Multiple Devices, One Apple ID, iMessage Chaos

fjmanso wrote:

A little more detailed is this post:

http://gigaom.com/2012/05/26/how-many-apple-ids-should-your-family-have/

I hope this helps

Both are great articles. Thanks for posting them.

It would be nice and clean if you could just create an family@mymail.com and have everybody add that to their AppleID. But it doesn't work that way. So instead, the only method I know of, is to send/receive Group Messages (those messages addressed to 4-5 other people).

Not sure if there's a way to put a lable on a group of email addresses, or create a group contact.??

I have an iphone, and an old iphone that currently works under wifi kinda like an ipod touch does. I can't make calls or send SMS messages, but I've always been able to send and receive iMessages using my same phone number. I did an IOS update yesterday, and now I can only send and receive iMessages using my email address. Anyone know how I can get it back to using my number? My telelphone number is dimmed out and I can't select it in the "send & receive" tab.

If I have an iPhone 4 and an iPhone 5, and I need to use both but my cellular service is only set up with the iPhone 5, can I use the iPhone 4 with the same apple Id without messing up any of my apps, contacts, music, photos etc...

Kapasi wrote:

If I have an iPhone 4 and an iPhone 5, and I need to use both but my cellular service is only set up with the iPhone 5, can I use the iPhone 4 with the same apple Id without messing up any of my apps, contacts, music, photos etc...

Yes.

Ok. That sounds great. But. ..

I had entered my @gmail when I first registered my iphone and apple automatically created @me.com email. Now, can I use my @gmail as my family appleID and set the @me as my iCloud account on my iphone and have the 2x5GB storage. Or do I have to crate new appleID.

This thread was the top hit on google for my query. I have 3 family members, a total of 6 devices. My apple ID pays for all itunes and apps. Each family member has their own apple ID for everything else. I figured all this out myself to great frustration. What I would like to do is associate the other 2 apple IDs with the account so they can use itunes and app store without MY apple ID and MY password, but I still want all the apps and music to be shared among all 6 devices. Currently everyone syncs to my computer which is device 6. If they have completely indepenant IDs simply using the same credit card, then I cannot share an app or song throughout the house. I have the computer set up to download apps and music automatically when someone gets something. I think that would break as well. So I'd like to authorize them to purchase without having to enter my password, but I still want to be able to share so I need it all to be under 1 account with different IDs.

How do businesses handle this?

Help, can you guys help me out with a suggestion how to solve this problem? I have my old IPad to my son, he is living in another country with my seperated wife. Now you imagine my horror finding out that my ex is enjoying all my text messaging from my IPhone to my friends. I have now switched off Imessaging on my Iphone, but then I lose all other features. I have one Iphone and one Ipad which I can reprogram, but my Apple Id I would like to stay on also the other Ipad for my son to buy games.

How to solve this? I cannot remotely disable?

Richard Apple2 wrote:

Help, can you guys help me out with a suggestion how to solve this problem? I have my old IPad to my son, he is living in another country with my seperated wife. Now you imagine my horror finding out that my ex is enjoying all my text messaging from my IPhone to my friends. I have now switched off Imessaging on my Iphone, but then I lose all other features. I have one Iphone and one Ipad which I can reprogram, but my Apple Id I would like to stay on also the other Ipad for my son to buy games.

How to solve this? I cannot remotely disable?

Making changes to your iPhone will not prevent your son's iPad from viewing any messages that are sent, because they are sent to the "AppleID". Since the iPad is using that AppleID, any message sent to you (meaning to your AppleID) will be recieved by every device using that AppleID for Messaging.

Here's what you need to understand.

You can have 1, or 2, or 3 ... or however many AppleID's you want.

Think of an AppleID as being like a SAVINGS ACCOUNT at a bank. You can have more than one. You can have one for your money, that nobody else can touch, and you can have another account that you and your Son share. An AppleID works much the same way.

AppleID's are used for the iTunes.

AppleID's are also used for Messages, and for FaceTime.

The AppleID (account) for iTunes DOES NOT have to be the same AppleID (account) used for Messaging. (that's how you have it set up right now).

By turning off iMessaging on your phone, you've given the iPad exclusive use of iMessaging. In other words, the iPad is free to send/receive messages to your friends without you knowing about it. Probably not what you intended.

AppleID's a tricky to deal with. We all started with a single AppleID, and then later found out that we need two or more (one to identify the family so we can share purchased apps on several devices, and another to identify each user in the family). The problem is, and I've found no guidance for this, is that you now need to separate your ONE AppleID into multiple AppleID. Not so hard if you have access to each device. But that is not always the case (as your case proves)

You can Login to appleid.apple.com, and then change the password for your AppleID. This may or may not (I don't really know for sure) prevent that iPad from using your AppleID until they enter a password. Problem is, it might disable all of the purchased apps on until the password is entered. Nonetheless, if you're going through a divorce, the cost of Apps pales in comparison to the potential loss giving your Ex access to your private conversations.

Second, you should create a second AppleID for JUST YOU (like the savings account that is only for you... not your and your family). Use this new Personal AppleID for Messaging and FaceTime. Use the old one for Apps.

Lastly, keep in mind that some of your contacts will be trying to contract you on your old AppleID (the one shared by your Phone and your iPad).

Richard Apple2 wrote:

Help, can you guys help me out with a suggestion how to solve this problem? I have my old IPad to my son, he is living in another country with my seperated wife. Now you imagine my horror finding out that my ex is enjoying all my text messaging from my IPhone to my friends. I have now switched off Imessaging on my Iphone, but then I lose all other features. I have one Iphone and one Ipad which I can reprogram, but my Apple Id I would like to stay on also the other Ipad for my son to buy games.

How to solve this? I cannot remotely disable?

Change your AppleID password here -> https://appleid.apple.com

Also change your security questions.

Thanks Chris, I understand I just have to give my son temporarily access to a new password. But will the Aps and Games stay on the Ipad? Can he still use them?

It worked! Very simple solution. Thank you.

Changing the password is the most simpel solution, and it worked! Thanks anyway! And the Aps and games remain, I have tested this on my own Ipad. Pfffffffff.

9 yr old has one device, 11 yr old has another, I have another couple. Why on earth would I create seperate Apple ID accounts and NOT take advantage of sharing paid for music, rented movies, etc. with all devices? It would be ridiculous to restrict the use of one song to one device because it was bought with that one AID. What am I missing here?

Keep one Apple ID for the iTunes Store. But have separate for iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and maybe iCloud but iCloud depend on if you want to share photostream, contacts, or use the find my iPhone app for one Apple ID and find all the devices. There are sign ins for each of those apps under settings and the appropriate app. Hope that helps

friscofunny wrote:

9 yr old has one device, 11 yr old has another, I have another couple. Why on earth would I create seperate Apple ID accounts and NOT take advantage of sharing paid for music, rented movies, etc. with all devices?

I give up.

Why wouldn't you do this?

But why are you asking me?

It would be ridiculous to restrict the use of one song to one device because it was bought with that one AID. What am I missing here?

No idea.