Q: My family shares one Apple ID on multiple devices.  How do I switch everyone over to their own Apple ID without having to erase their iphones and ipads?

There is no need to erase the devices. You would simply sign out of all of the Apple ID apps you wanted the separate IDs for, and sign in with the new IDs. Under Settings:

Mail

Messages

FaceTime

iCloud

iTunes & App Store

Cheers,

GB

It will not affect the content of the devices, however, when an app purchased with the "Family ID" needs to be updated, the person who has the device will need to know the Family ID password in order to update the app. Or, they can delete the app and re-purchase or re-download it (if it is free), under their own Apple ID.

You can continue to back up to iTunes. You should make sure you sign on each Apple ID to iTunes and Authorize the computer for that Apple ID (top menu - Store>Authorize this Computer).

You may find this article helpful if you want to have separate iTunes Libraries for each user:

http://www.imore.com/how-use-multiple-apple-ids-one-computer-and-itunes

You can also continue to use a single Apple ID for iTunes, and the individual Apple IDs for everything else (Mail, Messages, FaceTime, iCloud, etc.). To do that, you would simply leave the Settings>iTunes & App Store sign on alone on each device (leave it signed onto the Family iTunes Account Apple ID).

Cheers,

GB

So if one was to use a single Apple ID for iTunes, and simply sign out with the single Apple ID/sign in with multiple Apple IDs for everything else (Mail, Messages, FaceTime, iCloud, etc) -- What is the benefit of "Family Sharing" at all?

Your point is well taken. I missed the OP's line about Family Sharing.

So, for cluther1, you may want to look at this article on how to set up Family Sharing. If you are OK with paying for all purchases with a single Credit Card, then this would be the way you would want to go:

Overview:     https://www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/family-sharing/

Family Sharing Setup Guide: https://www.apple.com/icloud/family-sharing/

Thanks for pointing that out, letpeaceprevail!

Cheers,

GB

A

THank you, Gail from Maine, for taking the time to reply.

WHen I asked the question, "What's the benefit of "Family Sharing" at all?" I was not being sarcastic; it was a sincere question. I had been trying to set up Family Sharing, and I found that we would have to lose all of our old data. Additionally, not all Apps can be shared with Family Sharing.

So even though the idea sounds good to prevent those situations when there are fears that children will buy their own content using the parent's Apple ID, Family Sharing has a good many drawbacks.

SO, sincerely, "What's the benefit of "Family Sharing" at all?"

thank you you for your time.

Not sure where you are running into trouble. Why would you lose all of your old data? If you all were using a single Apple ID before, and that Apple ID is used as the Organizer's ID (or anyone else's ID who is in the Family Sharing group), the content purchased by that Apple ID would be available to all members in the Family Sharing group.

What do you mean by all Apps cannot be shared by the whole group? What apps are you having issues with.

Can you provide some info about what you are specifically having issues with, and why you feel that you lost all of your data?

Cheers,

GB

Thank you again for your time, GB.

I set up individual Apple ID's for my children so that they could have their own Apple ID on their individual iPad minis (gifts from grandparents last year).  When I go to iCloud under Settings, I see my Apple ID listed at the top, then my children's listed under Family Sharing.  So the device is still using my Apple ID for iCloud, iTunes, etc., correct?

To "assign" their own Apple ID to their own iPad mini, I would need to "Sign Out" from my Apple ID.  When I attempt to do so, I receive a warning that all of the Documents and Data will be lost/deleted. 

So, instead of doing this, I figured out that I could do what you suggested.  Signing in using a child's Apple ID will allow her/him to use Game Center, FaceTime, and Messages just fine.  However, using their Apple ID for iTunes & App Store proved to be a problem:  Purchased Music and Movies appeared in iTunes, but my Purchased Apps did not appear.  Some Apps even disappeared, e.g. Proloquo4Text (a $99 app to help my son speak with his iPad).

So I reverted to using my Apple ID for iTunes & App Store, and I get everything that I want, EXCEPT for the iCloud storage for each Apple ID.

So that's when I started wondering how Family Sharing was really benefiting me ~ It was a lot of work (deleting apps to allow space to download iOS 8, etc) without any benefit that I can see.  UNLESS I find a means to allow me to sign in each iPad's iCloud account with a different AppleID, then perhaps restore the Documents and Data from a backup?  Would that work?

Thanks.

OK, so with Family Sharing, if you are the "Organizer", then you invite your individual children, spouse, etc. to join your Family Sharing Plan.

However, in order for Family Sharing to work correctly, each device needs to be signed onto it's own Apple ID in iCloud and iTunes. Once each is signed onto their individual Apple IDs on their devices, they will be able to see all of the other members' purchases under Purchased, and will be able to download what they wish from those other accounts.

You do get a warning from iCloud whenever you sign it out telling you that documents, data, PhotoStream will be deleted from the device. But, unless your family members have a lot of documents on their devices that were under that iCloud account, not sure why that is an issue? The documents and data are not deleted from the iCloud account they belong to, they are just no longer accessible on that device via iCloud, since a different iCloud account will be signed on.

Can you expand on what kinds of documents and data you would want to retain on a given device (other than the one that is signed onto the original iCloud account)?

Cheers,

GB

gail from mainCan you answer her question? i am curious my self and also in the same boat! "UNLESS I find a means to allow me to sign in each iPad's iCloud account with a different AppleID, then perhaps restore the Documents and Data from a backup?  Would that work?" If that doesn't work then you are saying another option is that once we sign out of iCloud on all the devices and put new ones in. The messages, contacts, apps, music, notes, etc. will still be on the phone? I Have been researching this for a while and i need a lot of help! thank you!

I don't really use Documents and Data so not sure what the best way to get those on individual iCloud accounts would be. You would not be able to get documents and data from a backup because the backup is tied to the iCloud ID. Only Contacts kept on an individual device and allowed to be merged with your own iCloud contacts when you sign on your iCloud account.

If you have a specific configuration that you are looking to set up, then please explain what it is you want to do, and we will see if we can provide suggestions.

Cheers,

GB