Only schools are allowed to utilize multiple iPad accounts. If you’re in charge of iPads at a school, check out Apple’s “Shared iPad for Education” option. Multiple iPads can be shared in a classroom, and users can switch between profiles on the iPad lock screen.
iPad Multiple Users
Apple’s iPads only support multiple user accounts in a special education mode intended for schools. Think of an iPad more along the lines of an iPhone and not a Macbook that supports multiple accounts for multiple users, managed by one main admin account.
iPad Multiple Users: Is it Possible
On a regular iPad, only one person at a time can log in and out of their iPads. An iPad with a single user is bound to the user’s centralized account. Access to the App and iTunes Stores is restricted, but no personal information, such as preferences, is saved while using this login. The single-user approach extends to applications like Safari, which retain track of bookmarks and online histories for all users rather than an individual user.
Apple’s new Shared iPad feature makes it possible for numerous people to use the same iPad while allowing each user to have their own unique experience.
iOS 9.3 brought Apple School Manager (ASM) and the new Shared iPad for Education feature. Students and staff may use their ASM-created Managed Apple IDs to log in to iPads with this native Apple solution. Until iOS 13.5, Shared iPad became available for businesses, branded Shared iPad for Business. The Managed Apple IDs in Apple Business Manager make it possible for companies to use shared iPads (ABM). Thus, iPads with multiple users can now be used in both educational and commercial settings.
Temporary Sessions
Anyone can start a temporary session on an iPad running iPadOS 13.4 or later by tapping Guest on the log-in screen. Signing out clears the user’s browser history and other data. The iPad can be unlocked and accessed by any user during a temporary session.
It’s essential for everyone logged into a website or app while in a temporary session to remember this. The lack of a Managed Apple ID means apps that use or need iCloud or cloud-based storage might not function properly.
Temporary Sessions with a Shared iPad also stops users from changing their account settings or checking in to Apple services. As a result, apps like Messages and the App Store are inaccessible to users. Also, in a temporary session on a Shared iPad, you cannot assign purchased books since only users with an Apple ID or Managed Apple ID can assign books.
Tips For Sharing Your iPad With an Adult
Sharing an iPad with an adult is easier if you know a few things beforehand.
Organize your iPad with folders
Each user should have their own folder. Creating a folder for each user on the first tab of the Home Screen is a simple method to arrange apps for numerous people. This method makes it easier to discover and utilize certain apps, protecting the iPad from being too cluttered.
Make use of Spotlight feature
Make use of Spotlight Search to open applications. Multiple users on the same iPad are likely to get overloaded with apps, making it more difficult to locate certain ones. Regardless of how many people use the iPad, Spotlight Search can be the quickest way to open apps.
Do not use the same browser for both email and browsing
One can download separate email applications. The standard Mail app is a wonderful tool for handling several email accounts, but the default display combines all messages into a single inbox. One user can use the Yahoo or Gmail app, while the other uses the unified mailbox.
There is a similar strategy for browsers. The iPad comes pre-installed with Safari, but you may also use Chrome or Firefox if you like, and each user will be able to keep track of their bookmarks.
Many social networking apps might be a bit difficult to use. Facebook allows you to have many accounts, and each one has a unique password. Ensure to log out at the end of the day. Twitter doesn’t require a password, but it does enable additional users. Instead of using the official social networking applications, one user might use a third-party app.
Activate each user’s Touch ID.
If you have a compatible iPad, you can enable Touch ID for multiple users. Each user can unlock the iPad with their Touch ID.
Interested in untethered use of your iPad? Read our article on 5 Reasons to Choose iPad With Cellular
Tips for Sharing Your iPad With a Child
Several people can use the iPad, but it gets more complicated when some of those individuals are kids. However, parental controls on an iPad may be easily implemented to prevent children from accessing age-inappropriate content such as music or movies. Here are some tips for kid-proofing your device before sharing it with your kids.
