The fastest way depends on which device you use
If you set up Family Sharing on an Apple device, you stop it through Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If you use Google Family Link on Android, you turn it off through the Family Link app or your Google Account settings. The steps take about two minutes either way, though what happens to shared content depends on whether you're the organizer or a family member.
The organizer — the person who created the family group — has more control and can remove people or shut down the whole group. A regular family member can only leave the group themselves. If you're trying to remove someone else, you need to be the organizer.
Key Takeaways
- On Apple devices, go to Settings, tap your name, select Family Sharing, then remove yourself or other members from the group.
- On Android with Google Family Link, open the Family Link app, select the person you want to remove, tap Menu, and choose to remove them.
- The organizer can delete the entire family group, but regular members can only leave it themselves.
- Shared purchases and subscriptions may stop working for other family members once you remove them, so give them notice first.
- If you forget the organizer's password, you'll need to contact Apple or Google support to regain control of the account.
Turning off Family Sharing on iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Open Settings and tap your name at the top. Select Family Sharing. You'll see a list of family members. If you're the organizer, you can tap any name and choose "Remove" to take them out of the group. If you're a regular member and want to leave, scroll down and tap "Leave Family Group" at the bottom of the screen.
On a Mac, the path is the same: System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), your name, Family Sharing, then remove members or leave the group. The button locations are slightly different but the options are identical.
Once you remove someone or leave the group, they lose access to shared purchases, shared subscriptions like Apple Music or iCloud+, and the family calendar. Their own purchases and subscriptions stay with them. If you were sharing location with the group, that stops too.
Turning off Google Family Link on Android
Open the Family Link app on the device. You'll see a list of family members. Tap the person you want to remove. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner, then select "Remove member" or "Remove family member" depending on your app version.
If you're a child account and want to leave the family group, you can't do it through the app — the parent or guardian has to remove you. If you're the parent and want to leave, remove all child accounts first, then go to your Google Account settings (myaccount.google.com), select Family, and choose to delete the family group.
When you remove someone from Google Family Link, they keep their Google Account but lose parental controls and any shared family calendar or location sharing. Paid apps and subscriptions they installed stay on their device, but they can't download new ones through a shared family library if that was set up.
What happens to shared content and subscriptions
Shared purchases work differently on Apple and Google. On Apple, if you bought an app or book and shared it with the family, other members can still use it after they leave — the app stays on their device. But if you remove them from the group, they lose access to shared subscriptions like Apple Music or iCloud+ storage immediately.
On Google, shared apps in the family library stop working for removed members within a few hours. They can't launch the app, and if they try to reinstall it, they'll be asked to buy it themselves. Subscriptions like YouTube Premium for Families end right away.
If you're the organizer and you leave the group entirely, the whole family group dissolves. Everyone loses access to shared content and subscriptions at once. Before you do this, make sure other family members know and have their own subscriptions set up if they need them.
If you're locked out of the organizer account
If you're the organizer but forgot your password or can't access the account, you can't remove people or shut down the group yourself. On Apple, contact Apple Support through their website or the Support app on your device. They can verify your identity and help you regain access or remove the family group.
On Google, go to the Account Recovery page (accounts.google.com/signin/recovery) and follow the steps to recover your account. If you can't recover it, contact Google Support. Both companies will ask for proof of identity before they make changes.
This process usually takes a few days because they verify your information by email or phone. If you need faster help, calling Apple or Google support directly is quicker than using their online forms.
Removing a child's account from parental controls
If your child is old enough and you want to stop managing their device, the process is different from leaving a family group. On Apple, you remove parental controls through Screen Time in Settings. On Google, you remove them through Family Link.
On Apple, go to Settings, Screen Time, tap your child's name, then scroll down and tap "Turn Off Screen Time." You'll need your Screen Time passcode. This removes all restrictions but keeps the child's Apple ID active.
On Google, open Family Link, select your child, tap Menu, then "Remove member." This removes all parental controls and the child keeps their Google Account. They can now change their own password and settings without your approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off Family Sharing for just one person without removing them?
No. On both Apple and Google, you either remove someone from the family group entirely or they stay in it with full access. You can't keep them in the group but block specific features. If you want to stop sharing with one person, you have to remove them.
What if someone else in the family group removes me without asking?
Only the organizer can remove people. If a regular family member tries to remove you, they can't — they can only leave the group themselves. If the organizer removed you and you think it was a mistake, ask them to add you back through the same settings.
Do I lose my own apps and photos if I leave Family Sharing?
No. Your own purchases, photos, and data stay with your account. You only lose access to things other people bought and shared with the family. Your personal Apple ID or Google Account continues to work normally.
Can I rejoin a family group after I leave?
Yes. The organizer can send you an invitation to rejoin, and you can accept it. On Apple, they go to Family Sharing and tap "Add Family Member." On Google, they open Family Link and tap the plus icon to add someone. You'll get an invitation to accept.
What if I want to switch who the organizer is?
On Apple, the current organizer has to remove themselves from the group, and the system automatically makes another adult the new organizer. On Google, there's no way to transfer organizer status — you have to delete the family group and create a new one with someone else as the organizer.