Apple ID and Contacts help

[kiddk1]

I have 4 iphones with the same apple id for my kids and I, somehow all contacts have merged on all phones, is there a way to keep each phones contacts separate without using different apple ID's, we use apps and dont want to have to purchase the same app 4 times.

Thank you

 

[BrianBaughn]

You could change the duplicate Apple ID situation and set up Family Sharing.

Alternately, you could use a different service with separate accounts (Google etc) for Contacts.

 

[0970373]

I have 4 iphones with the same apple id for my kids and I, somehow all contacts have merged on all phones, is there a way to keep each phones contacts separate without using different apple ID's, we use apps and dont want to have to purchase the same app 4 times.

Thank you

That merge is working as designed. If you're on the same Apple ID for multiple phones, it assumes you're the same person. I'm surprised you're not getting each other's iMessages as well. Apple rolled out Family Sharing many years ago in order to encourage people to use their own Apple ID's. If you don't like Family Sharing, you can still log into the App Store with the main ID even if you have separate iCloud accounts for each child.

 

[kiddk1]

That merge is working as designed. If you're on the same Apple ID for multiple phones, it assumes you're the same person. I'm surprised you're not getting each other's iMessages as well. Apple rolled out Family Sharing many years ago in order to encourage people to use their own Apple ID's. If you don't like Family Sharing, you can still log into the App Store with the main ID even if you have separate iCloud accounts for each child.

Thank you

 

[bransoj]

This is a similar setup to me and my wife....we have 3 iPhones (wife has a personal and work one) and two iPads and we manage to keep all contacts separate. You just turn off "Contacts" under your iCloud settings on each device. I keep mine on my iPhone and iPad in sync as i've got them synced from Google as i set that up years ago before Apple did it with iCloud. My wife has her personal phone contacts just on her phone backed up as part of iCloud back up and then her other iPhone and iPad are both work supplied so sync contacts with her Outlook\Exchange set up at work.

I probably should set up Family Sharing but to be honest i've no need to as everything works currently and i cant be bothered\have the time to do it.

 

[kiddk1]

This is a similar setup to me and my wife....we have 3 iPhones (wife has a personal and work one) and two iPads and we manage to keep all contacts separate. You just turn off "Contacts" under your iCloud settings on each device. I keep mine on my iPhone and iPad in sync as i've got them synced from Google as i set that up years ago before Apple did it with iCloud. My wife has her personal phone contacts just on her phone backed up as part of iCloud back up and then her other iPhone and iPad are both work supplied so sync contacts with her Outlook\Exchange set up at work.

I probably should set up Family Sharing but to be honest i've no need to as everything works currently and i cant be bothered\have the time to do it.

Thanks, I turned off contacts in icloud but only after they merged, now I just have to get rid of the other contacts that merged with mine.

 

[TrenttonY]

Apple ID = Purchased Music, Apps, Movies, Booke,etc

iCloud = Personal information, such as Notes, Calenders, Reminders, Safari Bookmarks