Set up Family Sharing to share apps across iPhones
Family Sharing is Apple's built-in system that lets you share purchased apps, books, music, and subscriptions with up to five other family members. Once you set it up, family members can download apps you've bought without paying again, and you can see what they're downloading on their devices.
The person who starts Family Sharing becomes the organizer — usually a parent or the person whose Apple ID pays for purchases. That person controls which family members can download what, and whether purchases require approval before they go through.
Family Sharing works across iPhones, iPads, and Macs, so a family member can download an app you bought on their iPhone even if you bought it on your iPad. The app must have been purchased through the App Store; apps downloaded free or from other sources cannot be shared this way.
Key Takeaways
- The organizer of Family Sharing must have a valid payment method on file and be at least 18 years old.
- Family members see shared apps in the App Store under the Purchased tab, organized by who bought them.
- The organizer can require approval for purchases by family members under 18, or turn off purchase approval entirely.
- Shared apps take up storage on each device that downloads them, so a family member can delete a shared app without affecting your copy.
- Apps purchased before Family Sharing was set up may not be shareable if the developer has restricted them.
How to create a Family Sharing group on your iPhone
Open Settings and tap your name at the top. Scroll down and tap Family Sharing, then tap get your free guide. If you see Family Sharing already set up, you're already in a group and can skip to inviting members.
Confirm your name and payment method. Apple requires the organizer to have a valid credit card or Apple ID balance to set up the group. Tap Continue, then Agree to the Family Sharing terms.
You'll see a screen asking whether you want to share purchases. Tap Share Purchases to turn on app sharing. If you tap Not Now, you can turn it on later by going back to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > [Family Member Name] > Share Purchases.
The group is now created. You can add family members immediately or come back to do it later.
Invite family members to join your Family Sharing group
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing and tap Add Family Member. You'll see two options: Invite (for people not in your household) or Set Up for a Family Member (for children or people whose devices you have access to).
If you choose Invite, enter the person's email address or phone number. Apple sends them an invitation they must accept. They can accept on their iPhone by going to Settings > [Their Name] > Family Sharing and tapping the invitation, or by email link.
If you choose Set Up for a Family Member, you enter their information and create an Apple ID for them if they don't have one. This option is useful for children because it lets you set up purchase controls before they start downloading anything.
Family members can be added one at a time. You can have up to six people in a group total, including yourself.
Control what family members can download
The organizer can require approval for purchases by family members under 18. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, tap the family member's name, and toggle Ask to Buy on or off.
When Ask to Buy is on, that person must request permission before downloading any paid app or making any in-app purchase. The request goes to the organizer, who sees it in Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > [Family Member Name] and can approve or decline it. The organizer gets a notification on their iPhone and can also approve or decline from the notification itself.
If Ask to Buy is off, the family member can download any shared app or free app without asking. They can still make in-app purchases without approval, so this setting is usually kept on for children.
You can change these settings at any time. If you turn Ask to Buy off for a child who is now older, they'll be able to download immediately without waiting for approval.
Find and download shared apps on a family member's iPhone
Open the App Store and tap the Search tab at the bottom. Tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap Purchased. You'll see two tabs: My Purchases and Family Purchases.
Tap Family Purchases to see all apps bought by anyone in your Family Sharing group. The apps are organized by who bought them, so you can see at a glance which family member purchased each one.
Find the app you want and tap the cloud icon with a down arrow to download it. If the app requires a newer version of iOS than your device has, you'll see a message saying the app isn't compatible. The app will download and install in the background; you don't need to stay in the App Store.
Once downloaded, the app appears on your home screen like any other app. You can delete it at any time without affecting the original buyer's copy.
What happens when someone leaves Family Sharing
If a family member leaves the group, they keep the apps they've downloaded but cannot download new shared apps. The organizer can remove a family member by going to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, tapping the person's name, and tapping Remove.
Apps that person downloaded while in the group stay on their device and continue to work. However, they won't receive updates to those apps unless they buy them individually with their own Apple ID.
If the organizer leaves Family Sharing, the entire group dissolves. All family members are removed, and they lose access to shared apps going forward. A new organizer can be chosen from the remaining members, but a new Family Sharing group must be created from scratch.
Troubleshoot common Family Sharing problems
If you don't see an app in Family Purchases even though someone in your group bought it, the app may not be shareable. Some developers restrict their apps so they can only be used on the device that purchased them. Check the app's page in the App Store; if it says "This app is not available to share," it cannot be shared through Family Sharing.
If a family member cannot download a shared app, check that Ask to Buy is not blocking the download. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, tap their name, and confirm the setting. If Ask to Buy is on, the download request may still be pending approval.
If an app stops working after a family member downloads it, make sure their device has enough storage space. Shared apps take up the same amount of space as any other app. Delete unused apps or photos to free up room, then try downloading again.
If you see a message that says "This item is not available in your country," the app may be restricted by region. Some apps are only sold in certain countries, and Family Sharing respects those restrictions. The person who bought the app can use it, but family members in other regions cannot download it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share apps I bought before setting up Family Sharing?
Most apps purchased before Family Sharing was set up can be shared, but some developers have restricted their apps. Check the app's page in the App Store under Family Purchases; if it says "This app is not available to share," it cannot be shared even if you bought it years ago.
What if a family member buys an app I don't want them to have?
Turn on Ask to Buy for that family member in Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing. They'll need your approval before downloading any paid app or making any in-app purchase. You can approve or decline each request individually.
Do shared apps use my iCloud storage?
No. Shared apps take up storage on the device they're downloaded to, but they don't count toward your iCloud storage limit. Each family member's device has its own storage space, and downloaded apps use that device's space only.
Can family members see what apps I've downloaded?
Yes. When you tap Family Purchases in the App Store, you can see all apps bought by every family member. However, family members can only see the apps you've shared with them, not your private purchases or browsing history.
What if someone in my Family Sharing group has a different Apple ID?
That's normal. Each family member keeps their own Apple ID, and Family Sharing links those separate accounts together. Apps are shared based on who purchased them, not whose Apple ID is signed in on the device.