How app sharing works on Apple and Google
Family Sharing on Apple lets up to six family members share purchased apps, books, and subscriptions from a single payment method. Google Family Link and Google Play Family Library work similarly for Android devices, though the setup and rules differ slightly between the two platforms.
On Apple, when you buy an app, family members can download it to their own devices at no extra cost — the original purchase covers all of them. Google works the same way: one person buys the app, and other family members see it as already owned in their library. Neither system requires the other person to use your Apple ID or Google account directly.
The key difference is that Apple's system is built into iOS and macOS, while Google's family features are spread across multiple apps and services. Both let you set spending limits for children and control what content they can see.
Key Takeaways
- On Apple, set up Family Sharing in Settings, add family members by email, and choose one payment method for all shared purchases.
- On Google, create a family group through Google Play, add members, and set a family payment method that covers app purchases for everyone.
- Apps purchased by any family member appear in every other member's library automatically — they do not need your password or account.
- You can hide individual apps from your library so they do not show up for other family members, even though they own them.
- Subscriptions to apps (like Spotify or gaming services) do not share automatically — each person needs their own subscription, though you can share one family plan.
Setting up Family Sharing on Apple devices
Start in Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap or click your name at the top, then select Family Sharing. If you have not set it up yet, tap "Create a Family" or "Set Up Family Sharing." You will be asked to confirm your Apple ID and payment method — this becomes the account that pays for all shared purchases.
Next, invite family members. Tap "Add Family Member" and choose whether to invite someone with an existing Apple ID or create a new one for a child. If you are inviting an adult, send them an invitation through email or iMessage. They will receive a notification and can accept or decline. For children under 13 (or the age of digital consent in your country), you create an Apple ID for them, and they automatically join your family group.
Once someone joins, they can download any app you have purchased by opening the App Store, going to their account, and tapping "Purchased." Apps you bought appear there with a cloud icon next to them. They tap the cloud to download. The same process works on Mac through the App Store app.
Setting up Family Sharing on Google devices
On Android, open Google Play and tap your profile icon in the top right. Select "Manage your Google Account," then go to the "Family" tab. Tap "Create a family group" or "Manage family group" if one already exists. You will be asked to add a payment method — this is what Google charges when anyone in the family buys an app.
To add family members, tap "Add member" and send them an invitation through email or text. They must accept the invitation on their own device. Once they do, they join the family group and can see all apps purchased by anyone in the group. On their device, they open Google Play, tap their profile, select "Manage apps & device," go to "Manage," and any shared apps appear with a "Manage" button instead of a price.
Unlike Apple, Google does not require family members to be in the same household, though Google does ask you to confirm you are related or live together when you create the group. Google also lets you manage family members' accounts more directly through Family Link, a separate app that gives parents control over what children can download and how much they can spend.
What apps share and what does not
Most paid apps share automatically across your family group on both platforms. If one person buys Angry Birds, everyone can download it. The same is true for most games, productivity apps, and utilities. The purchase is tied to the family group, not to the individual person who bought it.
Subscriptions within apps — like a Spotify Premium subscription or a gaming pass — do not share this way. If you pay for a subscription through an app, only your account gets access. However, many services offer family plans (Spotify Family, Apple Music Family, Microsoft Game Pass Ultimate) that you can set up separately and share with family members through those services' own family features, not through Apple Family Sharing or Google Family Library.
Free apps do not need sharing at all — anyone can download them directly. In-app purchases (like coins in a game or extra features) are tied to the person who made the purchase, so they do not share either.
Hiding apps from your family library
If you buy an app you do not want other family members to see, you can hide it from your shared library. On Apple, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, select "Purchased," find the app, swipe left on it (or right-click on Mac), and tap "Remove from Purchases." The app disappears from the family library but remains on your own device if you have already downloaded it.
On Google, open Google Play, tap your profile, go to "Manage apps & device," select "Manage," find the app, tap the three dots next to it, and select "Hide." Like Apple, the app stays on your device but does not appear in other family members' libraries.
Hiding an app does not delete it from anyone's device — it just removes it from the visible library. If someone has already downloaded it, they can still use it; they just cannot see it in the store to reinstall it if they delete it.
Managing spending and permissions for family members
On Apple, you can set spending limits for children through Family Sharing settings. Open Settings, tap your name, select Family Sharing, choose a family member, and tap "Screen Time." From there, you can set limits on app purchases and in-app spending. Children will need your approval to buy anything over the limit you set.
On Google, Family Link offers more detailed controls. Install the Family Link app on a child's device, and you can set a monthly spending limit, require approval for purchases over a certain amount, and block access to apps by rating (like blocking all apps rated 17+). You manage these settings from your own device through the Family Link app.
Both systems let you see what family members have purchased and when. On Apple, this appears in the Family Sharing settings under each person's name. On Google, you can view purchase history through Google Play's family settings.
Removing someone from your family group
If a family member leaves or you need to remove them, the process differs slightly between platforms. On Apple, go to Settings, tap your name, select Family Sharing, choose the person, and tap "Remove from Family." They will no longer see your shared apps, but apps they have already downloaded stay on their device.
On Google, open Google Play, tap your profile, go to "Manage your Google Account," select the "Family" tab, find the person, tap the three dots next to their name, and select "Remove member." Like Apple, apps they have downloaded remain on their device, but they lose access to the shared library.
When you remove someone, any apps they purchased while in the family group remain in the family library for other members to download. Their personal purchases do not disappear from the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share apps if family members use different devices?
Yes. On Apple, family members can use iPhones, iPads, or Macs — the app library syncs across all their devices. On Google, family members need Android devices or Chromebooks. You cannot share between Apple and Google devices, but within each ecosystem, different device types work together.
What happens if someone leaves the family group?
They lose access to new downloads from the shared library, but apps already on their device continue to work. They can still use the apps they downloaded while in the group. If they rejoin later, they regain access to the shared library.
Do I need to give family members my password?
No. On both Apple and Google, family members use their own accounts and passwords. They do not need access to the payment method or the original purchaser's login. The sharing happens automatically through the family group.
Can I share apps with people who are not related to me?
Technically yes on Apple — you can add anyone to Family Sharing if they accept the invitation. On Google, you are asked to confirm that members are related or live together, though the system does not verify this. Both platforms assume you are sharing with actual family members.
What if an app gets removed from the store?
If an app is deleted from the App Store or Google Play, family members who already downloaded it can keep using it. They cannot download it again if they delete it, and new family members cannot download it at all. The app remains in your purchase history, but it is no longer available.