Apple ID & Multiple Apple Devices: best policy/ set-up?

Question

Level 2

286 points

Apple ID & Multiple Apple Devices: best policy/ set-up?

I have 5 iOS 9.2 devices and one Mac OS 10.11.2 laptop.

What is considered best policy when setting up multiple devices - is it best to sign into the same Apple ID or create a different one for each device?

I realize the answer depends on the needs of the user but I am asking from security and features stand-point.

For instance, it is desirable to use the same Apple ID because all the devices can be located under Find My Phone and under Apple ID > Devices, all of them appear there too.

However, using the same Apple ID on all creates annoying conflicts with iMessages. This is my main problem and what prompted me to visit these pages.

How do corporate IT administrators or users with several Apple devices set-up Apple ID for iFaceTime, iMessage, iCloud: one for all or one for each?

Thank you all.

Posted on Jan 7, 2016 9:02 AM

Reply

Answer 1

JWoods87

Level 1

16 points

Jan 7, 2016 10:04 AM in response to HK

This is a very good question. If all of the devices are for you, it would benefit you to have them all under the same apple id. By doing this you can take advantage of features such as find my device and continuity on all of your devices. If you have any imessage conflicts, you can disable imessage on any device that you don't want it on. This will also ensure that all of your purchases will be on all of your devices as well as pictures if you have icloud photo library enabled.

Reply

Answer 2

HK Author

Level 2

286 points

Jan 7, 2016 12:50 PM in response to JWoods87

Thank you so much for your note.

Yes, I prefer that too. And so currently I am using all devices and all are signed into iCloud, iTunes Store, iMessage and FaceTime using the same Apple ID.

1) Sometimes from one of the iPhone 6, I need to text people/ clients whom I have newly met and who are not "trusted" contacts (yet) or even in my Contacts.

In those cases, I worry they may get my Apple ID email if they use an Apple device themselves.

I know my email address will be sent when using FaceTime (it says so right in the FaceTime settings for iOS) but I do not know whether that is also true for iMessage.

2) Second, under Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, I made sure that New Conversations are started from the phone number for that particular iPhone 6.

But I do not know if these settings is particular to this iPhone 6 or global and affects all the devices signed in using the same Apple ID.

3) If I turn off iMessage on this particular iPhone, then I do not receive even regular incoming text messages (SMS) from senders using an iPhone.

Instead their messages show-up on my iPad Air or others.

If iMessage is turned off, shouldn't their message come in as a SMS? Or it won't unless they have "Send as SMS" enabled in their Settings > Messages ?

Is this a problem because they are using an Apple device to send the message?

Reply

Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

685,403 points

Jan 7, 2016 4:29 PM in response to HK

If you don't want them getting your Apple ID e-mail address, Messages/Preferences/Accounts - you can add other e-mails and phone numbers under Add E-mail and then select what will show under Start new conversations from. You can do similar adjustments in FaceTime.

Reply