Family Sharing is Apple's system for sharing purchases, subscriptions, and device features across up to six family members
Family Sharing is a feature built into iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches that lets you and up to five other people share purchases from the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud storage, and other Apple services without sharing passwords. One adult sets up the family group and manages it; the other members join and can use shared content on their own devices.
The main benefit is that you buy an app, book, or subscription once and everyone in the group can use it. You also get shared photo albums, a family calendar, and the ability to see where family members are located on a map. Parents can set screen time limits and control what their children download.
Family Sharing requires an Apple ID for each person and works across devices — if you buy an app on your iPhone, your spouse can open it on their iPad without buying it again. You do not share the same account; each person keeps their own Apple ID and their own data stays private.
Key Takeaways
- One adult organizes the family group and pays for shared purchases; up to five other people can join and use those purchases on their own devices.
- Apps, books, music subscriptions, and iCloud storage plans can be shared, but each person's personal data (photos, messages, email) stays private.
- Parents can turn on screen time controls and purchase restrictions to limit what children can download without asking permission.
- You set up Family Sharing in Settings on your iPhone under your name, then invite family members by email or phone number.
How to set up Family Sharing on your iPhone
Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. Tap "Create a Family Group" if this is your first time. You will be asked to confirm your Apple ID and payment method — this is the account that will be charged for shared purchases.
Once the group exists, tap "Invite Family" and enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to add. They will receive an invitation and can accept it from their own device. They do not need to be in the same house or on the same Wi-Fi network. Each person who joins must have their own Apple ID.
The person who creates the group becomes the organizer and is the only one who can add or remove members, change payment methods, or adjust family settings. If you want to transfer organizer status to someone else later, you can do that in the Family Sharing settings, but the new organizer must be at least 18 years old.
What you can and cannot share
Apps, books, music, movies, TV shows, and Apple News+ subscriptions purchased from Apple's stores are shared automatically. If one family member buys an app, everyone else in the group can download it on their own devices at no extra cost. The same applies to Apple Music Family Plan — one subscription covers up to six people.
iCloud storage plans are also shared. If you upgrade to 200 GB or 2 TB of iCloud storage, all family members can use that storage for their backups, photos, and files. Each person's data is still separate — your photos do not appear in someone else's library.
Things that do not share include iCloud+ features like Hide My Email and Private Relay (those stay with the person who paid for them), subscriptions to third-party apps like Spotify or Netflix, and content from other stores like Amazon. Shared purchases also do not transfer if someone leaves the family group — they keep access to apps they downloaded while in the group, but cannot download new copies.
Parental controls and screen time limits
If you have children in your family group, you can turn on Screen Time to set limits on how much time they can spend in certain apps or categories. You can also require that children ask permission before downloading apps or making in-app purchases. This is done through Settings on the child's device, linked to the parent's account.
The organizer can set different rules for different children based on age. For example, you might allow a 16-year-old to download apps without asking but require a 10-year-old to request permission for each one. You can also see what apps are installed on each child's device and remotely delete them if needed.
Screen Time also tracks how much time each family member spends on their device and in specific apps. Parents can view this report in their own Settings under Family Sharing. These limits apply only to the device they are set on — if a child has both an iPhone and an iPad, you need to configure Screen Time on each one separately.
Location sharing and family calendar
Family Sharing includes a location map where you can see where each family member is in real time, as long as they have location services turned on and have not disabled sharing. This is useful for knowing when children leave school or arrive home, or for coordinating with your spouse. You can turn location sharing on or off for your own device in Settings under Family Sharing.
The family group also gets a shared calendar that all members can view and edit. Events added to this calendar appear for everyone, which is helpful for coordinating family schedules, appointments, or reminders. Each person can also keep their own personal calendar that only they see.
What happens when someone leaves the family group
If a family member leaves or is removed from the group, they lose access to shared purchases going forward. Apps they downloaded while in the group stay on their device and continue to work, but they cannot download updates or reinstall them. Subscriptions like Apple Music stop working immediately.
The person who leaves keeps their own Apple ID and any purchases they made with it. If they rejoin the family group later, they regain access to the shared content. The organizer can remove someone from the group at any time through Family Sharing settings, but the person being removed will receive a notification.
If the organizer leaves the group, someone else must be chosen to take over. The new organizer will have the same control over shared purchases and family settings. If no one is chosen, the family group dissolves and shared access ends for everyone.
Common issues and how to fix them
If an app is not showing up as shared, make sure the person trying to download it is actually in the family group — check Settings under Family Sharing to confirm. Also check that the app was purchased through the App Store, not downloaded from a website or another source. Some apps are not shareable due to licensing restrictions set by the developer.
If someone cannot see the family calendar or location map, they may have turned off those features in their Settings. Go to Settings, tap your name, then Family Sharing, and make sure the toggles for Calendar and Location are turned on. Location sharing also requires location services to be enabled on the device.
If a child is getting repeated purchase requests even though you set up Screen Time, make sure you are logged into your own Apple ID on their device, not theirs. Screen Time controls only work when the parent's account is configured as the organizer on that device. You may also need to restart the device for changes to take effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Apple Music subscription with family members?
Yes, if you have an Apple Music Family Plan, up to six family members can listen to their own music libraries and playlists. Each person gets their own account and recommendations. A single Apple Music subscription does not share — you need the Family Plan specifically, which costs more than an individual subscription.
Do family members see my photos and messages?
No. Family Sharing shares purchases and subscriptions, but not personal data. Your photos, messages, email, and browsing history stay private to your own Apple ID. The only shared photo feature is optional shared albums that you create and invite people to join.
What if I want to stop sharing an app with my family?
You cannot remove an app from the shared library after purchase. However, you can hide it from the family group by going to Settings, tapping your name, then Family Sharing, and selecting the app to hide. It will no longer appear in the App Store for other family members, but they keep access if they already downloaded it.
Can I use Family Sharing if I do not have an iPhone?
Family Sharing works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. You need at least one Apple device to set up and manage the group, but other family members can use different types of devices. For example, the organizer could use an iPhone while other members use iPads or Macs.
Is there a cost to set up Family Sharing?
No. Setting up the family group itself is free. You only pay for purchases and subscriptions that you choose to share, such as apps, Apple Music Family Plan, or iCloud storage upgrades. The organizer's payment method is used for all shared purchases.