The fastest way to share an app depends on your device type
You can share apps with family members in three main ways: through a family sharing account (the most common method), by letting someone use your device directly, or by sending them a link to download the app themselves. The method you choose depends on whether you want them to use the app on their own device or on yours, and whether you want to manage their access.
Family sharing accounts work differently on Apple and Android devices. On Apple devices, one person sets up a family group and invites up to five other family members. On Android, you can share apps through Google Play Family Library or by letting people use your Google account on a shared device. Both methods let you control which apps are visible to which family members.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Family Sharing lets up to six people share purchased apps, books, and subscriptions from one account, with parental controls available for children.
- Android Family Library works similarly but requires setting up a family group in Google Play and sharing through your Google account.
- You can also share an app by sending a direct link through email or text, which lets the other person download it to their own device using their own account.
- If someone uses your device, they can access any app you have installed without needing their own account, but they will see all your personal data in that app.
- Parental controls on both platforms let you restrict which apps children can see and use, and set spending limits on app purchases.
Setting up Apple Family Sharing to share apps
On an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open Settings and tap your name at the top. Select Family Sharing and tap get your free guide. You will be asked to confirm your payment method — this is the account that will be charged for any family purchases. Add family members by tapping Add Family Member and having them sign in with their Apple ID, or by inviting them via email if they do not have one yet.
Once family members are added, they can see and download any app you have purchased from the App Store. Go to the App Store, find an app you own, and tap your profile icon in the top right. Select the app and tap Family Sharing to turn it on. That app will now appear in their library under Purchased. They do not need to pay for it again, and you will not be charged extra.
If you have children in the family group, set up parental controls by going to Settings > Family Sharing > select the child's name > Screen Time. You can restrict app categories, set age ratings, and prevent purchases without your approval. Children will see only the apps you have allowed.
Sharing apps on Android through Google Play Family Library
On an Android phone or tablet, open Google Play Store and tap your profile icon in the top right. Select Manage your Google Account and go to the Family tab. Tap Create a family group and follow the prompts to add up to five family members. Each person needs their own Google Account — you cannot add someone without one.
Once the family group is set up, go back to the Play Store, find an app you have purchased, and look for the Family Library option on the app's page. Tap it to add the app to your family library. Family members will see it in their own Play Store under Library > Family. They can download it without paying, and you will not be charged again.
To set parental controls on Android, go to Google Play Store > your profile icon > Settings > Family > Parental controls. Turn on parental controls and set a PIN that only you know. You can then restrict apps by age rating, hide specific apps, and set a monthly spending limit for purchases made by family members.
Sending an app link so someone can download it themselves
If you do not want to set up family sharing, you can simply send the other person a link to the app. On iPhone, open the App Store, find the app, and tap the Share button (the box with an arrow). Choose how you want to send it — email, text message, or another app. The person will receive a link they can tap to open the app in their own App Store and download it using their own account.
On Android, open Google Play Store, find the app, and tap the Share button near the top of the page. Select your preferred method to send the link. The recipient can tap it to open the app in their Play Store and download it. This method works even if you do not know their email address or phone number — you can share the link publicly, and anyone with the link can download the app.
This approach is useful if the other person wants to own their own copy of the app, or if they live far away and you do not need to manage their access. They will have their own settings, data, and purchase history separate from yours.
Letting someone use an app on your device
If you want someone to use an app on your phone or tablet without setting up family sharing, you can simply hand them your device. Any app you have installed will open for them. However, they will see all your personal data in that app — your messages, photos, login information, and anything else stored in it. This is why this method works best for apps that do not contain sensitive information, like games or weather apps.
If you want to limit what they can see, you can set up a separate user account on Android tablets. Go to Settings > Users and tap Add user. Create a guest account or a restricted profile, and only install the apps you want them to use on that account. When they log in, they will see only those apps and will not have access to your personal data.
iPhones and iPads do not have separate user accounts, so this option is not available on Apple devices. If you need to restrict what someone can access on an Apple device, use Screen Time and parental controls instead.
Troubleshooting common sharing problems
If a family member cannot see a shared app, check that they are signed into the correct Apple ID or Google Account — the one you added to the family group. On Apple devices, go to Settings > your name > Family Sharing and confirm their name is listed. On Android, open Google Play Store > your profile icon > Manage your Google Account > Family and check that they are in the group.
If an app is not showing up in their library even though you shared it, try removing and re-adding it to Family Sharing. On Apple, go to the App Store, find the app, tap your profile icon, select the app, and toggle Family Sharing off and back on. On Android, open the app's page in Play Store, tap the three dots in the top right, and select Family Library again.
If someone is being charged for an app you thought was shared, check your payment method. On Apple, the account that set up Family Sharing is the one that gets charged for purchases. On Android, each person's own payment method is used unless you have set a monthly spending limit. If a child made a purchase, you can request a refund through the Play Store or App Store within a certain time frame.
Understanding what happens when you stop sharing an app
If you remove an app from Family Sharing on Apple, family members will no longer be able to download it, but they can keep using it if they already have it installed. Their data and settings in that app will stay on their device. If you delete the app from your own device, it does not affect their copy.
On Android, removing an app from Family Library works the same way — they keep what they have, but cannot download it again. If you uninstall the app from your device, it does not remove it from theirs.
If you remove someone from the family group entirely, they lose access to all shared apps immediately. Any apps they downloaded through Family Sharing will stop working until they purchase their own copy or you add them back to the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share apps I bought before setting up family sharing?
Yes. On both Apple and Android, you can go back to any app you purchased and turn on Family Sharing for it. Family members will then be able to download it. You do not need to purchase it again, and they will not be charged.
What if someone in my family group buys an app — do I get charged?
On Apple, the organizer of the family group (the person who set it up) is charged for all purchases made by family members. On Android, each person's own payment method is used unless you have set up a monthly spending limit for them. You can see all purchases in your account settings.
Can I share apps with people who are not in my family group?
Yes. You can send anyone a link to an app through email or text, and they can download it themselves using their own account. You can also let them use an app on your device directly. Family Sharing is only for people you have formally added to your family group.
Will they see my personal data if I share an app with them?
If they download the app to their own device using their own account, they will see only their own data. If they use the app on your device, they will see all your data in that app — messages, photos, login information, and anything else stored there. This is why it is safer to use Family Sharing or send them a link so they can download it themselves.
Can I share subscriptions through family sharing?
Yes. On Apple, subscriptions purchased by the family organizer can be shared with all family members at no extra cost. On Android, subscriptions do not automatically share, but some apps offer family plans that let multiple people use one subscription. Check the app's subscription page to see if a family plan is available.