iCloud and Media Purchases for Family

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iuser1985 Author

Level 1

49 points

iCloud and Media Purchases for Family

Apple’s account migration won’t work with my Apple accounts. Their support can’t help. I have an iCloud account I have used since iCloud began, and it has all my legacy content and purchases. I’m married now with kids. My wife and I have always used our own iCloud account but shared media and purchases. I now have an Apple one subscription for the family. Is there a way we can all use our own iCloud accounts on any device, but the legacy account for media and purchases, BUT have our own Apple Music libraries? The way it’s setup now is that when media and purchases are set to that legacy account when I go to iTunes I can see any playlist that my wife adds or her music stats. For now, I’m using the legacy account as a family share. (It’s one of my 6) All my Apple TV devices and what not are on that. We are all logged into everything with our iCloud and media & purchases. What I don’t like about that is I don’t want to purchase movies and music and have them not be in that joint library. I would rather keep them all consolidated. Only way I can do that, is if everyone has media and purchases as the joint account. Problem with that goes back to iTunes showing each others playlists and music.

Posted on Nov 26, 2025 7:46 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 9, 2025 3:28 AM in response to iuser1985

On your iPhone (parent / organizer):

Settings → Your Name → Family Sharing
Make sure Purchase Sharing = ON
Make sure you are the Organizer
DO NOT sign in with the legacy ID anywhere else
Settings → Media & Purchases → Sign Out
Sign in again with YOUR personal Apple ID
Apple Music → Your playlists remain yours ONLY

On your wife’s and kids’ devices:

Settings → Media & Purchases → Sign Out
Sign in with their own Apple IDs, NOT the legacy one
They will now see:
✔ Full shared movie library
✔ Full shared music purchase library
✔ Their own Apple Music playlists & stats
Apple Music → Each person gets their own personalized library

No one sees anyone else’s listening history or playlists.

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Answer 2

iuser1985 Author

Level 1

49 points

Dec 13, 2025 7:08 AM in response to azaksalmarzur28

Thank you. I will try this.

Does this mean though that the legacy ID is in the family sharing I assume, correct?

Then, if say I or my wife or kids purchase say a movie or something does that mess this up?

What about for shared devices like an Apple TV? What Apple ID should be the “Media and Purchases” ID in this instance?

Thanks again.

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

427,037 points

Dec 14, 2025 4:28 AM in response to iuser1985

I see you have some follow-up questions. You may wish to note that the person who posted the first reply has never been seen to ever do a follow-up up reply to additional questions or to post links to information sources (which I know I like to see to check if a helper got something right).

I would have to start reading all this and understanding what you are wanting and what has been advised, but to me the first reply (you may want to view this forum by "oldest" which is the sensible presentation method instead of default ranking) says the legacy account is not signed in anywhere in the end. However, I think it would need to be in the list of regular family members otherwise its content would not be available to anybody.

If a family member makes a purchase, their purchase is also shared with everybody unless it is something that cannot be shared or they hide it from others.

I have zero experience with AppleTV. Maybe this will help? Share Apple TV with multiple users - Apple Support

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