It ’s fairly leisurely to get start with iCloud if you use a single Apple ID solely on your own devices . But many families — include mine — share a single Apple ID across multiple people and machine , so that they can purchase apps and music once and give everybody in the family access . Must you all partake in that same Apple ID for iCloud , too ?
No , you must n’t , and you likely should n’t either . Just because my wife and I both require to own Hanging With Friends , that does n’t mean that we want to partake the same contacts , inbox , or bookmarks . Using our existing Apple ID for iCloud would pass to just such unintended , undesired share-out . And sharing iCloud story would also mean that we have to deal our backup space ; we get 5 GB of free iCloud storage from Apple , but merely updating my iPad and iPhone gobbled up more than 3 of those gigabytes . If my married woman want to back up her iPad and iPhone to the same iCloud account as me , we ’d be up iCloud creek without a parachute — by which I have in mind , we ’d quickly bleed out of innocent outer space .
The expert news program is that you may uphold to share an Apple ID for iTunes purchase with your kin while maintaining individual , separate iCloud invoice . And the even better news show is that Appletotally approves of your doing so , so you need n’t feel guilty about it .
Here ’s how to fix thing up :
Either from your Lion Mac or your iOS 5 gimmick , embark iCloud ’s configurations . On the Mac , look in System Preferences ; on the iOS twist , launch options . By nonpayment , iCloud on your iOS equipment may take for granted you want to apply your stock Apple ID — the one you utilise when buy apps — for iCloud , but you ’re notrequiredto do so .
Side billet : Were you so eager that you already configured iCloud using your standard , app - buying Apple ID ? Fret not . you’re able to click Sign Out on your Mac to get out of that accounting , though you ’ll need to come home through a few well-disposed duologue boxes first . ( Your Mac will confirm that by signing out you ’ll lose access to document in the Cloud , Contacts , and the like , and involve if you want to keep or remove from this Mac such iCloud - stored data . Do n’t worry too much ; your data is safely in iCloud if all else break . ) On your iPhone or iPad , you’re able to remove your now - unwanted iCloud account from the bottom of the iCloud section of configurations . Tap into your iCloud write up there , scroll to the bottom , and knock Delete Account .
Now , whether on the Mac or the iOS machine , just keep up Apple ’s steps for setting up iCloud . you may use an existing email address of your own , or create a Modern , devoid me.com bill . Once you ’ve create your novel account , you ’ll want to log into that same iCloud accounting on all your other devices . Other folks in your family unit should repeat the process for themselves , with their own email addresses .
Thus , my married woman uses one email computer address for iCloud , and I use another , and we share a third for the App Store . ( One of us could , of course , have kept the App Store Apple ID as our iCloud write up , but this approach seemed a act wanton for us to keep straight . )
Sadly , this solvent wo n’t put to work quite as well for you if you employ unlike iOS devices but share a Mac . Although you may configure multiple iCloud email , calendar , and contact accounts on an single Mac , only one iCloud account per Mac can sync documents , bookmarks , photo , and the same .
Bonus iMessage tip : If the folks you share an Apple ID with will all useiMessage , it ’s a good idea to use your new , alone iCloud accounts for iMessage , too . By nonremittal , iMessage will strain to use your main Apple ID , and sharing that ID across multiple iMessagers will only precede to hassle . To change your iMessage address to a unequaled email address that only you use , go into options and choose Messages . Next , water faucet Receive At , and then tap on the Apple ID at the top of the silver screen . In the pop - up dialog that appears , choose Sign Out , and then sign into your singular account instead .
[ Lex Friedmanis a staff author for Macworld . ]
