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My wife and I have shared my Apple ID for years, I’m ready to add family sharing but realize she will need to create her own account first. How can I add her without her losing any info such as iMessage conversations etc?
iPhone XR, iOS 13
When making the change, she needs to remained signed into the shared ID in Messages/FaceTime if she wants to keep existing messages.
When changing to the new ID, there may be some data loss, but you can minimize it. If syncing photos with iCloud, ensure Optimization is turned off in Settings/Your Name/iCloud/Photos and/or in Photos/Preferences/iCloud. Then make sure full resolution photos are on the device/computer. When signing out of iCloud, if asked whether you want to retain data, choose yes. Messages conversations will be lost if they are addressed to the ID. See the article below for other places that the old ID should be removed. See Winston Churchill's response in the below discussion. Also set up Family Sharing between the IDs to keep access to your apps/purchases.
How to switch Apple IDs on your iPhone or iPad.
How to transfer all files from one iCloud account to another.
What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support.
When making the change, she needs to remained signed into the shared ID in Messages/FaceTime if she wants to keep existing messages.
When changing to the new ID, there may be some data loss, but you can minimize it. If syncing photos with iCloud, ensure Optimization is turned off in Settings/Your Name/iCloud/Photos and/or in Photos/Preferences/iCloud. Then make sure full resolution photos are on the device/computer. When signing out of iCloud, if asked whether you want to retain data, choose yes. Messages conversations will be lost if they are addressed to the ID. See the article below for other places that the old ID should be removed. See Winston Churchill's response in the below discussion. Also set up Family Sharing between the IDs to keep access to your apps/purchases.
How to switch Apple IDs on your iPhone or iPad.
How to transfer all files from one iCloud account to another.
What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support.
Okay, I checked her settings and neither messages or FaceTime were signed in with my Apple ID, they only send and receive through her cell number so the only data I would be worried about her losing is photos which I’ll just make sure to connect to our Mac for backup before having her create her new Apple ID. I am planning to do this with the release of Apple One, so in her settings would she log into those shared apps (Apple Music) with our main Apple ID or her individual account?
You are welcome. If you have family sharing set up and you get a family subscription, she should be able to use her ID.
For the photos, as long as she has full resolution photos on her device, she should keep them. A backup is a good idea.
Thanks for the response, I’ll give this a try.
Converting one Apple ID into family plan?
