Sharing iTunes Account

[dasikes]

Hello! I'm looking to purchase an iOS device for my girlfriend. I was hoping to use the same iTunes account on it, so that we don't have to repurchase music or apps in the future.

How would this affect our ability to use iMessage, FaceTime or Game Center between our devices? For example, would we be able to play Game Center games with each other? Has anyone tried using one iTunes Account between multiple people?

Thank you for any help you can give.

 

[soco]

You could just create an account for her, one for you, use them separately, but only purchase things on one.

So, for example, if you use your account to buy things, she would just sign out of hers and into yours to download and update, then back to hers for Game Center and whatnot.

(This is what my gf and I do.)

Easy as Apple Pie.

 

[MooneyFlyer]

Another option is to have two separate accounts and authorize the other's computer for each account. For example, you would each have your own account and then:
- On her computer you would authorize your account
- On your computer she would authorize her account

This means that each account "owns" what they bought and can de-authorize the other computer(s) at a later date if the situation happens to arise.

The end result is similar to what Mr. Pink wrote above but has a clearer delineation of who owns what. For historic reasons, my wife and I have it setup this way but one caveat - it is unclear to me how this would work with iTunes Match at this point.

 

[soco]

Another option is to have two separate accounts and authorize the other's computer for each account. For example, you would each have your own account and then:
- On her computer you would authorize your account
- On your computer she would authorize her account

This means that each account "owns" what they bought and can de-authorize the other computer(s) at a later date if the situation happens to arise.

The end result is similar to what Mr. Pink wrote above but has a clearer delineation of who owns what. For historic reasons, my wife and I have it setup this way but one caveat - it is unclear to me how this would work with iTunes Match at this point.

Doesn't your method assume syncing with the computer? We do it the way I described because when you step away from the computer, you need the account info to download and update.

 

[MooneyFlyer]

Doesn't your method assume syncing with the computer? We do it the way I described because when you step away from the computer, you need the account info to download and update.

That could be true but I don't know 100%.

I'm pretty sure if I attempt to play a song from my wife's collection on my iPhone and it isn't authorized it will ask me to authorize right then on the device vs. the computer. Same for updating apps.

In reality, you need to know the password for both accounts but there still is clear ownership...

 

[donnaw]

I bought my iPad several months before I bought one for my husband. I had purchased several apps on mine I knew he would want. The 'genius' at the Apple store suggested that we set his up under my Apple ID so we could share apps and music. We also created an Apple ID for him specifically for FaceTime.

So here comes IOS 5 and iCloud. When I upgraded both iPads I kept the same setup - the store has my original Apple ID and I set his iCloud up with his unique Apple ID and kept that same Unique ID for his FaceTime. So his iCloud stuff is completely separate form mine but we still share apps and music.

This setup works great for us. Of course if you and your girlfriend ever break up then you have a bit of a nightmare. But other than that you will be fine.

Don't know how this affects the Gamecenter because we don't actually use it.

 

[dasikes]

Thanks for all the helpful responses! I really appreciate your help.

 

[netnothing]

Much like what donnaw said, my wife and I have the following setup for our iPhones:

My Apple ID is used for all purchases. It's the Apple ID used on both phones for the store.

My Apple ID on my phone is used for my iCloud, Game Center, iMessage, Facetime etc.

My wife setup a free Apple ID that she used just for her iCloud, Game Center, etc.

Works perfectly.

-Kevin

 

[Coleman2010]

You can use different Apple IDs for iCloud for synching contacts and calendars and then share an iTunes Match ID for Music.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

The biggest issue with sharing an account is going to be iMessage. Messages for one person would get delivered to all devices I believe.

I told my parents to suck it up and split their account now for that reason - my dad had only just gotten an iPhone, so he lost relatively little by doing so.

The other respondents seem to have cracked the apps/music problem so you should be golden there.

 

[MooneyFlyer]

I agree that if you are going to share your purchases for the rest of time then one iTunes ID for purchasing is the simplest. If you are not going to share the iTunes library forever then it gets pretty messy.

 

[steve knight]

separate icloud accounts are a must for it to work and not sure contacts and such. but the itunes account is a separate account. the game center account can be a whole other account. the problem with sharing a iTunes account is if you break up on less then good terms one of you will loose all of their content.

 

[Zcott]

A lot of people on these boards with iMessage issues have the same Apple ID on their and their wives' phones. So, separate ideas are a good idea; they're free to set up and easy to switch between the two.

 

[Coleman2010]

The biggest issue with sharing an account is going to be iMessage. Messages for one person would get delivered to all devices I believe.

I told my parents to suck it up and split their account now for that reason - my dad had only just gotten an iPhone, so he lost relatively little by doing so.

The other respondents seem to have cracked the apps/music problem so you should be golden there.

That isn't true. The email addresses you use for iCloud, iTunes iMatch and iMessage can be different. I am using 3 different log ins for mine.

 

[aham23]

Much like what donnaw said, my wife and I have the following setup for our iPhones:

My Apple ID is used for all purchases. It's the Apple ID used on both phones for the store.

My Apple ID on my phone is used for my iCloud, Game Center, iMessage, Facetime etc.

My wife setup a free Apple ID that she used just for her iCloud, Game Center, etc.

Works perfectly.

-Kevin

spot on advice. later.

 

[xlii]

Everything Apple MBPs, iPods, iPad, iPhone, apps & itunes music have been purchased using my id and my credit card tied to that id.

That started about 10 year ago when our daughter was in the 8th grade.

Now that she's graduated from college and has started her own career it's time she got her own id that she can tie to her own credit card.

This is what I want to do:

1. She creates her own apple id and ties it to her credit card. She will make all future purchases using her account.

2. Since I currently own all her machines and music and app purchases (they are only on her machines we do not share) I will alway authorize her machines on my account. Her machines will still stayed tied to my account because I don't think you can move them.

Does this sound like it will work? Since her laptop will still be authorized on my apple id account will she still be able to use all apps & music purchased over the years via my apple id?