Apple Music Family Sharing lets up to six people use the same subscription on separate accounts

Apple Music Family Sharing is a feature built into Apple Music that lets you add up to five other people to your subscription — six accounts total. Each person gets their own Apple Music account, their own library, and their own recommendations. They don't share a login or see what the others are listening to unless they choose to. You set it up through Apple's Family Sharing system, which also handles shared calendars, photos, and other Apple services if you want those too.

The cost is the same whether one person or six people use the subscription. If you already pay for Apple Music, you don't pay extra. If you don't have Apple Music yet, a Family plan costs the same as a single subscription on most carriers — the price varies by country and by whether you bundle it with other Apple services.

The person who sets up Family Sharing becomes the organizer and can remove people, change settings, and manage shared purchases. Family members can be removed at any time, and they lose access to the shared subscription immediately.

Key Takeaways

  • Family Sharing requires an Apple ID for each person and works only on Apple devices or through a web browser on any device.
  • The organizer sets up Family Sharing once through Settings on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, then invites family members by email or by adding them in person.
  • Each family member's music library, playlists, and recommendations stay separate even though they share one subscription.
  • You can remove a family member at any time, and they lose access to Apple Music immediately.
  • Family members must live in the same country as the organizer for the subscription to work.

What you need before you start

Each person who will use Apple Music needs their own Apple ID. If someone doesn't have one, they can create it for free on any Apple device or at appleid.apple.com. Children under 13 can be added as family members, but an adult must create and manage their Apple ID.

You need an active Apple Music subscription. If you don't have one, you can start a trial or subscribe through the Apple Music app on any Apple device. The subscription must be on the organizer's account — the person setting up Family Sharing.

Everyone in the family must be in the same country. Apple Music Family Sharing doesn't work across borders, so if someone moves or travels long-term, you may need to adjust the setup.

How to set up Family Sharing on iPhone or iPad

Open Settings and tap your name at the top. Tap Family Sharing. If you see "Set Up Family Sharing," tap it. If Family Sharing is already set up, you'll see the option to add a family member instead.

Tap get your free guide (or Add Family Member if Family Sharing already exists). Choose whether to invite someone by email or add them in person. If you invite by email, enter their email address or phone number and they'll receive an invitation. If you add them in person, they can accept the invitation right away on their own device.

The person being added will see an invitation on their device. They tap Accept and confirm their Apple ID password. Once they accept, they're part of the family and can use Apple Music immediately on any of their devices.

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 versions). Click Family in the sidebar. Click the plus sign to add a family member.

Choose to invite someone by email or add them in person, then follow the same steps as on iPhone or iPad. The invitation process is identical across devices.

Managing family members and access

The organizer can see all family members in the Family Sharing settings. To remove someone, open Family Sharing settings, tap or click their name, and select Remove from Family. They lose access to Apple Music immediately, though any music they downloaded to their device stays on that device.

You can also manage whether family members can see shared purchases and whether they can use shared payment methods. These settings are separate from Apple Music access — you can let someone use the music subscription but prevent them from making purchases on the family account.

If a family member leaves the family group, they can still use Apple Music if they have their own individual subscription. Their personal library and playlists remain on their account.

What happens to music libraries when family members join or leave

When someone joins Family Sharing, their existing Apple Music library stays theirs. They don't see other family members' libraries unless those members choose to share playlists with them. Playlists are shared one at a time — there's no automatic sharing of everything.

When someone leaves the family, their library goes with them. They keep any music they added to their library, but they lose access to the shared Apple Music subscription. If they want to keep using Apple Music, they need their own subscription.

Troubleshooting common setup problems

If an invitation doesn't arrive, check that the email address or phone number is correct. Ask the person to check their spam folder or notification settings. If they still don't see it, the organizer can remove the invitation and send a new one.

If someone can't access Apple Music after joining, make sure they're signed into their own Apple ID on their device, not the organizer's. Apple Music access is tied to the individual Apple ID, not the device. Also check that the organizer's subscription is still active — if the subscription lapses, no one in the family can use it.

If you see an error about country or region, it means someone in the family is in a different country than the organizer. Family Sharing only works when everyone is in the same country. This is a restriction from Apple, not a setting you can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can family members see what I'm listening to?

No. Each person's library, playlists, and listening history are private by default. Family members can see shared playlists only if you specifically share them. You can also turn off sharing in Family Sharing settings if you want to prevent any shared playlists from appearing.

What if someone in the family has their own Apple Music subscription?

They can use their own subscription instead of the family one. On their device, they sign in with their own Apple ID and subscribe individually. They won't use the family subscription, and the family organizer can remove them from Family Sharing if needed.

Can I use Family Sharing on Android or Windows?

Family Sharing itself is an Apple system, but family members can access Apple Music on Android through the Apple Music app. They sign in with their Apple ID and use the family subscription the same way. Windows users can access Apple Music through a web browser at music.apple.com.

What happens if the organizer cancels their Apple Music subscription?

Everyone in the family loses access to Apple Music immediately. If you want to keep the family subscription active, you need to transfer the organizer role to someone else or keep the subscription on the current organizer's account.

Can I change who the organizer is?

Yes, but you have to remove the current organizer from Family Sharing first, then have another family member set up a new Family Sharing group. This is a limitation of Apple's system — there's no direct way to transfer the organizer role.