Phone rings mine and my wife's at the same time

[pezdaddy]

My wife and I share the same apple ID on our devices. We each have our own apple ID (she probably doesn't even know hers though), but I also set up a "family" apple ID which is what EVERYTHING gets synched to.

Both our phones also use the same itunes ID for making purchases. If she buys something i don't want on my phone (an app for example) its simple to delete it. Same goes for her.

The big deal breaker for me and the reason I set it up like this is for photostream. She takes pictures (frequently of our kids) and they show up on my phone. I take pictures, they show up on hers. But more importantly, Aperture uses this apple id and pictures from either phone are automatically downloaded.

But this also allows to to share the same calendar and contacts. We don't need separate calendars. One calendar for both of us. She adds a kids doctors appointment on her phone, shows up on mine since we are using the same calendar data. Same with contacts. One address book for both of us - always in sync. No changing one contact on one phone and the other never getting updated. No more "hey, did so and so change their phone number?...oh yeah, forgot to tell you."

Messages get sent to our phone numbers, so there is no duplicating of that or double messages showing up.

For us, this setup works and I imagine is why others set it up this way too. Its a workaround to apples crappy implentation. Sounds like they got the kinks worked out for family sharing but at the end of the day you still have to manage two sets of data, one for each spouse. That's a pain. Even then, I've not read anywhere that this new family sharing will work for photostream.

 

[joejoejoe]

I understand this about as much as the people that are mad because Apple sent them the U2 album. I just saying that our phones should not ring because we share an iCloud account.

I understand you are trying to use an icloud account in your own specific way, but this is not how an icloud account was designed and intended to be used.

Apple designed the icloud account to be assigned to individuals, not partners. That way, when you jump from your iphone to your ipad to your mac, everything remains beautifully in sync.

if you and your wife want to share apps and music, great, share an apple ID for apps and music.

If you and your wife want to share a calendar, great, you can share a calendar through icloud to each other.

if you want to share contacts, well, this is where apple doesn't really have a solution for you. but luckily, microsoft exchange uses push, and you guys can share an account there. or you can use gmail contacts, sadly those will no longer push updates to phones. these aren't perfect solutions, so i recommend you give apple feedback and ask for shared contacts.

again, icloud accounts were never designed to be shared between two people. you are using the icloud account incorrectly, so you really shouldn't be upset that things aren't going the way you want them to.

there are solutions out there for everything you're looking for. again, just want to reiterate that icloud calendars can be shared amongst individuals to achieve what you want.

the only thing you won't get by using the system properly is shared contacts through icloud.

 

[deviant]

Why'd you even bother if all you wanted was a roommate.

Some people do grow close together in marriage and do blend their lives together. It's actually more normal than not.

I like to think about my other half as of a person who complements my life, not becomes ME. Maybe that's just me. Probably not, because I actually studied this stuff.

Contacts, music, schedules, notes, pictures. keychain, finances, are the same.

While you're at it, share your clothes and your toothbrush, too. Can't hurt.

You can have different playlists but why pay for Match twice?

Because she doesn't want to have my 10000+ songs on her phone and computer?

why pay for iCloud storage twice.

I don't know. You already paid for 2 iphones, i'm sure you can afford 50 bucks for 2 itunes match.



JK. Live you life according to how you know better. It's your life after all, the most important thing is for you to be happy. The thing is, iCloud doesn't work like you want it to, unfortunately. It was designed differently. And you received plenty of advices to how make everything work. If you need assistance, i will happily offer you help. It's not that difficult.

 

[Schtibbie]

Holy hell this is all too complicated.. I'm STILL not 100% sure how *I'm* supposed to configure my family devices. I wish Apple had a "family configurator" site or something. Drag-and-drop people, devices, features, etc.. Something with arrows pointing this way and that..

So in case some MR angel wants to help me out, here's my situation:

One home computer: Macbook. One login. One itunes. One iPhoto containing our entire family history. Wife and I both sync our phones to this for photo storage and iphone backups. Not to icloud at the moment. iTunes match activated for purposes of getting OUR music everywhere and getting ad-free iTunes radio everywhere.

Home iPad: mostly the wife and kids use this. It has the same apps we have on our phones and we can watch movies we own and listen to music we own. Find my iphone/ipad/whatever is installed too.

