Family Sharing lets multiple people in your household use the same subscriptions, apps, and storage without sharing passwords

Family Sharing is a feature offered by Apple, Microsoft, and Google that groups up to six people under one account structure. Instead of each person buying their own subscriptions or apps, one person pays and the others get access. The specifics differ by company — Apple's version includes shared photo libraries and screen time controls, Microsoft's bundles Office and cloud storage, and Google's focuses on YouTube and Play Store purchases.

The main appeal is cost savings. If you have a family of four, you buy one subscription to Apple Music or Microsoft 365 instead of four separate ones. The trade-off is that one person (usually the organizer) manages the group, and some features like location sharing come built in whether you want them or not.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Family Sharing groups up to six people and shares purchases, subscriptions, and a shared photo library, with one organizer controlling settings.
  • Microsoft Family groups up to six people and shares Microsoft 365 subscriptions and OneDrive storage, plus includes parental controls for accounts under 18.
  • Google Family Link is designed for parents and children, letting one adult manage multiple child accounts with app restrictions and screen time limits.
  • Each service requires a payment method on file, and the organizer can remove members or change settings at any time.
  • Family groups are separate from your individual account — you keep your own email, photos, and personal data unless you choose to share them.

How Apple Family Sharing works

Apple Family Sharing starts when one person (the organizer) sets it up in Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. That person adds up to five other family members by their Apple ID email address. Once someone accepts the invitation, they can download any app or subscription the organizer has purchased, and the organizer's payment method covers the cost.

The organizer can also set up a shared photo library that all family members can add to and view. This is separate from each person's private photo library — you choose which photos go into the shared one. The organizer controls whether children can make purchases (you can require approval for each one or set a spending limit), and can see which family members are currently using which devices through the "Find My" feature.

Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud+ storage, and Apple News+ all work with Family Sharing. If the organizer has a subscription, everyone in the group gets access. The organizer can remove someone from the family group at any time, and that person loses access to shared purchases and subscriptions immediately.

How Microsoft Family works

Microsoft Family is set up through your Microsoft account settings online. The organizer invites family members by email, and those people can be adults or children. Adults in the group get access to shared Microsoft 365 subscriptions (like Office and Outlook) and shared OneDrive storage. If the organizer has a Microsoft 365 Family plan, each adult in the group gets their own 1 TB of OneDrive storage plus access to Office apps.

For children under 18, the organizer can set parental controls through the Microsoft Family Safety app. These controls let you restrict which apps and games a child can use, set screen time limits, and see their browsing history. The organizer can also require approval before a child makes any purchase from the Microsoft Store.

Unlike Apple, Microsoft Family does not include a shared photo library or location tracking. The focus is on shared subscriptions and parental oversight. You can have up to six people in a Microsoft Family group, and the organizer can remove members or change permissions at any time.

How Google Family Link works

Google Family Link is different from Apple and Microsoft's offerings because it is designed specifically for parents managing children's accounts. One parent sets up a Google account for a child (under 13 in most countries), and that child's account is linked to the parent's account. The parent can then control what apps the child downloads from Google Play, set daily screen time limits, and see the child's location on a map.

Family Link does not include shared subscriptions the way Apple and Microsoft do. Instead, it is a parental control tool. The parent's payment method can be used to purchase apps or content for the child, but the child does not automatically get access to the parent's YouTube Premium or Google Play Pass subscription. You can add multiple children to one parent account, and the parent can adjust controls as the child gets older.

When a child turns 13 (or the age of digital consent in their country), they can request to graduate out of Family Link. Once they do, the parental controls stop working, though the parent can still see some account information if the child chooses to keep that setting on.

Shared subscriptions and what each person can access

With Apple Family Sharing, all members can use the organizer's subscriptions to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, and iCloud+ storage. If someone in the family has their own subscription to one of these services, they can keep it instead of using the shared one. Purchases from the App Store and iTunes are also shared — if the organizer buys an app, everyone in the family can download it to their own device.

Microsoft Family Sharing works similarly for Microsoft 365 subscriptions. If the organizer has a Microsoft 365 Family plan, each adult member gets their own copy of Office apps and 1 TB of OneDrive storage. Children can use the apps too, but the organizer controls whether they can make purchases. Xbox Game Pass for console and PC can also be shared through Microsoft Family, though Game Pass for mobile has separate rules.

Google Family Link does not automatically share subscriptions. The parent can purchase apps or content for a child, but YouTube Premium or Google Play Pass subscriptions are not included. If you want a family to share YouTube Premium, you need to set up a separate YouTube Premium Family plan, which is different from Family Link.

Privacy and what stays separate

Each person in a family group keeps their own email address, password, and personal data. Your photos, emails, and documents stay private unless you specifically choose to share them. On Apple, you can opt into the shared photo library, but your personal photo library remains yours alone. On Microsoft, your OneDrive storage is separate from the shared storage, and your emails stay in your own mailbox.

Location sharing is optional on Apple (through Find My) and only available to people you explicitly allow. On Google Family Link, the parent can see the child's location, but the child cannot see the parent's location. On Microsoft, there is no built-in location sharing feature.

The organizer can see purchase history and which apps family members have downloaded, but cannot see what they are doing inside those apps or read their messages. If you want more privacy, you can leave a family group at any time, though you will lose access to shared subscriptions and purchases.

Setting up a family group and managing members

On Apple, open Settings, tap your name, then select Family Sharing. The organizer adds members by their Apple ID email or by inviting them in person with their device nearby. On Microsoft, go to account.microsoft.com, select Family settings, and invite members by email. On Google, open Family Link on your phone, tap the plus icon, and either create a new account for a child or link an existing account.

The organizer can change settings, remove members, or transfer organizer status to another adult at any time. When you remove someone from a family group, they lose access to shared subscriptions and purchases immediately, but their personal data and accounts remain intact. If you want to leave a family group yourself, you can do that from your account settings on any of these platforms.

If the organizer's payment method expires or is removed, shared subscriptions will stop working until a new payment method is added. The organizer should make sure their payment information is current if they want the family group to keep working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be in more than one family group at a time?

No. On Apple and Microsoft, you can only be part of one family group. On Google Family Link, a child can only be linked to one parent account, but a parent can manage multiple children. If you want to switch family groups, you must leave the current one first.

What happens to shared purchases if someone leaves the family?

On Apple, they keep apps they downloaded while in the family, but cannot download new ones or access shared subscriptions. On Microsoft, they lose access to shared Office subscriptions and shared OneDrive storage. On Google Family Link, the child loses access to apps purchased through the parent's account.

Do I need to share my password to join a family group?

No. You use your own Apple ID, Microsoft account, or Google account. The organizer does not need your password — they invite you by email, and you accept the invitation. Your password stays private.

Can I use family sharing on Android or Windows?

Apple Family Sharing works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but not Android. Microsoft Family works on Windows, Xbox, and Android devices. Google Family Link works on Android and some Chromebooks. If you use multiple platforms, check which service covers the devices you own.

What if the organizer stops paying for a subscription?

Everyone in the family group loses access to that subscription. On Apple and Microsoft, you can set up your own subscription to keep using the service. The organizer can also transfer the subscription to someone else in the family before canceling it.