If you are reading this, you are undoubtedly interested in if you have multiple accounts on a multi user iPad. The simple answer is yes, you can, with caveats. When the feature was first released, only schools could use multi user iPad accounts. These multi user iPads can be used in a classroom, where multiple users can switch from one profile to another using the iPad lock screen.
The Apple multi user iPad was only available when the shared iPad devices were entered into education mode. This education mode is meant solely for schools. This means that the shared iPad cannot operate like a MacBook that supports various iPad users on multiple user accounts, all managed by a single main admin account.
Is It Possible to Have Multiple User Accounts?
As it stands, only one user can log in on a typical iPad Pro at one time. This ensures that a single user iPad is linked to that user’s unified account. iTunes and App Store access is restricted; however, no private information like preferences is saved on the log-in. This same single-user approach also extends to apps such as Safari—as it stores the online histories and bookmarks of all users instead of individual users.
Fortunately, the shared iPad feature by Apple makes it easier for various individuals to use one iPad while letting each user have their own bespoke experience. The shared iPad for Education feature and the Apple School Manager was released alongside iOS 9.3. It enables staff and students to use their Apple School Manager-created managed Apple IDs to use shared iPads with their own solutions.
It wasn’t until iOS 13.5 that the shared iPad for business became available. The managed Apple ids in the Apple Business Manager ensure that companies can utilize shared iPads. These iOS updates ensure that multi user iPads are possible in both commercial and educational settings.
As stated earlier, businesses can also use Apple shared iPads. This feature enables simultaneous multi user support, with the interactions remaining unique at all times. This is possible thanks to a Mobile Device Management solution as well as managed Apple IDs issued and operated by your organization.
Employees with a managed Apple ID can then sign onto the shared iPad, which the company controls. These devices need to have a minimum free storage space of 32GB and be supervised by the company.
Furthermore, businesses can also use Microsoft Azure Active Directory to manage multi user iPads. It is an extremely popular third-party identity provider that provides managed Apple IDs to multiple profiles when used alongside Apple Business Manager.
Set up your iPad for business using this guide.
The Mobile Device Management provider is in charge of the shared iPads, creating custom actions that only display the resources required by the target iPad user when they log onto the device using their managed apple id.
Each iPad user account is given a unique portion of storage space the moment they log in. all the multiple profiles are partitioned and saved to the corresponding managed Apple ID iCloud storage with this method.
As it stands, the following iPad models can be used by businesses or multiple user accounts:
- Apple iPad Air 2 or later
- Apple iPad 5th gen or later
- Apple iPad mini 4th gen or later
- Every iPad Pro model
Thinking of getting an iPad with cellular for business use? Here’s what you need to know.
Things to Note When Using a Shared iPad
When using a multiple user iPad, you need to know a couple of things beforehand.
Avoid Using the Same Browser for Browsing and Email
When using a multi user iPad, it is best to download separate email apps. While the inbuilt Mail app is great at handling various email accounts, the default display tends to combine all emails into a single inbox. This can make things difficult when using a shared device.
If there are two or more multiple accounts on the shared iPad, you can come to an agreement that some users use the Mail app while others download a third-party email application.
You should follow this thought process for internet browsers as well. While the iPad comes with Safari, you can choose to use third-party browsers such as Firefox or Chrome. Doing this enables each user to keep a record of their bookmarks.
Use the Spotlight Feature
A multi user iPad is likely to contain many applications, making it extremely difficult to find the app you need. The Spotlight Search feature to search for and find the app you need makes navigating a shared iPad easier.
Organize the Shared iPad Using Folders
Every user should have their own folder. When you create a folder for every user on the shared device, you make it easier for everyone to discover and use the applications pertinent to them. This also helps stop the shared iPad device from becoming too cluttered.
Multi User iPad: What Is a Temporary Session?
This feature enables any shared iPad running iPadOS 13.4 or later to create a temporary session by simply selecting the Guest option on the log-in screen. Once the session is ended by signing out, the user’s data and browsing history are cleared. The shared iPad can be unlocked by any user in temporary session mode.
This means those who use temporary sessions on multi user iPads should log out from any apps or websites they log in to. When a shared iPad doesn’t have a managed Apple ID, it means that the apps that require iCloud storage might not be able to function properly.
On shared iPads, temporary sessions stop users from logging into Apple services or altering their account settings. Due to this limitation, apps such as the App Store and Messages are off-limits to multiple profiles.
Furthermore, when you initiate a temporary session on a shared iPad, you cannot assign any books you buy since only multiple users with a managed Apple ID or a typical Apple ID can assign books.
Where To Next?
This blog is a blog dedicated to using modern computing devices to run and manage a business. If you’re interested in using an iPad for your business, either as an entrepreneur, a small business owner or for your employees to use I recommend reading the following articles:
