how can we seperate to family share
My family shares an apple ID but we want to switch it to family share. How can we do this with out everyone losing what they currently have on their phones?
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Hi CamNaomi,
You're in for some work here. You're going to have to create new Apple IDs for the other family members:
Make sure that each family member has a unique Apple ID --> Make sure that each family member has a unique Apple ID - Apple Support
For a child: Create an Apple ID for your child - Create an Apple ID for your child - Apple Support
For a not-child click here to see how to 'Create a new Apple ID' = create an Apple Account. --> How to create a new Apple ID - Apple Support
Second, merging Apple accounts (IDs) or transferring data is not officially supported, nor can it be done easily or completely.
See this Apr. 2018 post by ASC helper Winston Churchill on transferring data from one Apple ID to another. Can I merge two iCloud accounts - Apple Community
and Feb. 2021 tips from Eric Root Apple ID - Apple Community
Look into using Family Sharing to continue to be able to use items purchased with one Apple ID with other Apple IDs. These documents explain that. You might want to read these first since setting up a Family may be required if you have minor children in your group.
Family Sharing - What is Family Sharing? - Apple Support
Set up Family Sharing - Set up Family Sharing - Apple Support
Share folders with iCloud Drive --> Share files and folders in iCloud Drive on iCloud.com - Apple Support
Read How to use Shared Albums in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Apple Support about about how to share photos.
Fortunately when you sign out of one ID and sign in with a different one it asks you in most cases if you wish to retain the data from it on your device. Say yes and then delete individual items you do not want.
Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac --> Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac - Apple Support
If another Apple ID is signed in you may need to enter the password for that ID to sign out of that ID first.
Click on this link to learn how to 'Sign in with your Apple ID' --> https://support.apple.com/HT204053