How app sharing works on Apple and Android
Family Sharing on Apple devices and Family Library on Android let you share apps you've bought with people in your household without buying the app multiple times. On Apple, everyone in the family group can see and download apps that any family member has purchased. On Android, the person who bought the app can share it with up to five family members, and those people can install it on their own devices.
The main difference: Apple's system is automatic once you set up a family group, while Android requires you to manually add family members to a sharing group and then decide which apps to share. Both systems keep each person's data separate — if your sister downloads an app you shared, her game progress and settings won't mix with yours.
Before you start, make sure everyone in your family has their own device and their own account (Apple ID or Google account). You'll need to be the family organizer or have permission from whoever set up the family group.
Key Takeaways
- On Apple, set up Family Sharing through Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, then invite family members by email or phone number.
- On Android, go to Settings > Family Library, add family members, and choose which apps to share with each person.
- Shared apps appear in each person's app store under a "Family" or "Shared" section, and they can download them like any other app.
- You can stop sharing an app at any time, and the person you shared it with will no longer be able to use it on new devices, though it stays on devices where they already installed it.
- Apps with subscriptions or in-app purchases may have restrictions on sharing, and you should check the app's rules before assuming it can be shared.
Setting up Family Sharing on Apple devices
Open Settings and tap your name at the top. Scroll down and tap Family Sharing. If you see "Set Up Family Sharing," tap that. If Family Sharing is already set up, you'll see the names of people already in the group.
To invite someone new, tap "Invite Family Members" and choose whether to send an invitation by email or in person. If you're inviting someone in the same room, they can accept the invitation right there on their device. If you're inviting someone remotely, they'll get an email with a link to accept.
Once someone accepts, they automatically gain access to all apps purchased by anyone in the family group. They don't need to do anything else — the apps show up in their App Store under the "Purchased" tab, and they can download them whenever they want. You can also set up Ask to Buy so that children need permission before downloading anything, which gives you control over what gets installed on their devices.
Setting up Family Library on Android
Go to Settings and search for "Family Library" or scroll to find it under "Apps & notifications." Tap Family Library and then "Set up Family Library" if it's your first time. You'll be asked to confirm your Google account and create or join a family group.
Once the group is set up, tap "Add family member" and enter their email address or phone number. They'll get an invitation to join. After they accept, you can choose which apps to share with them individually.
To share an app, go to your Play Store library, find the app you want to share, tap the three dots next to it, and select "Share with family." Choose which family members get access. The app will then appear in their Play Store under "Shared with me," and they can download it to their own devices.
Where shared apps appear and how to download them
On Apple, shared apps show up in the App Store under the "Purchased" tab. Tap the cloud icon next to the app name to download it. The app will install on that device just like any app you bought yourself.
On Android, shared apps appear in the Play Store under "Shared with me." Tap the app and then the install button. It downloads and installs the same way as any other app from the Play Store.
On both systems, the app stays on the device even if you later stop sharing it with that person. However, they won't be able to reinstall it on a new device if you've removed the sharing permission.
Apps that can't be shared and why
Some apps have restrictions that prevent sharing. Games with in-app purchases, subscription services like Netflix or Spotify, and apps tied to a single account often can't be shared through Family Sharing or Family Library. The app developer decides whether sharing is allowed, not Apple or Google.
If you try to share an app and don't see the option, it usually means the developer has blocked it. You can still buy the app separately for each family member if you want everyone to have it, but you'll pay the full price each time.
Apps that use biometric login (fingerprint or face recognition) may also have limits on sharing, since they're designed to work with one person's fingerprint or face. Check the app's description in the store if you're unsure whether it can be shared.
Stopping app sharing and managing permissions
On Apple, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, tap the person's name, and scroll down to see which apps they have access to. Tap an app name and choose "Remove" to stop sharing it with that person.
On Android, open the Play Store, go to your profile, tap "Manage family," select the person, and scroll to see shared apps. Tap the app and choose "Stop sharing" or the equivalent option.
When you stop sharing an app, the person can still use it on devices where they've already installed it. They just won't be able to download it again on a new device or reinstall it if they delete it. If you want to remove it from their devices entirely, they'll need to delete it manually.
Troubleshooting common sharing problems
If an app won't share, first check that the person you're sharing with is actually in your family group. On Apple, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing and confirm their name is listed. On Android, go to Settings > Family Library and check the family members list.
If the app still won't share, it may be restricted by the developer. Try searching for the app in the store on the other person's device — if it shows up but you can't share it, the developer has blocked sharing for that app.
If someone can see a shared app but it won't download, they may not have enough storage space on their device. Ask them to check their device storage and delete files or apps they don't need. On Apple, you can also check Settings > [Device Name] > iCloud to see if iCloud backup is taking up space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share apps if I'm not the family organizer?
On Apple, any family member can share apps they've purchased, even if they didn't set up Family Sharing. On Android, you need to be the family manager to set up Family Library and manage sharing, though once it's set up, other members can share apps they own.
What happens to shared apps if someone leaves the family group?
On Apple, they keep the apps on devices where they're already installed, but they can't download them again or update them. On Android, the same applies — they lose access to new installations but keep what's already there.
Can I share apps with people outside my household?
Family Sharing and Family Library are designed for people in the same household. You can't officially share with people in different locations, though you can buy the app separately for them if you want them to have it.
Do shared apps use the same login as the person who bought them?
No. Each person uses their own account when they download and use a shared app. Their game progress, settings, and data stay separate from the person who shared the app with them.
Can I see what someone does in an app I shared with them?
No. Once they download the app, their activity in it is private to them. You can see that they have the app installed, but not what they do inside it.