Why Are All of My Parents’ IPhones Synced?
Sometimes we tech-savvy people have to help those who are less knowledgeable about their gadgets and devices. In this week’s Tech 911, we tackle a fairly common family situation: one daughter, two parents, two iPhones, one account, a lot of confusion.
As my friend Rachelle recently posted on Facebook (reprinted with her permission):
“Friends at Apple: My parents linked their account name to their phones, and now their phones are the same. Can anyone help me figure this out? Moreover, they do not remember their passwords … “
One Apple ID, two devices, two people, double headache
If I understand correctly, it looks like Rachel’s parents have two iPhones – obviously – and one of them is likely a device that one of the parents has been using for a while. The other is probably brand new (or recently dropped). And when setting up this iPhone for the first time (or again), one parent decided it would be more convenient to use the same Apple ID as on the other device.
It makes sense on paper. Then you only pay for the application once, and not twice, after all, or for the movie, or for the album, and so on. Problem? Both iPhones will sync a lot more information: the apps you’ve downloaded, your photos, your music, your iCloud contacts and calendars, your reminders, and more. There’s a lot in there. And don’t make me start with iMessage: it will be total chaos when managing two “separate” devices, which to Apple looks like two devices of the same person. Be prepared for confusion.
If you really want to go this route, you can always turn off all aspects of iCloud on iPhone number two. However, you do not intend to enjoy the full range of Apple services on this device. For example, if you’re not uploading your photos to iCloud or any other cloud storage service, one iPhone crashed could mean the end of everything you’ve recently captured. And how many of us already connect our iPhones to our laptop or desktop computer for backups?
Instead of trying to comb through this mess, here’s my idea: go back, restart your second phone (you’ll lose your iMessages, but, well, it happens), and select it as a brand new device when prompted. Do not restore it from a backup. Also sign in with a different iCloud account.
Once you’re back in business – for example, back to the home screen of your device – ask parent number one to set up Family Sharing and invite parent number two’s Apple ID to participate. In short, it will allow you to keep separate accounts for things like messaging and taking notes, while still getting the full benefits of your family’s purchases.
If, for example, one parent makes a purchase from the App Store , both can download the app to their devices (and the parent’s payment method will be charged). The same is true for any iTunes content. Heck, your parents might even hide some of the content they buy in case they don’t want someone else to understand their newfound love for Nickelback (or something like that). You get all the benefits of a “solution” with one Apple-ID and two devices, without any drawbacks.
As for not remembering their passwords, this is the easiest way to fix them all .
Do you have a technical question that is keeping you awake at night? Tired of searching and troubleshooting Windows or Mac issues? Looking for advice on applications, browser extensions, or utilities that you can use to accomplish a specific task? Let us know! Let us know in the comments below, or better yet, write to david.murphy@lifehacker.com .