Family Sharing when Apple ID is not an @icloud.com

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Level 4

1,270 points

Family Sharing when Apple ID is not an @icloud.com

Hello,

I use @me.com (iCloud.com) to connect to iCloud services. However, my Apple ID is @gmail.com and all my purcases are made using this (@gmail.com) Apple ID.

How do I share purchases with my family members if Apple organizes it is via iCloud? To make it Apple way I need to sign in to iCloud with my (@gmail.com) Apple ID which prevents me from using all iCloud.com services or start using @icloud.com as my Apple ID for puchases. However, as far as I can understand there is no way of moving all the purchases from one Apple ID (i.e.@google.com) to another - @icloud.com.

Is there any way me use Family Sharing feature introduced in iOS 8 and still keep status quo - icloud.com/me.com for iCloud and @gmail.com as Apple ID for iTunes and Mac App Store purchases?

iPhone 4S, iOS 8, 32 GB, black

Posted on Sep 21, 2014 1:32 PM

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Answer 1

moabmatt

Level 1

19 points

Sep 23, 2014 7:44 PM in response to Munas

Found this on another thread. Hope it helps.

I believe you can use a me.com/icloud address for the Family Sharing but your gmail address for the iTunes account in the second step of the setup.

Re: Family Sharing when having different accounts for purchasing and iCloud

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Answer 2

Sep 21, 2014 3:39 PM in response to Munas

My primary Apple ID is not an icloud address, actually its a live.com account - nothing to do with Apple. Yet I signed up for icloud with my live.com account and was able to setup Family sharing just fine. Have you logged into icloud.com with your gmail account? If so, then you can add that account on your iOS8 phone and then setup family sharing under that. Invite family members who already have Apple ID accounts setup on their devices. It should work fine, there are no limitations that I'm aware of.

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Answer 3

Munas Author

Level 4

1,270 points

Sep 21, 2014 4:10 PM in response to joechurch

I think in that case I either should use my @gmail.com for iCloud (on all my iDevices, accounts and computers) or I will not get notifications to confirm when some of my Family members group would like to use my credit card for purchases. Additionally, I will need to "move" all my devices in Find My iPhone to another account (to @gamil.com form @me.com).

Is it possible me to use @gmail.com as iCloud (temporary) just to invite to join my family members group, confirm and then switch back to @me.com account for iCloud and get all the purchse requests and will be able to confirm these anyway as well as share already purchased content?

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Answer 4

Munas Author

Level 4

1,270 points

Sep 21, 2014 5:24 PM in response to joechurch

Just tried that... In case I start using @gmail.com for iCloud I will need:

- move all my iCloud @me.com documents or start sharing ones with myself from @me.com to @gmail.com iCloud account

- reactivate all my relations in Find My Friends

Despite the fact that I have to remove me.com from iCloud settings, add @gmail.com account as iCloud then add @me.com for email, calendars, reminders, notes, contacts on all my devices, I will probably lose apps data that syncs vis iCloud and this creates holy mess on devices since:

- I have two sets of the the same @gmail.com account. One for: iCloud's Find my iPhone, Keychain, Safari, Back to My Mac and Second @gmai.com set for email and calendars. Additionally I will have an iCloud.com or me.com account which is not used for iCloud specific services, and just for email, contacts, notes, reminders and calendars.

What a mess...

I wish it was an easier way...

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