Level 1

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IOS 12 combining text messages

After updating to IOS 12 my IPhone is combining text messages from family members. My wife and I had a text going and then my daughter got added to it & then my son got added. Each phone has only their number under IMessage as a Send/Receive and each person can only see the messages they send and my response. I can see all the messages from each person and my response. When my wife sends a text it has her name but once my son or daughter send their text the text message changes to their name. We only have one Apple ID for the family but i've been reading that might be the problem. Under Apple ID their are a bunch of number listed including my wife, son, and daughter's numbers so I was thinking about deleting them from my Apple ID but I don't want them to lose any text messages or other information.

iPhone 8, iOS 12

Posted on Sep 22, 2018 10:00 PM

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Phil0124

Level 10

217,982 points

Posted on Sep 26, 2018 4:27 PM

A Phone number is not an account or Apple ID

Sharing an Apple ID is what is causing messages to merge. Sharing Apple IDs is not supported by Apple, it not supposed to be done, and things like this will happen unless you separate them.

When an Apple ID is shared, the system, automatically thinks the devices belong to the same person and will merge things since to the system and the way Apple designed in an Apple ID uniquely identifies a single person.

Apple has always expected people to have their own Apple Id and not share it. So any updates and software changes depart from that assumption. Sharing an Apple ID can lead to many unintended consequences.

Unless you wish to continue to have issues every time something changes in iOS, its best to get them separate Apple IDs.

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141 replies

Oct 3, 2018 6:00 PM in response to Daddyof7652

Arghhhhh. So glad I’m not the only one. This is driving me crazy!!! Apple needs to fix this immediately!!

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Oct 3, 2018 6:13 PM in response to KatArnold3

Apple is unable to fix configuration mistakes on user-owned cameras.

KimJT

Level 1

14 points

Oct 3, 2018 7:40 PM in response to darrinofmaplewood

Thank you! Very well said.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Oct 4, 2018 5:53 AM in response to darrinofmaplewood

darrinofmaplewood wrote:

This is causing everyone problems.

No.

Oct 4, 2018 8:21 AM in response to darrinofmaplewood

darrinofmaplewood wrote:

Even people who don't share Apple ID's. Even you!

Yes

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Oct 4, 2018 8:28 AM in response to darrinofmaplewood

Wow. That’s gall!

Oct 5, 2018 10:38 AM in response to Xenos8

I have everyone on separate Apple IDs and have the problem and it’s been going on for 3 weeks n

KiltedTim

Level 10

226,638 points

Oct 17, 2018 12:04 PM in response to sandih711

Why you may have done what you did is completely irrelevant. Apple is not responsible for people who willingly ignore the documentation. This is not Apple's problem, it's yours.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Oct 17, 2018 12:14 PM in response to sandih711

Perhaps you haven’t noticed but the world does occasionally change.

Have you noticed that it’s no longer necessary to manually advance the spark on your car?

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Oct 17, 2018 12:16 PM in response to sandih711

You’re correct.

Please read my earlier reply.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Oct 17, 2018 12:22 PM in response to DDChipman

You are incorrect. It has NEVER been supported.

That’s academic. It’s not supported now and you have iPhones now. Do you wish that they work properly?

Oct 17, 2018 12:23 PM in response to Philly_Phan

Family sharing has only been an option since IOS 8. So no it wasn't ALWAYS that way. I have had iPhones for a long time. We set up one ID before Family Sharing was possible.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Oct 17, 2018 12:23 PM in response to DDChipman

Well, fix your iPhones.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Oct 17, 2018 12:42 PM in response to sandih711

Apple is responsible for adding capability? Yes, of course, they are. We’re in the 21st century now. Upgrade your system accordingly.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,737 points

Oct 17, 2018 1:34 PM in response to sandih711

That’s indeed unfortunate. I’m glad that I followed Apple’s instructions. I’ve had no issues whatever.

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IOS 12 combining text messages