Changing from sharing of apple ID to family sharing

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Level 1

4 points

Changing from sharing of apple ID to family sharing

Hi All,

My son has been sharing my apple ID all this while, meaning we have two devices with the same apple ID signed on, and app installed via app store uses my apple ID. The only different is that my device contain my data, where my son's device contain his data. Eg: messages data, game data, etc. (I have not sign in to iCloud or game center before.)

Based on the above situation, am I able to change it to family sharing?

If I create a family sharing and then create a new apple ID for my son, and used it to sign in to his device, will those app still ask for my apple ID and password when my son update his app, as those app are installed previously using my apple ID? Also, will his data be lost? Does the app link to my apple ID, or link to my apple ID via family sharing? I presume if the apple ID I create for my son is new, there will not be any download or purchase history.

Thank you and best regards.

iPhone X, iOS 13

Posted on May 4, 2020 11:30 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

donv_the_ghost

Level 9

50,942 points

May 5, 2020 3:24 AM in response to NeoHM

See How to create a new Apple ID https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204316 I would take this step before setting up family sharing. See the data implications below.

Some of these things will apply to your son's situation even if he is not changing his Apple ID: What to do after you change your Apple ID or password https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204071

Keep in mind that some things available under a first Apple ID will not be available under a new Apple ID. For example, you won’t be able to transfer anything purchased from the App and iTunes Stores to the new ID. And, there are other issues to be addressed. See

what Eric Root say on this matter here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251263630

what Winston Churchill says about it here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7452747

__________

You also can set up family sharing between the IDs to share purchases made with them. See:

Family Sharing https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201060

Set up Family Sharing https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201088

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

684,525 points

May 11, 2020 6:56 AM in response to NeoHM

Purchases are tied to an Apple ID, not a device. If the app was originally downloaded by Apple ID A, then Apple ID A 'owns' the purchase. If Apple ID A then sets up Family Sharing and Apple ID B becomes a member of Family Sharing, Apple ID B can then download/use the app.

Since Apple ID B is a member of Family Sharing, they can download/use the app on any device, so your target will work as you want.

If you are allowing Apple ID B to become the 'owner' of device B, you should do the steps in the article below to make it 'their' device and avoid future problems.

Selling/Giving Away Device.

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

684,525 points

May 12, 2020 9:35 AM in response to NeoHM

You are welcome. As far as I know, the purchase is still tied to Apple ID A even though Apple ID B downloaded it. See the 'What happens to your content when you stop sharing?' section of the article below for more information.

Family Sharing - Leave.

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Answer 4

NeoHM Author

Level 1

4 points

May 8, 2020 12:18 AM in response to NeoHM

HI, thank you for your response.

Would like to know if you have tried or experience the following:

Note: We leave iCloud a side, or presume data on iCloud has been deleted and sync has been disabled. All data resides on the phone itself.
Apple ID 'A' signed on to Device 'A' & 'B'
Both devices has a common app named 'Z' downloaded via Apple ID 'A'
A new Apple ID 'B' is created
Apple ID 'A' set up family sharing and invited Apple ID 'B' as it's family member
Apple ID 'A' is signed out from Device 'B' and Apple ID 'B' is signed in to Device 'B'
As of now Apple ID 'A' is signed on to Device 'A' & Apple ID 'B' is signed on to Device 'B'
When Device 'B' update app 'Z', will Apple ID 'A' be prompted?
If app 'Z' in Device 'B' is linked to Apple ID 'A' which is now a family of Apple ID 'B', I think Apple ID 'A' will not be prompted, and this decouple Device 'A' and Device 'B' successfully
However, if app 'Z' in Device 'B' is still linked to Apple ID 'A' rather than the family of Apple ID 'B' due to the initial download using Apple ID 'A' , then decouple between Device 'A' and Device 'B' will never be possible. Meaning when you download an app, it is link to your Apple ID as primary, and if family sharing exist, it will be the secondary

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Answer 5

NeoHM Author

Level 1

4 points

May 12, 2020 1:29 AM in response to Eric Root

Thank Eric.

Based on your statement: "Purchases are tied to an Apple ID, not a device".

Can I assume the following:

Apple ID A purchased app Z for $0.99
Device B using Apple ID B under family member of Apple ID A downloaded app Z thru family sharing, the app Z that resides on Device B still tied to Apple ID A?
This will explain your eariler statement where if Apple ID B leaves the family of Apple ID A, he/she no longer able to update app Z, but only continue to use it.

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Answer 6

NeoHM Author

Level 1

4 points

May 15, 2020 10:46 PM in response to Eric Root

Hi Eric,

And for the rest of those that are interested.

On Device A, Apple ID A purchased app Z for $0.99
On Device B, the same Apple ID A is used to download app Z, and is using app Z
Meaning Device A and Device B used the same Apple ID A
Family sharing created using Apple ID A
Apple ID B created
Apple ID B joined the family of Apple ID A
Apple ID A is now signed into Device A
Apple ID B is now signed into Device B
Apple ID B CAN download and use app Z (IF ONLY: app Z doesn't exist in Device B)
Apple ID B CANNOT update app Z (SINCE: app Z already exist in Device B and was previously downloaded using Apple ID A. When updating, app store will prompt for Apple ID A's password)
Conclusion: If you or your family members had been sharing apple ID all this while, moving to family sharing is for moving forward only, those devices using the shared apple ID (in my case Apple ID A) cannot fully decouple, as updating existing app will still requires the shared apple ID, unless you delete the app and download it again, however if the app already has data, deleting the app will result in the loss of data.
So I assume, if you download an app using your own apple ID, the app is tied to your apple ID. But if you download your family members' app, it is still tied to your own apple ID but as primary and your family member's apple ID as secondary. So when you leave the family, you cannot update the app as the secondary is missing.

Correct me if I am wrong.

And if any one has solution to update app Z in Device B (now signed in with Apple ID B) without entering apple ID A's password where "app Z already exist in Device B and was previously downloaded using Apple ID A", please let me know and educate me.

Thank you.

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Answer 7

Eric Root

Level 10

684,525 points

May 8, 2020 10:36 AM in response to NeoHM

If I am understanding your question, if app Z was originally downloaded by Apple ID A and Apple ID B then downloaded it, If Apple B left Family Sharing, they would no longer be able to update app Z because they didn't originally download it.

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Answer 8

NeoHM Author

Level 1

4 points

May 11, 2020 2:45 AM in response to Eric Root

Hi Eric,

Should be "if app Z was originally downloaded by Device A and Device B both devices via Apple ID A", if a new Apple ID B is created under family of Apple ID A, can Device B using Apple ID B update app Z (previously Device B used Apple ID A to download app Z).

I wanted to understand how the app belongs then I can safely decouple Device A and Device B.

Orginally: Device A and Device B both used Apple ID A

Target: Device A continue to use Apple ID A, but Device B now uses Apple ID B where Apple ID B is a family member of Apple ID A

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