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I want to receive iMessages with my iPhone and iPad. I have one small issue being that my iCloud account is shared with my family.

How do I make sure my relatives don't see all of my iMessages appearing on their devices? Is there a way I can select only my iPhone and iPad to receive the messages?

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The only way you can do what you want is to turn off iMessage in each device that uses the same AppleID, where you do not wish it to receive iMessages associated with the AppleID.

I too share my AppleID with my family, but I share it so that there is a singular iTunes account where all devices can access the apps and music purchased on the shared account. (Family share does not work well).

The trick is have multiple AppleIDs. Dedicate one to iTunes, but then provide one for each user for iCloud. I don't want messages, photos, and other iCloud connected items to be shared, so the shared AppleID is used ONLY for iTunes. For iCloud uses, each person has their own AppleID, that they use for iCloud purposes. These family members do not use their own iCloud accounts for iTunes.

iTunes AppleID: all devices log into iTunes using this AppleID Personal AppleID: each device is logged into iCloud using a personal AppleID.

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  • thanks so much for this!So in my falily i have my own id, and so does everyone else. If i just select my number to send and receive along with my email address will that work?
    – lilpug
    Commented Feb 19, 2015 at 23:47
  • Interestingly, all my ID woes vanished after I started using Family Sharing. Own ID for cloud, personal msg & email, but shared apps & tunes. I guess YMMV.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 7:26
  • lilpug: the trick is to use only your own AppleID for iMessage, dont' let anyone else use it. then they wont get your messages, whether you register a contact email or not. The email and phone number are simply contact IDs for iMessage, it doesnt actually send to your number or email.
    – cmason
    Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 15:00

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