Two iPhones on the same iCloud account

I have two iPhones with separate phone numbers and would like to use one as a backup for the other on different carriers. If I use the same iCloud account for both and then forward calls from my primary phone to the other phone, will this give me a fully functioning backup for calls and text messages. The reason for this is that I am frequently in areas where one carrier has coverage and the other does not. Will both devices share everything? Any thoughts?

Posted on Jun 4, 2023 06:05 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 16, 2023 02:42 PM


After further research, I found this information in the iCloud user's guide and it seems to be working for me

to also get SMS/MMS messages on both devices.


Add these settings to both devices:  


Settings/iCloud, tap show all, tap Messages and turn on to sync with iCloud.


Settings/Messages/Send & Receive, chose which phone numbers and email addresses to send and receive

from on each device.


Settings/Messages/Text Message Forwarding, turn on text message forwarding for each device.             

(If you don’t see Text Message Forwarding, go to Settings/Messages and turn off iMessages, then turn it back

on, tap Send & Receive, tap use your Apple ID for iMessages, then be sure your are signed in with the same Apple ID on both devices) 


Both phones must be on and connected to WIFI or cellular data for this to work, they do not have to be near each other.  The messages are routed through iCloud.


References:


Set up iCloud for Messages on all your devices - Apple Support

Forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your Mac or iPad - Apple Support





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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 16, 2023 02:42 PM in response to apfelkopf


After further research, I found this information in the iCloud user's guide and it seems to be working for me

to also get SMS/MMS messages on both devices.


Add these settings to both devices:  


Settings/iCloud, tap show all, tap Messages and turn on to sync with iCloud.


Settings/Messages/Send & Receive, chose which phone numbers and email addresses to send and receive

from on each device.


Settings/Messages/Text Message Forwarding, turn on text message forwarding for each device.             

(If you don’t see Text Message Forwarding, go to Settings/Messages and turn off iMessages, then turn it back

on, tap Send & Receive, tap use your Apple ID for iMessages, then be sure your are signed in with the same Apple ID on both devices) 


Both phones must be on and connected to WIFI or cellular data for this to work, they do not have to be near each other.  The messages are routed through iCloud.


References:


Set up iCloud for Messages on all your devices - Apple Support

Forward SMS/MMS text messages from your iPhone to your Mac or iPad - Apple Support





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Two iPhones on the same iCloud account

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