Family Sharing lets one person manage purchases and subscriptions for up to six family members
Family Sharing is an Apple feature that links up to six people under one account for purchases, subscriptions, and device management. One adult — the organizer — sets it up and controls which family members can buy apps, music, movies, and books. Everyone keeps their own Apple ID and personal data, but shared purchases appear on all linked devices.
The organizer needs an active payment method on file and must be at least 18 years old. Family members can be added as adults (with full purchase control) or as children (with purchase requests sent to the organizer). Once set up, Family Sharing works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
Key Takeaways
- The organizer starts Family Sharing in Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac by selecting their own Apple ID and tapping Family Sharing.
- Family members are invited by email or added manually if they already have an Apple ID, and children's accounts can be created directly in the setup flow.
- Shared purchases include apps, books, music, movies, and Apple subscriptions like Apple Music and Apple TV+, but each person's personal data stays private.
- The organizer controls whether children can make purchases, set screen time limits, and see location data through Find My.
- Family Sharing works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV without requiring a shared password.
How to set up Family Sharing on iPhone or iPad
Open Settings and tap your name at the top. Scroll down and select Family Sharing. Tap get your free guide (or Set Up Family Sharing if you see that option). You'll see a summary of what Family Sharing includes — tap Continue.
On the next screen, confirm your name and Apple ID. This makes you the organizer. Tap Continue, then review the payment method that will be used for family purchases. You can change it if needed. Tap Continue again, then Done. Family Sharing is now active on your device.
How to set up Family Sharing on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). Click Family Sharing in the sidebar. If you don't see it, click General first, then look for Family Sharing in the list.
Click Set Up Family Sharing and sign in with your Apple ID if prompted. Confirm your name and payment method, then click Continue and Done. Your Mac is now the organizer device for your family group.
Adding family members to your group
After Family Sharing is set up, you can add other people. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > your name > Family Sharing > Add Family Member. On Mac, open System Settings > Family Sharing and click the plus (+) button.
You can invite existing Apple ID holders by entering their email address or phone number. They'll receive an invitation and can accept it from their own device. If you're adding a child who doesn't have an Apple ID yet, select Create a Child Account and follow the prompts to set one up. The child's account will be linked to your payment method, and you'll control their purchase permissions.
Adults you add can make their own purchases charged to the family payment method. Children's purchases can be set to require your approval each time, or you can allow them to spend up to a set amount per week without asking.
Managing purchases and subscriptions
Once Family Sharing is active, any app, book, song, movie, or subscription purchased by any family member appears in the Purchased tab of the App Store, Apple Books, Apple Music, or Apple TV app. Tap Purchased, then My Purchases to see what you bought, or tap a family member's name to see their purchases.
Shared subscriptions like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ are available to everyone in the family without separate purchases. If you already had a subscription before setting up Family Sharing, you may need to turn on family sharing for that subscription in its settings.
To stop sharing a purchase with your family, go to the app or content in the Purchased section, tap the three dots (or right-click on Mac), and select Remove from Family Sharing. That item will no longer appear on other family members' devices, though they keep any data they've already downloaded.
Setting up parental controls for children
If you've added a child to Family Sharing, you can control what they can buy and see. On your device, go to Settings > your name > Family Sharing > select the child's name. Tap Purchase Requests to require approval for every purchase, or Spending Limit to allow purchases up to a certain amount per week without asking.
You can also set Screen Time limits, control which apps they can access, and turn on Ask to Buy so their purchase requests come to you for approval. These settings sync across all the child's devices linked to Family Sharing.
Troubleshooting common issues
If Family Sharing won't turn on, make sure you're signed in with an Apple ID that's at least 18 years old and has a valid payment method on file. If you're adding a family member and they don't receive an invitation, check that you entered their email or phone number correctly. Ask them to check their email (including spam) or look for the invitation in Settings > their name > Invitations.
If a shared purchase isn't showing up on someone's device, try signing out of the App Store and signing back in. Go to Settings > your name > Media & Purchases > Sign Out, then sign back in. If a family member was recently removed from the group, their access to shared purchases stops immediately, though they keep anything they've already downloaded.
If you need to leave a Family Sharing group, go to Settings > your name > Family Sharing, tap your name, and select Leave Family Sharing. You'll lose access to shared purchases, but your personal data and purchases stay on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have more than one organizer in a Family Sharing group?
No. Only one person can be the organizer, and they control the payment method and family settings. If you need to transfer organizer status to someone else, you have to remove the current organizer and set up a new Family Sharing group with the new organizer.
Do family members see my personal photos and messages?
No. Family Sharing only shares purchases and subscriptions. Photos, messages, email, calendar events, and other personal data stay private to each person's Apple ID. Location sharing through Find My is optional and only turns on if you choose to enable it.
What happens to shared purchases if someone leaves the family?
They lose access to apps, books, and subscriptions purchased through Family Sharing. However, any content they've already downloaded stays on their device and they can still use it. Their personal purchases remain theirs.
Can I use Family Sharing with a child's account created outside of Family Sharing?
No. Child accounts must be created through Family Sharing setup to link them to a parent's payment method and parental controls. If a child already has a regular Apple ID, you can't convert it to a child account in Family Sharing.
Do all family members need to use the same Wi-Fi network?
No. Family Sharing works over any internet connection. Family members can be anywhere in the world and still share purchases and subscriptions, as long as they're signed in with their Apple ID on their device.