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Temporary swap users on Ipad

Hi, I will need an Ipad for a couple of days which battery lasts longer than mine, so I'm gonna borrow a friend's one (Ipad 6th gen). We're thinking to swap ID into the Ipad, so my friend will log out and I will log in, and after those days I will log out letting my friend log in again.

First of all, is it possibile to change 2 times the user between a short period of time? Or will my friend have to wait some hours or days in order to log in back into his device once I log out?

On the second hand, what we should be aware of, talking about data loss? Will the device keep all the apps or they will be replaced by mine? My friend's got also an Iphone, will there be any problems with data synced in Icloud?

Thank you

iPad (6th generation)

Posted on Nov 21, 2023 4:55 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 21, 2023 11:26 AM

As described, you'll not be able to use your friend's iPad in the manner that you suggest - unless you both accept that your friend will be unable to reuse the iPad for 90-days.


The lockout is enforced by Apple's back-end servers - and cannot be bypassed. Device sharing is impractical.

9 replies

Nov 21, 2023 5:01 AM in response to AlRino

Outside of Educational and Enterprise establishments, iPad and iPhone are principally intended to be a single-user device - and are not intended to shared in the same manner as you may be accustomed when using a Windows PC or Mac computer - which has multiple user profiles/accounts.


For managed environments, where multi-user usage is possible, the Deployment Guide provides appropriate guidance.

Shared iPad overview – Apple Support


For unmanaged environments, be aware that if you sign-out of iCloud and other Apple services - and allow another user to sign-in - you’ll not be able to change back for 90-days. So as to prevent account abuse, some critical Apple services will only allow one change of signed-in AppleID (on a device) in a 90-day period.


In conclusion, unless you fully understand and accept the implications, you would be well advised to reconsider any attempt to share your iPad with another user.

Nov 21, 2023 11:21 AM in response to LotusPilot

Hi LotusPilot, thank you for the quick reply. I read the shared iPad topic, unfortunately I need to use my own apps, also purchased, so it doesn't seem to be a solution for me.

My friend will also have to use his iPad as soon as I return to him, so these 90 days aren't helping... you are talking about "account abuse", there might be a way to "certify" the swapping and prevent the lock? I don't know, for example letting only the previous user to get back into the device...?

Nov 22, 2023 4:17 AM in response to LotusPilot

I see, since it's server side.... but the log out is always admitted, am I right? So once used by me with my account, I can do the log out from the device and leave it without an iCloud account for 90 days, using it for surfing on internet and maybe use some apps that doesn't require an account for example youtube, is that possible?

Temporary swap users on Ipad

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