Tell me more ×
Ask Different is a question and answer site for power users of Apple hardware and software. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 6 down vote favorite
1

We have a number of iDevices in the family, and each user has their own Apple ID.

If I purchase an app for my ipod or ipad, can I share it with my wife and son, each of whom have their own IDs? How do I share purchased apps, if each person has their own computer?

share|improve this question

3 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

Unfortunately the only way to share apps is to use the same Apple ID for purchases on every device.

You can use different IDs for iCloud, but you need to sign into the App Store with the same ID.

If you're signed in to the App Store with the correct ID you can download previously purchased apps for free, each person haven their own computer and iTunes library doesn't matter.

share|improve this answer
Can you authorise multiple apple ids on each iTunes library and redownload/sync? – stuffe Oct 21 '11 at 23:16
You can only authorize one ID per iTunes. You can redownload apps on the device, but syncing apps between iTunes and the device isn't going to work (you can still sync everything else). – voidStern Oct 21 '11 at 23:33
up vote 2 down vote

With Home Sharing and Authorizing computers every person can have their own account and still use apps purchased by other family members.

Home sharing will allow you to stream, browse and copy content, including apps, between machines. You turn on home sharing one each machine under iTunes's Advanced menu. You use the same Apple ID on each machine. It doesn't matter which Apple ID just as long as it's the same one, all this ID is for is to make all of the machines known about the Home share you're setting up. Apple has instructions online: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3819.

Authorizing each computer lets you use protected contact on that machine, including syncing apps to associated iOS devices. You'll need to authorize each computer with each of the accounts you will be purchasing apps with. For example, my wife and I both need to authorize our son's machine. Again, apple has instructions online: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1420 .

There is a limit to how many machines you can authorize.

Once you do both these things each person can use Home Sharing to look at the apps on another machine (its listed in the iTune's sidebar), import those apps to their own machine and those apps will sync to their iPod.

The one down side is app updates. You will need to reenter your password on each iPod in order to download an update. Alternatively, the original purchaser can download the update and the others can grab it again using Home Sharing.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

Try Home Sharing

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3819

share|improve this answer
This is incorrect; Home Sharing requires all devices to be signed into the same Apple ID. – CajunLuke Aug 20 '12 at 23:05
The ID used to sign into home sharing has nothing to do with the ID used for ownership of apps and media. Authorizing each machine is what allows the other apps to run. Once authorized a machine can play and sync apps and media owned by that account no matter what account is actually signed in. – rwr Sep 17 '12 at 4:14
Can you please add details to explain how to activate home sharing. Answers should be self-contained. You can use the link as a reference. – guwac Nov 4 '12 at 16:48

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.