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Multiple Apple ID's One iMac

My iMac is telling me the computer is already associated with an Apple ID, and since it is my husbands, I can not access my library even though I am logged into MY Apple ID on my User Login. It's telling me I can not access my iCloud purchases for 86 more days, and after that my husband will not be able to access his for 90 days.


What gives?

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), iOS 6

Posted on Feb 9, 2013 8:00 AM

Reply
53 replies

Feb 9, 2013 9:12 AM in response to Rupertswife

More to the story...


I have 4 of 5 allowed decives associated with my ID - so that's not it.

My Apple ID IS associated wtih my User Login for this computer - so that's not it.

When I go to 'Manage Devices' in iTunes, I can see my iPhone and my work computer (windows PC) ARE associated with my Apple ID, but not this iMac, and there's no option to add it.



HELP!!!! =)

Feb 9, 2013 10:27 AM in response to GregMac1213

I was just on my way over here to reply....


The issue is an Apple Proprietary one. The message I received was correct. You can not have two Apple IDs associated with the same computer with reguard to accessing your iCloud purchases. The Apple ID associated with the computer can only be changed every 90 days even though different iTunes accounts can be linked to each persons User ID when logging into the computer. Purchases made on other devices and stored in the iCloud are unaccessable to everyone but the person who's Apple ID is associated with the computer itself.


Apple has made it impossible for two people to use a computer to access purchases made iTunes unless they are using the same Apple ID account.


Bad form, Apple. Bad form.

Feb 9, 2013 10:44 AM in response to Rupertswife

Rupertswife wrote:


I was just on my way over here to reply....


The issue is an Apple Proprietary one. The message I received was correct. You can not have two Apple IDs associated with the same computer with reguard to accessing your iCloud purchases. The Apple ID associated with the computer can only be changed every 90 days even though different iTunes accounts can be linked to each persons User ID when logging into the computer. Purchases made on other devices and stored in the iCloud are unaccessable to everyone but the person who's Apple ID is associated with the computer itself.


Apple has made it impossible for two people to use a computer to access purchases made iTunes unless they are using the same Apple ID account.


Bad form, Apple. Bad form.

And that of course is incorrect. iTunes ID's are not tied to any computer, you can login to iTunes using any valid ID you wish to.


The best way is to have 2 user accounts on one computer, that way each user can have their own 'stuff' independent of the other.

Feb 9, 2013 11:20 AM in response to Csound1

The issue is not the iTunes account, but the individual Apple ID's. They are two different things as I found out. We DO have two user ID's as well as two iTune accounts. Both of which are associated with the appropriate person/login. As genuinely politely as I know how to be, my husband's Apple ID is associated with the computer and, per Apple phone support, that can only be changed once every 90 days.


The Apple ID that is associated with the computer is the only one who can access purchases made on a different device and stored in the iCloud.

G

I know you are annoyed with me because I came across impolite in a different thread by expressing my frustration about the situation, but that doesn't make me wrong. I called Apple support directly. They were nice enough not to charge me the ticket charge, and the gentleman who helped me admited it was a frustrating issue for many who had multiple users on one computer.


I am sure you are much more knowledgable about the Apple brand and trouble shooting than I am, but this IS the answer in regards to multiple Apple IDs on one computer. It WILL prevent anyone not using that Apple ID from accessing an iCloud account that is linked to a different Apple ID regardless of the iTunes account associated with the user logged in.


Have a great day. Truly.

Feb 9, 2013 11:40 AM in response to Rupertswife

I'm sorry but your misunderstanding runs deep here.


The Apple ID is associated with a user account, not a computer, (believe it or not I share an iMac with my delightful 'other half' and am doing exactly what you want to do)


Associate each user with the appropriate account, that is all you need to do. iTunes is entirely separate and can use either, or none, makes no difference.

Feb 9, 2013 12:09 PM in response to Csound1

Explain this.....If you can tell me how you'll be my hero....When I try to access a song I purchased Thursday in iTunes on my work computer and am trying to download onto my home computer through the iCloud, this is the message I get.....


This computer is already associated with an Apple ID.


You can download past purchases on this computer with just one Apple ID every 90 days. This computer can be used with a different Apple ID in 86 days.


When iTunes is open, my iTunes account name is verified (I even logged out and logged back in to be sure), my content is visible, but only what was loaded, or purchased ON THIS computer is accessable to listen to or download. I am logged in under my User ID for the computer and when I go to Users and Groups it is my Apple ID that is associated with my login. Both I and my husband are Admins....


No other Apple ID's have EVER been used on this computer save mine and my husbands and we've been using the same ones since we purchased our first Apple product.


This message drew and immediate, "Ah, yes, that is correct." from the Support person I talked to....He walked m throught all the settings you've mentioned, and everything was correctly set up for us to have two users on one computer with separate iTunes accounts. That's why I was told the iTunes accounts don't matter, it's the Apple ID associated with the computer itself that prevents the downloads....per the message copied above.


?????

Feb 9, 2013 12:14 PM in response to Rupertswife

You can change that anyway you want, right now your copy of iTunes (please stop referring to iTunes as 'this computer') is authorized for your account. If you go to the Store menu (in iTunes) you can add your husbands account or any other you choose. This still has nothing to do with the Apple ID associated with the login for the computer or a different Apple ID being used for iCloud etc.


Thus your computer (the physical thing) may have many associations on it, from iTunes to Amazon, iCloud to Google, they are all independent

Multiple Apple ID's One iMac

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