How to share an app through Family Sharing
To share an app with family members through Family Sharing, open the App Store, find the app you want to share, tap or click the price button (or "Get" if it's free), then tap "Share App" from the menu that appears. Select which family members should have access, and they'll receive a notification that the app is ready to download on their devices. The app will appear in their library automatically, and they can install it whenever they want.
Family Sharing must be set up first — one adult organizes the group and invites up to five other family members. Once that's done, most paid apps purchased by any family member become available to everyone in the group at no extra cost. This works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, though some apps have restrictions and won't share.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the price or "Get" button in the App Store, then select "Share App" to send it to specific family members.
- Family members receive a notification and can download the shared app to their own devices from their library.
- Most paid apps share automatically with your Family Sharing group, but some apps — particularly games with in-app purchases or subscription services — may not be shareable.
- The family organizer can turn off app sharing for individual members or remove someone from the family group entirely.
- Shared apps work on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, but the app must be compatible with each device's operating system to install.
Which apps can and cannot be shared
Most apps in the App Store are shareable through Family Sharing, but some developers opt out. Games with in-app purchases, subscription-based apps, and certain productivity tools sometimes have restrictions. You'll know an app can't be shared when you see "Not available for Family Sharing" in the App Store listing, usually near the price button.
Apps that rely on a personal account — like banking apps, email clients, or fitness trackers that sync to your individual profile — often aren't shareable for security or privacy reasons. Before you share an app, check the App Store page to see if Family Sharing is supported. If it isn't listed as available, the app simply won't appear in the share menu.
Setting up Family Sharing if you haven't already
One adult in your household needs to create the Family Sharing group. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then select "Family Sharing." Tap "get your free guide" and follow the prompts to invite family members by email or phone number. On Mac, open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, then select "Family" and click "Set Up Family Sharing."
Family members will receive an invitation and can accept it from their own device. Once they join, they're part of the group and can see shared apps, shared photos, shared calendars, and shared location data — depending on what the organizer has turned on. The organizer can manage who has access to what at any time.
Sharing an app you've already purchased
If you bought an app before setting up Family Sharing, it's still shareable. Open the App Store, go to your account (tap your profile picture in the top right), then tap "Purchased." Find the app you want to share, tap the three dots next to it, and select "Share App." Choose which family members should have access, and they'll see it in their library immediately.
You don't need to buy the app again or do anything special — the system recognizes that you own it and lets you distribute it to your group. If you later remove someone from Family Sharing, they keep the apps they've already downloaded, but they can't download new shared apps or update the ones they have.
What happens when a family member downloads a shared app
When you share an app, family members see a notification on their device saying the app is ready to download. They can tap the notification to go straight to the App Store, or they can find it in their library under the "Shared with You" section. They download it the same way they'd download any other app — it just doesn't cost them anything because you've already paid for it.
Each person's copy of the app is independent. Their settings, saved games, and account logins don't sync with yours. If the app requires a personal account — like a game with a separate username — each family member logs in with their own credentials. Updates to the app roll out to everyone's copy automatically, as long as automatic updates are turned on.
Removing or restricting shared apps
The person who purchased the app can stop sharing it at any time. Go to the App Store, tap your profile picture, select "Purchased," find the app, tap the three dots, and choose "Manage Sharing." You can remove individual family members from that app or turn off sharing entirely. If you remove someone, they keep the app on their device but can't update it or download it again if they delete it.
The family organizer can also restrict app sharing for the whole group through parental controls. On a child's device, go to Settings, tap "Screen Time," select "Content & Privacy Restrictions," then "iTunes & App Store Purchases." You can set it so apps must be approved before they download, or turn off app sharing altogether for that child.
Troubleshooting shared apps that won't install
If a family member can't download a shared app, the most common reason is that the app isn't compatible with their device. Check the App Store listing for the app's system requirements — it might need a newer version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS than what's installed. Have them update their device first, then try downloading again.
Another reason could be that the app developer has removed it from the App Store. If an app disappears from the store, family members can't download it even if it was shared with them previously. If the app is still in the store but won't download, try signing out of the App Store on their device, waiting a few minutes, then signing back in. If that doesn't work, restart the device and try once more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share apps I bought on Android with my family?
No. Family Sharing only works within Apple's ecosystem — iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. If your family members use Android devices, they'll need to purchase apps through Google Play instead. You can't transfer purchases between platforms.
What if someone in my family buys an app — do I get it too?
Yes. Any paid app purchased by any family member becomes available to the whole group automatically. The person who bought it doesn't have to do anything — it just shows up in everyone's library. If you don't want a particular app shared, the purchaser can turn off sharing for that specific app.
Can I share apps with people who aren't in my family group?
No. App sharing only works within your Family Sharing group. If you want someone outside the group to use an app, they'll need to purchase it themselves or you'd need to add them to your family group first.
Do shared apps use the same iCloud storage?
No. Each family member has their own iCloud storage account. When someone downloads a shared app, it counts toward their own storage limit, not yours. Photos, documents, and backups are separate for each person unless they're specifically shared through iCloud Photos or other sharing features.
What happens to shared apps if I cancel Family Sharing?
If you disband the entire Family Sharing group, all family members keep the apps they've already downloaded, but they can't download new shared apps or update existing ones. If you remove just one person from the group, that person keeps their downloaded apps but loses access to future updates and new shared apps.