Use Guided Access
Kid-proofing an iPad is a breeze. Guided Access is a setting in the Settings app for iOS and iPadOS that prevents your children from using an app without entering a passcode or using Touch ID. Be careful to enable the password lock (or biometric protection) and set a time limit for how long the display will remain locked if you use Guided Access.
Limit screen time
You can set screen time limits on your iPad when sharing with the kids. The Screen Time feature lets you limit app time for gaming apps, social media, etc. This ensures that your kids don’t stay on your iPad longer than allowed.
Games and streaming services, for example, allow you to set a time restriction on how long they run. Just go to Settings > Screen Time > Downtime and Setting > Screen Time > App Limits. You can set screen time for each app.
Kid-friendly versions of apps
You can also adjust privacy settings for non-Apple apps. If you cannot limit an app to your satisfaction, you may find a kid-friendly alternative, such as YouTube Kids, for your child to use.
iPad Multiple Users: For Businesses
Businesses can also use shared iPads. Several users can use the iPad simultaneously, and the interactions can be unique even when the iPad is shared.
A Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution and managed Apple IDs that are issued and held by the company are required to use a shared iPad. Employees that have a Managed Apple ID could then sign in to a Shared iPad, which the company controls. Devices must have a minimum of 32GB of storage and be under the supervision of the management.
Apple’s Managed Apple ID solution, Shared iPads for Business, was designed to allow users to share iPads. The iPad can be used by several people simultaneously. Microsoft Azure Active Directory is a popular third-party identity provider typically used in conjunction with Apple Business Manager to provide Managed Apple IDs for end users.
The controlling Mobile Device Management (MDM) provider can conduct tailored actions to only display the resources required by the targeted user when they log in with their Managed Apple ID.
iPad users are instantly given a distinct partition of storage space as soon as they log in. User data is isolated from other users and saved to the user’s Managed Apple ID iCloud storage by using this method.
Here are the iPads that businesses can use for multiple users. If you want to take advantage of iPad multiple users functionalities for business purposes, consider these models:
- Every iPad Pro model
- Apple iPad 5th gen or later
- Apple iPad Air 2 or later
- Apple iPad mini 4th gen or later
iPad Multiple Users: For Classrooms
A shared iPad lets numerous people use the same iPad simultaneously. Users’ experiences can be unique even when using the same devices. Classroom’s Shared iPad and Managed Apple ID features allow teachers to assign students to specific groups of iPads. Initially, students choose a name from a list and use the iPad’s keyboard to input their personal identification number (PIN).
There are several ways to sign students out from their shared iPads after class has ended. Despite students having signed out, data is still stored locally on every iPad and transferred to the iCloud. Data from the previous user may be sent to the cloud whenever the new iPad user registers.
Teachers with a shared iPad can also use the Classroom app for iPad. Teachers can enjoy the benefits of iPads in the classroom by utilizing features that can help students remain in focus.
With Managed Apple IDs and Class Roster Configuration in Apple School Manager, teachers can also use Schoolwork with Classroom. Using Schoolwork, they can assign and receive assignments from students’ iPads, monitor student progress in educational iPad applications, communicate one-on-one with students, and set up and maintain cooperation amongst students.
Frequently Asked Questions
After going through a lot of information about iPad multiple users, let’s get down to some related questions about shared iPads.
Can you have multiple users on an iPad?
Yes, you can have multiple users on an iPad. But this functionality is only restricted to iPads for schools and businesses. Standard iPads do not support multiple user accounts.
How do I add a second user to my iPad?
You can only add a second user to your iPad if you use it under the Shared iPad program by Apple for educational institutions and businesses. Shared iPads can add multiple accounts. The admin account has access to adding more accounts and profiles.
Conclusion
No amount of parental control tools or other restrictions can bring multiple user support to standard iPads. Even though iPad users have been clamoring for this feature for years, Apple has yet to implement it, and there is no sign that multi-user iPads will be coming any time soon.
While Apple takes its sweet time to bring the much-requested functionality for regular iPads, we hope this guide on iPad multiple users helps you understand its limited availability for schools and businesses.
Leave a Reply