account, as well as photos etc stored into same library! I just use my account on both iPads so no need for multiple libraries. It means of course that I see all the stuff my partner has purchased and downloaded etc but that ain't an issue; and because I do all the IOS updates etc I just keep both iPads running smooth from the single pc unit.

As dah veed says; you might just need to arrange some playlists and go from auto syncing everything to just syncing selected items.

You mis understood what I was getting at! I thought for security reasons an app purchase is linked to your iTunes account data. So in order for someone to just install all their apps on their mates iPads it would require that single account on all the other iPads! there is no way to share apps between iTunes accounts....but as long as all devices are setup with the same iTunes account on the devices then apps can be shared happily.

I thought for security reasons an app purchase is linked to your iTunes account data

It is. If the computer is deauthorized for the iTunea ccount used to purchase, those apps will not sync to the iPad

Keep in mind that an iTunes account is not the same thing as an iTunes library.

• iTunes account is used to purchase items.
• iTunes library is used to store those purchases.

iTunes accounts can be authorized on 5 computers. This means you can have apps purchased with a single iTunes accounts on 5 different computers (such as Dad's, Mom' and a few kid's).

but as long as all devices are setup with the same iTunes account on the devices then apps can be shared happily

iDevices (iPads, iPods, iPhones) are not setup (in the way you seem to be thinking) with an iTunes account. When initially setup, you create an iTunes account but that is to make purchases. Skip creating an iTunes account and the iPad and iTunes will work fine (except you cannot make iTunes purchases).

You can have purchases from different iTunes accounts in the same iTunes library and you can sync those same purcahses from different accounts to the same iPad.

I have three iTunes accounts (me and two daughters) authorized on my computer (same iTunes librarr) and all these can sync to the iPad.

I can purchase using any of the three iTunes accounts on the computer or directly on the iPad.