Q: How do I manage multiple Apple ID accounts to one computer?

This is the confusing difference between "authorization" and "association". 

In order to play content on a computer, you need to "authorize" the AppleID used to buy the content.  This can be done for many AppleIDs on one computer.

However, in order to *redownload* content on a computer, including

  - redownloading previous purchases

  - autodownloading purchases made on another device

- running iTunes Match

you have to "associate" the computer to that AppleID, and this can only be done for one AppleID *per computer* (NOT per user account).  This user can only change every 90 days.

There is no workaround for this.  They'll reset the counter for a one time error (like when my son locked me out of Match by redownloading a TV show), but if you want content from more than one user, you'll have to copy it there by some other means.

Oh yeah, be sure to write Apple about what a stupid rule this is.

For example, if you purchased music on your iPad and you want it on the computer, you can sync the iPad, and right click->"transfer purchases" to copy into you library.   You can do this for any number of users on one computer, but you can only redownload or autodownload it from Apple for one.

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

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

How To Best Use and Share Apple IDs across iPhones, iPads and iPods

http://www.nerdsonsite.com/blog/2012/06/07/help-im-appleid-confused/

 Cheers, Tom

On your Mac you can create two user accounts. One for you and one for your husband. Each account can have its own unique iTunes setup associated with different Apple IDs. This is how my wife and I share one MacBook Pro in order to sync her iPhone and my iPhone and iPad.

We no longer seem able to download all our various purchases to the one computer.

Note that the 90 days applies to redownloading previous purchases.

Just sync your iPhones/iPads and transfer purchases to the computer.

You can listen to music for more than one AppleID, but you can only *redownload* content for one per computer. Making multiple user accounts does not change this.

Related to this, I want to synch one iPhone and one iPodTouch to the same computer, using two different user accounts.   However, none of the documentation describes what happens to contacts, calendars, task lists, books, all of the other things that I sync that are not purchased through iTunes, as well as podcasts.   Will all these things sync separately for the two accounts?

kinnehora wrote:

 

Related to this, I want to synch one iPhone and one iPodTouch to the same computer, using two different user accounts.   However, none of the documentation describes what happens to contacts, calendars, task lists, books, all of the other things that I sync that are not purchased through iTunes, as well as podcasts.   Will all these things sync separately for the two accounts?

The easiest way is to set up two user accounts on the computer and log into iTunes with the appropriate AppleID on each one. This will keep everything separate in a tranparent and bulletproof way.

There are workarounds to do it from a single account, but it's easy to make a mistake and screw yourself up (note the number of messages here from people who did!).

Ralph9430,This won't work with iTunes Match. Just sync'in your iPhones, which you can do on the same user account without trouble. Cheers.

"Ralph9430,This won't work with iTunes Match."

It will. Just use the same AppleID for iTunes match.

" Just sync'in your iPhones, which you can do on the same user account without trouble."

Then you have all the same info on all devices.

Having separate user accounts on the computer,m ou can have your own calendars, contacts, documents and everything else..

Chris CA wrote:

 

"Ralph9430,This won't work with iTunes Match."

It will. Just use the same AppleID for iTunes match.

 

 

No, it doesn't.  You can only run iTunes Match with for one AppleID *per computer*, and this can only change once every 90 days.  Setting up multiple accounts won't change this.

ejpre wrote:

 

Chris CA wrote:

 

"Ralph9430,This won't work with iTunes Match."

It will. Just use the same AppleID for iTunes match.

 

 

No, it doesn't.

Yes it does.

You can only run iTunes Match with for one AppleID *per computer*,

Great!

So use iTunes Match with only one AppleID as I suggested.