Two AppleTVs: connected to our "home" appleid (my wife's email address), and with Home Sharing on to our abovementioned laptop. And we interact with them with our iphones too.

My wife's iphone: gmail email and calendar. Her appleid tied to her email address. Find my iPhone is the same.

My iPhone: my company's Exchange email and calendar, plus Gmail, plus my wife's appleid for apps, music, itunes Match, find my iphone (so we could alert/nuke/find each other, which we've used before to find each other's phones).

So... is ALL of that solveable now by eliminating any reference in my phone to her appleid and icloud account and getting on "family share" with her? Or some hybrid approach?

 

[utsava]

I understand you are trying to use an icloud account in your own specific way, but this is not how an icloud account was designed and intended to be used.

Apple designed the icloud account to be assigned to individuals, not partners. That way, when you jump from your iphone to your ipad to your mac, everything remains beautifully in sync.

if you and your wife want to share apps and music, great, share an apple ID for apps and music.

If you and your wife want to share a calendar, great, you can share a calendar through icloud to each other.

if you want to share contacts, well, this is where apple doesn't really have a solution for you. but luckily, microsoft exchange uses push, and you guys can share an account there. or you can use gmail contacts, sadly those will no longer push updates to phones. these aren't perfect solutions, so i recommend you give apple feedback and ask for shared contacts.

again, icloud accounts were never designed to be shared between two people. you are using the icloud account incorrectly, so you really shouldn't be upset that things aren't going the way you want them to.

there are solutions out there for everything you're looking for. again, just want to reiterate that icloud calendars can be shared amongst individuals to achieve what you want.

the only thing you won't get by using the system properly is shared contacts through icloud.

Family Share solves MOST of the issues people like us have been working around for the last few years, but contact sync and automatic photostream sharing are still two big omissions. If I understand correctly, this issue of simultaneous ringing will only happen when the two devices are in proximity to each other. To me, it seems easier and more convenient to either live with the few cases when this will happen or turn off handoff versus the alternative of losing ALL contact syncing and manually adding photos to a shared stream everytime I take one. AND you now need to pay for TWO iCloud accounts if you want more than 5gb of data per device. I had high hopes for family share, but it seems the level of granular control isn't there just yet.

 

[chrisandersen]

Update

So did you turn of HandOFF? we are all curious

I turned handoff off on both phone and both iPads. In all different combinations and it still rings on both phones. This is calling my phone from our landline with my wife's phone in the same room.

I turned off my wifi and called again and it did not ring her phone. So, it must be something else, gentlemen.

 

[deviant]

I turned handoff off on both phone and both iPads. In all different combinations and it still rings on both phones. This is calling my phone from our landline with my wife's phone in the same room.

I turned off my wifi and called again and it did not ring her phone. So, it must be something else, gentlemen.

restart every device. if not, enable, restart, disable, restart, try again.

 

[DesertSilver]

I turned handoff off on both phone and both iPads. In all different combinations and it still rings on both phones. This is calling my phone from our landline with my wife's phone in the same room.

I turned off my wifi and called again and it did not ring her phone. So, it must be something else, gentlemen.

Strange. I have my iphone and ipad, on the same icloud account (god forbid). Handoff turned on for both (specifically called "iPhone Cellular Calls" in Facetime settings).

Called iPhone: both iphone and ipad ring
Turned off Handoff on ipad: only iphone rings
Turned Handoff back on on ipad: both ring

There were not restarts or waiting after I turned Handoff on and off.

 

[TheBuffather]

Why not? We have different iMessage accounts, separate FaceTime accounts, but we share the contacts, photos, music and calendar. It's called marriage.

No need for the smartasss comment. There are plenty of reasons not to share data that have nothing to do with your marriage. I don't have a problem with you doing it, because it's none of my business as to why, I was just curious.

 

[joejoejoe]

I turned handoff off on both phone and both iPads. In all different combinations and it still rings on both phones. This is calling my phone from our landline with my wife's phone in the same room.

I turned off my wifi and called again and it did not ring her phone. So, it must be something else, gentlemen.

stop sharing an icloud account and you'll be fine, gentleman.

don't mean to be snarky but this is what happens when you use a feature as it is not intended.

hope you find a better solution that suits your needs but this will definitely take care of it.

