What Family Sharing does and how to start
Family Sharing lets up to six people on the same iCloud account share purchases, subscriptions, and storage without sharing passwords. One adult sets it up as the organizer, then invites family members to join. Once they accept, everyone can see shared purchases in the App Store and Apple Music, split an iCloud+ storage plan, and use Find My to locate each other's devices.
You set it up through Settings on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The organizer needs an Apple ID and a valid payment method on file — this is the account that will be charged for shared subscriptions and purchases. Family members need their own Apple IDs but do not need their own payment methods unless they want to buy things individually.
The whole process takes about ten minutes if everyone is nearby and can accept invitations on their devices. If family members are in different locations, they can accept invitations through email or text message, which takes a bit longer but works just as well.
Key Takeaways
- One adult organizer sets up Family Sharing and becomes responsible for the shared payment method and any purchases made through the family account.
- Up to five family members can be invited to join, and each person needs their own Apple ID but not their own payment method.
- Shared purchases include apps, books, music, movies, and subscriptions like Apple Music and Apple TV+, but each person's photos and messages stay private.
- Family members can be removed at any time, and you can switch who the organizer is if needed, though this requires some setup steps.
- Children under 13 can be added with parental controls, and parents can approve or deny purchases before they go through.
How to set up Family Sharing as the organizer
Open Settings on your iPhone and tap your name at the top. Scroll down and tap Family Sharing. If you do not see this option, make sure you are signed in with an Apple ID and running iOS 16 or later. Tap get your free guide, then Create Your Family Group.
The next screen shows your Apple ID and asks you to confirm your payment method. This is the card or account that will be charged for any shared subscriptions or purchases made through the family account. Review it carefully — you can change it here if needed. Tap Continue.
You will then see a screen to invite family members. You can invite them by entering their phone number or email address, or by having them join in person if they are nearby. If you invite them by phone number or email, they will receive an invitation they can accept on their own device. Tap Invite and enter the information for each person you want to add.
Once you have sent invitations, Family Sharing is active. Family members can start accepting invitations right away, or you can wait and send them the details later. The organizer can always add or remove people from the family group at any time.
How family members join an existing Family Sharing group
If someone has invited you to join their Family Sharing group, you will receive an invitation through email or text message. Open the invitation and tap the link to accept. On your iPhone, you will be taken to Settings and asked to sign in with your Apple ID if you are not already signed in.
Review the family organizer's name and the payment method that will be used for shared purchases. Tap Accept to confirm. Your device will sync with the family group, and you should see shared apps and subscriptions appear in the App Store within a few minutes.
If you do not receive an invitation after the organizer sends it, check your email spam folder or ask them to resend it. Invitations can sometimes take a few minutes to arrive, especially if they were sent by text message.
What gets shared and what stays private
Apps, books, music, movies, and TV shows purchased through the App Store or iTunes are shared across the family group. If one person buys an app, everyone in the family can download it on their own device without paying again. The same applies to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, and other subscriptions — one subscription covers the whole family.
iCloud+ storage is also shared. If the organizer has a 200 GB or 2 TB iCloud+ plan, all family members can use that storage for their backups, photos, and files. Each person's storage use counts toward the total, so a family of four with a 200 GB plan has 50 GB per person on average.
Photos, messages, email, and health data stay completely private. Each family member's iCloud account is separate, so nobody can see anyone else's private photos or read their messages. Find My location sharing is optional — you can turn it on or off for each family member individually.
Setting up parental controls for children
If you are adding a child under 13 to Family Sharing, the setup process includes parental controls. When you invite the child, you will be asked to set a Screen Time passcode. This passcode lets you control what apps the child can use, how long they can use them, and what content they can access.
You can also require approval for purchases. With this turned on, any app, book, or in-app purchase the child tries to buy will send a notification to the organizer. The organizer can approve or deny it right from their iPhone. This prevents surprise charges and gives you control over what your child downloads.
To adjust these settings later, open Settings, tap your name, tap Family Sharing, select the child's name, and tap Screen Time. From there you can change app limits, content restrictions, and purchase approval settings.
Removing someone from Family Sharing or switching organizers
To remove a family member, open Settings, tap your name, tap Family Sharing, select the person's name, and tap Remove from Family Sharing. They will lose access to shared apps and subscriptions immediately, but their own purchases and data stay on their device.
Switching who the organizer is requires more steps. The current organizer must remove themselves from the family group, which automatically makes the oldest adult member the new organizer. Alternatively, the organizer can go to Family Sharing settings and look for an option to transfer organizer status if available on their iOS version. If you need to make someone else the organizer, contact Apple Support for guidance on your specific situation.
If the organizer's payment method expires or is declined, shared purchases and subscriptions will stop working until a new payment method is added. The organizer will receive notifications about this, so check your email and Settings if shared content suddenly becomes unavailable.
Troubleshooting common Family Sharing problems
If a family member cannot see shared apps or subscriptions, make sure they have accepted the Family Sharing invitation and are signed in with the correct Apple ID. Have them restart their iPhone by turning it off and back on, then check the App Store again. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for shared content to appear after joining.
If purchases are being charged to the wrong account, check that everyone is using the correct Apple ID. Each person should sign in with their own ID, not the organizer's. If someone is signed in with the organizer's ID, they will be charged to the organizer's payment method. Sign them out and have them sign in with their own Apple ID instead.
If you cannot find the Family Sharing option in Settings, make sure you are running iOS 16 or later. You can check this by going to Settings, tapping General, and tapping About. If you are on an older version, update your iPhone through Settings > General > Software Update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Family Sharing if I do not have an Apple Music or Apple TV+ subscription?
Yes. Family Sharing works for sharing apps and books even without any subscriptions. The shared storage and parental controls also work without subscriptions. You only benefit from shared subscriptions if the organizer has purchased them.
What happens to shared apps if someone leaves the family group?
Shared apps stay on their device and continue to work, but they cannot update them anymore. If they want to keep using the app, they will need to buy their own copy or the organizer will need to re-invite them to the family group.
Can I have two Family Sharing groups, or switch between groups?
No. Each Apple ID can only be part of one Family Sharing group at a time. If you want to switch groups, you must remove yourself from the current group first, then join a different one. There is a waiting period of about 30 days before you can join a new group.
Do I need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to set up Family Sharing?
No. Family members can be anywhere and accept invitations through email or text message. You do not need to be in the same location or on the same network.
Can I hide purchases from other family members?
No. All purchases made through the shared account are visible to everyone in the family group. If you want to keep a purchase private, you need to buy it with your own payment method outside of Family Sharing.