Apple Family Sharing lets up to six people share purchases, subscriptions, and storage from a single Apple account

Family Sharing is Apple's system for linking up to six family members under one account structure. One adult (the organizer) sets it up, and the other five people can share purchases made through the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud+, and other Apple services. The organizer pays for subscriptions and app purchases, and family members can use them on their own devices without needing separate accounts for each service.

The main appeal is cost: instead of paying for Apple Music six times over, you pay once and everyone listens. The same applies to apps, books, and movies. Family members also share 200 GB or 2 TB of iCloud storage (depending on which iCloud+ plan you choose), which means photos, backups, and documents count against one shared pool rather than six separate ones.

Setup happens in Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The organizer creates the group, invites family members by email or phone number, and decides what each person can see and spend. Children under 13 (or the age of digital responsibility in your country) are added as child accounts, which gives the organizer control over purchases. Adults are added as regular family members and have more independence.

Key Takeaways

  • One adult organizer pays for subscriptions and purchases that all six family members can use across their own devices.
  • Family members share one iCloud+ storage plan, so a 200 GB or 2 TB pool is divided among everyone, not duplicated.
  • Children under 13 require parental approval for any purchase, while adult family members can spend within limits you set.
  • Family Sharing works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, but each person needs their own Apple ID.
  • You can remove someone from the group at any time, and they keep any apps or subscriptions they installed before removal.

What you can and cannot share

Apps, books, and movies purchased from the App Store, Apple Books, and Apple TV are shared automatically. If one family member buys a game, everyone can download it on their own device. The same applies to in-app purchases in some cases, though not all apps support family sharing of in-app content.

Subscriptions to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and Apple News+ are shared at the family level. One subscription covers everyone. iCloud+ storage is pooled — if you buy 200 GB, all six members share that 200 GB total, not each getting 200 GB individually. Apple One bundles (which combine multiple subscriptions) also work with Family Sharing.

What does not share: iCloud Mail accounts, health and fitness data, location sharing (though you can turn on location sharing separately), and payment methods. Each family member has their own Apple ID, email, and private data. Photos in iCloud Photos stay private unless someone chooses to share an album.

How to set up Family Sharing

On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then select Family Sharing. Tap "Create a Family" if you are the organizer, or ask the organizer to invite you if you are joining an existing group. The organizer enters their Apple ID and password, then invites others by email address or phone number.

Invitations go out immediately. The person invited receives a notification and can accept or decline. Once accepted, they appear in the Family Sharing group. Children under 13 are added differently — the organizer creates a child account directly in Family Sharing settings, and the child receives an Apple ID managed by the parent.

The organizer can set spending limits for each family member in the Family Sharing settings. Adults can be given a monthly allowance or set to "Ask to Buy," which means purchases require organizer approval. Children under 13 are set to "Ask to Buy" by default and cannot change this setting.

Costs and subscription plans

Family Sharing itself is free. You pay only for the subscriptions and purchases you choose. Apple Music Family is $16.99 per month in the United States (prices vary by country). Apple TV+ is $9.99 per month. Apple Arcade is $6.99 per month. These prices cover all six family members.

iCloud+ storage starts at $0.99 per month for 50 GB (shared among the family), $2.99 per month for 200 GB, and $9.99 per month for 2 TB. Apple One bundles combine services at a discount — for example, Apple One Premier includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and 2 TB iCloud+ for $34.95 per month.

Individual app and book purchases are one-time costs that vary. Once bought, they are available to all family members at no additional charge. If you cancel a subscription, all family members lose access to it immediately.

Managing who spends what

The organizer controls spending through Family Sharing settings. For adult family members, you can set a monthly spending limit or require approval for each purchase. For children under 13, approval is mandatory — they cannot make any purchase without the organizer's permission.

When a child requests a purchase, the organizer receives a notification and can approve or decline it. The organizer can also set a monthly allowance that the child can spend freely up to that amount. Once the allowance is spent, further purchases require approval.

You can change these settings at any time. If a family member repeatedly makes purchases you do not want to pay for, you can adjust their limits or remove them from the group entirely.

Removing someone from Family Sharing

To remove a family member, open Family Sharing settings, select their name, and tap "Remove from Family." They are removed immediately. Any apps or subscriptions they installed before removal stay on their device, but they cannot update them or download new ones.

If you remove a child account, that child loses access to the family's shared content and iCloud storage. The organizer should back up any important data before removal. Adult family members can also leave the group themselves by going to Family Sharing settings and tapping "Leave Family."

When someone leaves or is removed, the shared iCloud storage is no longer available to them. If they were using more than their fair share of the storage, their data may be at risk — they should move important files to their own iCloud account or another service before leaving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Family Sharing if I do not live with my family members?

Yes. Family Sharing works across any distance. Apple does not verify that people live together. However, Apple's terms state that Family Sharing is intended for family members, and sharing with unrelated people may violate the terms of service.

What happens to my apps if I leave a Family Sharing group?

Apps you installed while in the group stay on your device, but you cannot update them or download new ones. To keep using them, you would need to purchase them individually under your own Apple ID, or rejoin the family group.

Can I be in more than one Family Sharing group?

No. Each Apple ID can belong to only one Family Sharing group at a time. If you want to switch groups, you must leave the current one first, then accept an invitation to join another.

Do I need a credit card to use Family Sharing?

The organizer needs a valid payment method on file to set up Family Sharing and pay for subscriptions. Family members do not need their own payment method — purchases are charged to the organizer's account.

Can I see what other family members are downloading?

You can see what apps and subscriptions are shared in the Family Sharing settings, but you cannot see the browsing history or private data of other family members. Each person's device and accounts remain private.