 

[deviant]

am i the only one who can't imagine having all my girlfriends photos pop up on my phone? like every damn bra and nail polish she sees when she's out shopping with her girlfriends? do i really need the whole victoria secret collection in my photos app? i'm exaggerating, but it is what it is.

 

[ohio.emt]

am i the only one who can't imagine having all my girlfriends photos pop up on my phone? like every damn bra and nail polish she sees when she's out shopping with her girlfriends? do i really need the whole victoria secret collection in my photos app? i'm exaggerating, but it is what it is.

It depends upon if there is someone wearing the victoria secret collection.

 

[deviant]

It depends upon if there is someone wearing the victoria secret collection.

 

[Dimwhit]

My wife and I share the same apple ID on our devices. We each have our own apple ID (she probably doesn't even know hers though), but I also set up a "family" apple ID which is what EVERYTHING gets synched to.

Both our phones also use the same itunes ID for making purchases. If she buys something i don't want on my phone (an app for example) its simple to delete it. Same goes for her.

The big deal breaker for me and the reason I set it up like this is for photostream. She takes pictures (frequently of our kids) and they show up on my phone. I take pictures, they show up on hers. But more importantly, Aperture uses this apple id and pictures from either phone are automatically downloaded.

But this also allows to to share the same calendar and contacts. We don't need separate calendars. One calendar for both of us. She adds a kids doctors appointment on her phone, shows up on mine since we are using the same calendar data. Same with contacts. One address book for both of us - always in sync. No changing one contact on one phone and the other never getting updated. No more "hey, did so and so change their phone number?...oh yeah, forgot to tell you."

Messages get sent to our phone numbers, so there is no duplicating of that or double messages showing up.

For us, this setup works and I imagine is why others set it up this way too. Its a workaround to apples crappy implentation. Sounds like they got the kinks worked out for family sharing but at the end of the day you still have to manage two sets of data, one for each spouse. That's a pain. Even then, I've not read anywhere that this new family sharing will work for photostream.

This is exactly why my wife and I use the same iCloud account. I can't see why a couple WOULDN'T do it the way.

But I'm wondering…can a phone use one iCloud account for photos, contacts and calendar, and another for everything else? I think it might (added through the accounts section). If so, that would solve the problem. The trick is testing it out.

 

[chrisandersen]

Update: It was not Handoff after all

With handoff turned back ON all four devices (iPhone x 2, iPad x 2, all with same apple id), WIFI ON and the FaceTime, iPhone Cellular Calls turned off, it is working correctly. I tried it both ways and works.
So, it wan't handoff doing it. It was the phone passing it off to the other phone.
It says: "Use your iPhone cell connection to make and receive calls on devices signed into your iCloud account when are nearby and on wi-fi"
Sounds like I can't use my iPad to make and receive calls if she is using the same apple id on her phone/ipad too.

 

[flur]

Nope. It's called being under your wife's authority. WHY would my lady want all the contacts of my bros, all my music etc. is beyond me. We are goddamn different people, we are not THE ONE.

Some couples like each other's friends and music. Some are more independent. Who are you to judge?

 

[bushido]

am i the only one who can't imagine having all my girlfriends photos pop up on my phone? like every damn bra and nail polish she sees when she's out shopping with her girlfriends? do i really need the whole victoria secret collection in my photos app? i'm exaggerating, but it is what it is.

same like ... i need my space? but to each their own i guess

 

[DesertSilver]

With handoff turned back ON all four devices (iPhone x 2, iPad x 2, all with same apple id), WIFI ON and the FaceTime, iPhone Cellular Calls turned off, it is working correctly. I tried it both ways and works.
So, it wan't handoff doing it. It was the phone passing it off to the other phone.
It says: "Use your iPhone cell connection to make and receive calls on devices signed into your iCloud account when are nearby and on wi-fi"
Sounds like I can't use my iPad to make and receive calls if she is using the same apple id on her phone/ipad too.

Oops, I thought Handoff and iPhone Cellular Calls were one and the same. You could probably just turn iPhone Cellular Calls off for your wife's phone and it might not forward to the ipad or your phone.

 

[jayes]

Can someone explain the difference between Apple ID and iCloud ID?

