Family Sharing lets one person manage app purchases and subscriptions for everyone in the household
Family Sharing is a feature that lets one adult buy apps, music, books, and subscriptions once and share them with up to five other family members on the same account. On Apple devices, the organizer sets up the family group and controls what each person can see and download. On Google devices, the process is similar but uses Google Play Family Library instead. Both systems let you decide which apps are appropriate for each family member and track spending across the group.
The main benefit is cost: you buy an app once and everyone uses it, rather than paying separately for each person's device. You also get parental controls built in, so you can restrict what younger family members download without managing their devices directly. The trade-off is that one person controls the payment method and has visibility into what others are downloading.
Key Takeaways
- On Apple devices, the family organizer creates a family group in Settings and invites up to five other people by email or phone number.
- On Google devices, the primary account holder sets up Google Play Family Library and adds family members through the Family Link app or Google Play settings.
- Apps purchased by any family member become available to everyone in the group, but you can hide individual apps from specific people.
- Both systems require a valid payment method on the organizer's account, and purchases are charged to that account regardless of who downloads the app.
- Parental controls let you set age restrictions and require approval for downloads by younger family members before they can install anything.
How to set up Family Sharing on iPhone, iPad, or Mac
On an Apple device, open Settings and tap your name at the top. Select Family Sharing, then tap Set Up Your Family Group. You will be asked to confirm your Apple ID and payment method. Apple will send an invitation link that you can share with family members by email, phone number, or a QR code they can scan with their camera.
Each family member needs their own Apple ID — they cannot share a login. When they receive the invitation, they tap the link and follow the prompts to join. Once they accept, their device is linked to the family group, and they can download any app that any other member has purchased. You can add up to six people total, including yourself.
If a family member is under 13 (or the age of digital consent in your country), you will need to create a child account instead of inviting an existing Apple ID. Go to Family Sharing, tap Add Family Member, and choose Create a Child Account. You will set a password and security questions, and the child account is automatically added to the group.
How to set up Family Sharing on Android devices
On an Android phone or tablet, open Google Play and tap your profile icon in the top right. Select Settings, then Family. Tap Create a family group and follow the steps to add your payment method and confirm your location. Google will show you a list of people on your device; you can invite them immediately or send invitations later.
To invite someone who is not on your device, tap Invite Family Members and enter their email address. They will receive an email invitation and can accept it from any Android device or computer. Like Apple, each person needs their own Google account. You can add up to six people, and the organizer's payment method is charged for all purchases.
For children under 13, you will set up a supervised Google account instead. Open Family Link on your device, tap Create Account, and follow the prompts. The child account is automatically added to your family group, and you can manage what they download through Family Link settings.
How to share apps that have already been purchased
Once Family Sharing is set up, any app one person buys becomes available to everyone in the group automatically. On Apple devices, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and select Purchased. You will see all apps bought by anyone in your family group. Tap the cloud icon next to an app to download it to your device.
On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, and select Manage Apps & Device. Go to the Manage tab and scroll to see all apps purchased by family members. Tap Install next to any app you want to download. If an app is not showing, it may be restricted by parental controls or hidden by the person who bought it.
You can hide an app from other family members if you do not want them to see it. On Apple, go to Purchased, find the app, swipe left, and tap Hide. On Android, tap the three dots next to the app in your library and select Hide. Hidden apps do not appear in other people's Purchased lists, but they can still be unhidden later.
Setting up parental controls and purchase restrictions
Both Apple and Google let you set age restrictions so younger family members cannot download apps rated for older audiences without permission. On Apple, go to Family Sharing, select the child's account, and tap Screen Time. Choose App Limits and set age-appropriate ratings for apps, music, and other content. You can also require approval for any purchase, even if the child has their own allowance.
On Google, open Family Link, select the child's account, and tap Controls on Google Play. You can set the maturity level for apps, games, movies, and books. Choose whether to require your approval for every download or allow downloads up to a certain rating. You can also set a monthly allowance that the child can spend without asking.
Both systems let you see what each family member has downloaded and remove apps from their device remotely if needed. On Apple, go to Family Sharing and select the person's name to see their activity. On Google, open Family Link and tap the child's account to view their app library and manage what they have installed.
What happens when someone leaves the family group
If a family member leaves or you remove them from the group, they keep the apps they downloaded but cannot download new ones from the shared library. On Apple, they can still use apps they installed, but they lose access to shared subscriptions like Apple Music or iCloud+ storage. They will need their own payment method to buy new apps.
On Google, the same applies: they keep installed apps but cannot access new purchases from the family library. If they were using a supervised child account, removing them from Family Link also removes parental restrictions, and they can set their own Google account password.
If you are the family organizer and you leave the group, someone else must be promoted to organizer before you can go. On Apple, go to Family Sharing and tap your name, then choose a new organizer from the list. On Google, open Family Link settings and select a new family manager. The new organizer will control the payment method and family settings going forward.
Troubleshooting common Family Sharing problems
If an app is not showing up in the family library, check whether it is restricted by parental controls or hidden by the person who bought it. Some apps, especially games with in-app purchases or subscriptions, cannot be shared and will only appear for the person who bought them. You can see which apps are shareable by looking at the app's page in the store before you buy.
If someone cannot download a shared app, make sure they are signed into the correct Apple ID or Google account and that they are part of the family group. On Apple, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing to confirm they are listed. On Google, open Family Link or go to Google Play Settings > Family to verify they are added. If they are listed but still cannot download, try signing out and back in.
If the payment method is declined when someone tries to download an app, the organizer's payment method may be expired or out of funds. The organizer should update their payment information in Settings (Apple) or Google Play (Android). Until the payment method is fixed, no one in the family group can download new apps, though they can still use apps they already have installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share apps with people who do not live with me?
Technically yes, but both Apple and Google ask that Family Sharing be used only for people in the same household. If you set it up with people in different locations, you may violate the terms of service. For sharing apps with friends or extended family, consider whether the app has a multi-user feature or whether each person should buy their own copy.
What if someone in my family group buys an app I do not want to see?
You can hide apps from your own view without affecting what others see. On Apple, go to Purchased, swipe left on the app, and tap Hide. On Google, tap the three dots next to the app and select Hide. The app stays in the family library for others, but it will not appear in your Purchased list or recommendations.
Do subscriptions like Netflix or Spotify get shared through Family Sharing?
No. Subscriptions to third-party services like Netflix, Spotify, or Disney+ are separate from Family Sharing and have their own family plans. Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Google Play Pass do share through Family Sharing, but other services require you to sign up for their own family plans directly.
Can I use Family Sharing on both iPhone and Android at the same time?
No. Family Sharing on Apple works only with other Apple devices, and Google Play Family Library works only with Android devices. If your family uses both, you will need to set up Family Sharing separately on each platform. Apps purchased on one platform do not transfer to the other.
What happens to shared apps if I change my payment method?
Changing your payment method does not affect apps that have already been downloaded. Everyone in the family group keeps using the apps they installed. Future purchases will be charged to the new payment method, but existing apps remain on their devices.