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Apple ID device list — what's it mean: "being signed in" to a device?

"Check your Apple ID device list to see where you‘re signed in"


— I don't understand the significance of "being signed in" to a device?


I see I'm signed in to my younger son's iPhone, but not my older son's ... and so what is the significance?


Should I be "signed in" to all my devices? AppleTV? My wife's devices? Her iPhone? My children's devices?


Wes K

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.5)

Posted on Jun 30, 2017 6:32 AM

Reply
8 replies

Jun 30, 2017 12:21 PM in response to thesilverarrows

See the "When do I use my Apple ID?" question in this FAQ:


https://appleid.apple.com/faq/#!&page=faq


Are you sharing your Apple ID with your younger son? If so, you should not. Everyone should have their own Apple ID (and be signed-in only to their devices). Use Family sharing instead:


Family Sharing - Apple Support


Family Sharing and Apple ID for your child - Apple Support

Jun 30, 2017 12:39 PM in response to thesilverarrows

My understanding is that if you authorized the MacBook Air with your Apple ID, then it would appear as one of your devices. This article should help:


iTunes for Mac: Authorize a computer to play iTunes Store purchases


I suppose if that bothers you, then you can deauthorize the computer (see above link) and let your son authorize it with his Apple ID. I would think that simply logging on to the Mac would make it appear on your account. (But I not entirely certain.) If I'm wrong, maybe someone else can correct me.

Jun 30, 2017 12:43 PM in response to javaliga

Ok. So I'm getting my mind wrapped around this Apple ID List idea.


No, it doesn't bother me that my son's MacBook Air is a device on my Apple ID List. I'm more curious than concerned.


One last question: Can a single device (to wit, my son's MacBook Air) appear on two Apple ID Lists? In this case, it would [presumably] appear on his list as well as my own, given that [presumably] there are two logins on that device (his as the owner but also mine as a father who put it there when he first bought the device a year or so ago)?


Thank you for taking time to think this through with me.


Wes K

Jun 30, 2017 1:11 PM in response to thesilverarrows

One last question: Can a single device (to wit, my son's MacBook Air) appear on two Apple ID Lists? In this case, it would [presumably] appear on his list as well as my own, given that [presumably] there are two logins on that device (his as the owner but also mine as a father who put it there when he first bought the device a year or so ago)?

Any device can only be signed in to one account at a time.

Apple ID device list — what's it mean: "being signed in" to a device?

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