Are they always the same? People seem to use the term interchangeably which is why I am somewhat confused.

For itunes store and app store = Apple ID?

For iMessage, Facetime, = iCloud ID?

Mine is the same one for both, but sounds like some people have different ones.

 

[deviant]

Can someone explain the difference between Apple ID and iCloud ID?

Are they always the same? People seem to use the term interchangeably which is why I am somewhat confused.

For itunes store and app store = Apple ID?

For iMessage, Facetime, = iCloud ID?

Mine is the same one for both, but sounds like some people have different ones.

it's all apple id, but you can have different apple ids for itunes store and for iCloud.

 

[chrisandersen]

Final solution

I took her apple ID and set it up for iTunes and FaceTime. When I changed the FaceTime ID, I can't even select the Cellular tab on her phone anymore because the same ID must be used on both. On my iPhone and Ipad I turned it back ON and now my iPhone and Ipad ring together and I can answer either one. Her phone does not ring at all.
I kept her signed into my apple ID for contacts, Reminders, Calendar and Notes until I can figure out how to share them with her somehow.
Sorry to have brought out bad feelings, but I do appreciate you guys helping.

 

[jtp098]

I turned handoff off on both phone and both iPads. In all different combinations and it still rings on both phones. This is calling my phone from our landline with my wife's phone in the same room.

I turned off my wifi and called again and it did not ring her phone. So, it must be something else, gentlemen.

Jesh. Interesting situation. I got nothing....

----------

I took her apple ID and set it up for iTunes and FaceTime. When I changed the FaceTime ID, I can't even select the Cellular tab on her phone anymore because the same ID must be used on both. On my iPhone and Ipad I turned it back ON and now my iPhone and Ipad ring together and I can answer either one. Her phone does not ring at all.
I kept her signed into my apple ID for contacts, Reminders, Calendar and Notes until I can figure out how to share them with her somehow.
Sorry to have brought out bad feelings, but I do appreciate you guys helping.

just saw this as well . yay good news I guess. Such a odd issue

 

[kevroc]

This is exactly why my wife and I use the same iCloud account. I can't see why a couple WOULDN'T do it the way.

But I'm wondering…can a phone use one iCloud account for photos, contacts and calendar, and another for everything else? I think it might (added through the accounts section). If so, that would solve the problem. The trick is testing it out.

I'm with this guy (great, I'm with Dimwit...)

Our house has one phonebook in the kitchen and a calendar on the wall and a photo album on the coffee table. A little old school but it's my demographic . I can see where you'd want one iCloud account on both spouses phones to mimic that. A group calendar, phonebook and photostream. You should be able to add another iCloud account for your email, sir settings and all other things that are iCloud based.

This is in addition to the iTunes account which you could share.

Oooh, email notification from apple just popped in that my backordered 6+ 128gb just shipped. I was in the Oct 1-6 delivery group, yeah baby!

Anyway, if you could have multiple iCloud accounts on one device it seems like problem solved.

 

[jayes]

I'm with this guy (great, I'm with Dimwit...)

Our house has one phonebook in the kitchen and a calendar on the wall and a photo album on the coffee table. A little old school but it's my demographic . I can see where you'd want one iCloud account on both spouses phones to mimic that. A group calendar, phonebook and photostream. You should be able to add another iCloud account for your email, sir settings and all other things that are iCloud based.

This is in addition to the iTunes account which you could share.

Oooh, email notification from apple just popped in that my backordered 6+ 128gb just shipped. I was in the Oct 1-6 delivery group, yeah baby!

Anyway, if you could have multiple iCloud accounts on one device it seems like problem solved.

And I'm with this guy (kevroc) who's with that guy (dimwit)

We also have one telephone book, one calendar and one photobook. They just happen to be on our computer - synching from Google. It's also on my phone and the plan is to put it on my husband's iphone when he gets it next week. He will keep his own email, imessage etc.. he has his own Apple ID. But we will share my Apple ID so we can share apps. I guess if that does not work out, we can always set up Family Sharing.

 

[C DM]

It's fairly easy to set up a shared calendar without using the same Apple ID. I believe even contacts can be shared let's say from a shared Google or Hotmail account or something similar. Photos there's the shared photostream that can do that.