How to Set Up Family Sharing — Apple Subscriptions, Purchases, and Screen Time

Family Sharing on Apple devices lets up to six people share subscriptions, App Store purchases, iCloud storage (with iCloud+), location (optional), and parental controls—without sharing one Apple ID password. One adult acts as Organizer and invites others. If your household mixes Android and iPhone, Apple Family Sharing covers Apple devices; for Android kids, Google Family Link is the parallel tool (briefly noted at the end).

What You Need Before Starting

• An Apple ID for each adult and child (children under 13 get accounts through Family Sharing)
• iPhone, iPad, or Mac signed into the Organizer’s Apple ID
• Payment method on the Organizer account for shared purchases (you can require Ask to Buy for kids)
• Latest iOS/iPadOS/macOS recommended — menus may vary by version

Step 1: Start Family Sharing (Organizer)

On iPhone or iPad

1. Open Settings.

2. Tap your name at the top.

3. Tap Family Sharing → Set Up Your Family (or Family on newer versions).

4. Follow prompts to confirm you are the Organizer.

On Mac

1. System Settings → [your name] → Family Sharing.

2. Click Set Up Family and continue.

If Family Sharing already exists, you will see current members instead of setup.

Step 2: Invite Family Members

1. In Family Sharing, tap Add Member or Invite People.

2. Enter the person’s Apple ID email or phone, or invite via Messages.

3. They accept the invitation on their device.

For a child under 13:

1. Choose Create an Account for a Child during setup.

2. Complete parental consent (credit card verification or device passcode, depending on region).

3. Set Ask to Buy and Screen Time defaults.

Adults can leave the family anytime; children cannot without Organizer approval.

Step 3: Share Subscriptions and iCloud Storage

1. Settings → [your name] → Family Sharing → Subscriptions (or individual service toggles).

2. Enable sharing for eligible services: Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Apple News+ (availability varies by plan and region).

3. For iCloud+, shared storage pools across family; each person keeps private mail and backups within the plan limit.

Not all App Store subscriptions are shareable—check each service’s sharing badge in Subscriptions.

Step 4: Share App Store and Media Purchases

1. Settings → Family Sharing → Purchase Sharing.

2. Turn on Share Purchases (Organizer agrees to pay for family requests if Ask to Buy is off).

Members can re-download shared apps, books, and some media without repurchasing. In-app purchases and some rentals may not share.

Step 5: Set Up Screen Time and Ask to Buy for Kids

1. Settings → Screen Time → [child name] (Family member list).

2. Set Downtime, App Limits, and Content & Privacy Restrictions.

3. Enable Ask to Buy so purchases need Organizer approval.

On the child device, sign in with their child Apple ID created through Family Sharing.

Step 6: Optional — Location and Find My

Settings → Family Sharing → Location Sharing lets family see each other in Find My with consent. Useful for devices; discuss privacy expectations with teens.

Google Family Link (Android Households)

Apple Family Sharing does not manage Android phones. For children on Android:

1. Install Google Family Link on parent and child devices.

2. Create or link a Google Account for the child.

3. Set app approval, screen limits, and bedtime from the Family Link app.

Mixed households often use both: Apple Family Sharing for iPads/iPhones and Family Link for Android.

Troubleshooting

| Problem | Fix |

|--------|-----|

| Cannot invite member | They may be in another family group — must leave first (once per year limit applies) |

| Subscription not sharing | Service may not support Family Sharing; check Organizer’s active subscription |

| Child account setup fails | Verify payment method and regional age rules |

| Ask to Buy not appearing | Confirm child uses child Apple ID, not adult ID |

| Purchase Sharing charges wrong card | Update Organizer’s default payment in Settings → [name] → Payment & Shipping |

| Menus differ | Search Settings for "Family" — labels change on iOS 17+ and macOS Sonoma+ |

FAQ

How many people can join Apple Family Sharing?

Up to six family members including the Organizer.

Do family members see each other’s photos?

Not automatically. Shared albums in Photos are optional. iCloud backups and libraries stay private unless explicitly shared.

Can two adults share one Apple ID instead?

Apple discourages sharing one Apple ID — you lose separate contacts, messages, and parental controls. Family Sharing is the intended approach.

Is Family Sharing free?

Creating a family group is free. Shared subscriptions (Apple Music, iCloud+, etc.) require paid plans where applicable.

How is Google Family Link different?

Family Link manages Android and Chromebook child accounts, app installs, and screen time. It does not share Apple subscriptions or App Store purchases.

The Takeaway

To set up Family Sharing, the Organizer opens Settings → [name] → Family Sharing, invites members or creates a child account, then enables Purchase Sharing, eligible subscriptions, and Screen Time controls. Paths may vary by iOS version. Android kids in the same household typically use Google Family Link separately.