Why is iMessage combining two contacts into one thread. I can only text back the last one that messaged me. This started with iOS 12

I did something similar - I did not delete or change anything. I just started a group text for me and son1 and another group text for me and son2. That was working for a week or 2. Then about 4 days ago I noticed they each had their individual threads back - complete with all conversations and pictures from before the merge. I do not know how, or if it will last, but for now we are all back to our individual threads and able to text each other confident that the right person will get the message.

Unfortunately for me what I really need is a shared "photo stream". What that does for me is, wife takes a picture, pic goes in photo stream, MacBook pro's photo stream sees picture, a "smart album" grabs picture and puts it in the photo library. Totally automatic. The new, "iMessage combine, merge into one thread issue, is going to force me to lose that essential set up, 100's of pics will have to be moved manually into a shared album on the iPhone and then on the MacBook moved out of shared album into photo library.

As an Apple shareholder i applaud the effort to have every user on their own ID, but as a consumer it's a set backwards for me.

I would love things to go back to pre IOS 12.

Copied from Apple support website, "IOS 12.1 Resolves an issue that caused messages to be merged into one thread when two users were signed in with the same Apple ID on multiple iPhones." What happened?

I know this is from 12/15, but I just happened on this thread a day or two ago. I've read through all of it in hopes of finding a solution to this really frustrating problem. As you seem like a "power" user I respect your comments, but I believe this statement is incorrect and there is a problem with the scenario you describe.

I myself have had multiple products of every device Apple makes for the last 15 years and know the ins and outs of Apple ID use very well. Before iOS '12 I had a system where we could have non-unique user devices, i.e. a shared family iMac, a shared family iPad, an iPod hooked up to a shared sound system, etc... all sign in under one Apple ID and then each have an individual alias. So for instance, my iPhone signs in under Apple ID 1, my wife's iPhone signs in under Apple ID 2, the family iMac signs in under Apple ID 3 and then the family iPad signs in under Apple ID 3. For Apple ID 3, those devices that use it then have a unique alias so that that the iMac is Apple ID 3-Alias 1 and the iPad is Apple ID3-Alias 2. In this way, everything could individually message and communicate while being managed by a shared Apple ID successfully. This seems to be a similar setup to what you describe in your post.

For weeks now, that system has changed needlessly so that messages sent from Apple ID 3-Alias 1 and Apple ID 3-Alias 2 come through to my wife's phone, Apple ID 2, in the same thread as if they are the same user. However, the contact name and picture changes to be from whichever message is most recent. This is not a desired or expected behavior in any way.

bluebird728 wrote:

I have sent a suggestion to Apple that they give us the option to turn this off since we have no way to control it if the recipients, unknown to us, have a shared account .

Then you've done all that you can do, aside from asking that your daughter not share her Apple ID (minors can have their own ID, with some caveats).

So basically, you are saying that you consciously have chosen to ignore the way Apple designed iCloud to work and how Apple advised on how to use it. Years ago your approach worked because Apple IDs did nothing more than manage purchases and downloads, so you got away with ignoring Apple's design and advice. But as Apple added features to iCloud the concept of "one person, one iCloud ID", when violated, caused more and more problems. Apple realized that this could happen, so they created Family Sharing, which provides all of the benefits of shared Apple IDs with none of the downsides. But it's just going to get worse. Apple is not going to provide support for users who don't use their products and software the way it is designed to be used. You can choose to ignore Apple's design intent, but you do it at your own peril.

Having this issue as well. It just started today. It combines my wife’s and daughter’s messages into one. Do you know if Apple is aware of the issue?

I am having this same issue. Started today. it also is only happening with family members. They haven’t experienced it yet.

How owe do we report to apple

Having this EXACT same issue since updating to iOS 12.

Each time Apple puts out a new iOS update I cringe. What happened to their quality control?

I get what you're saying. That doesn't change the fact that as long as they are sharing an ID, you will continue to have problems.

Hello MkinItBetta,

I tried it and it's working. Before you delete those text messages, backup your phone and do a restore, and you should have all those messages back.

Submit feedback to Product Feedback - Apple

I'm still working out what product it goes under.

If i choose iMessage its only a mac issue, no imessage section for IOS

Its not really a phone issue either.

Apple has NEVER supported shared Apple IDs. Simply because you violated Apple's instructions with impunity changes nothing.

Apple has NEVER supported sharing Apple IDs.

What about going back to IOS 11 until Apple comes up with a fix? Is that possible?

You were wrong, ios12.0.1 solved this problen. But thanks for the directions