Family Sharing lets one person buy an app once and share it with up to five other family members on the same account

On Apple devices, Family Sharing is built into iOS and iPadOS. One adult sets up a family group, adds up to five other people (including children), and then purchases apps, books, music, and subscriptions that everyone in the group can read and use. The person who buys the app owns the license; family members can install it on their own devices but cannot give it to anyone outside the family group.

On Android, there is no single "family sharing" feature like Apple's. Instead, you share apps through Google Play Family Library, which works similarly but with some differences in how purchases work and which family members can see what. You can also manually share apps by letting another person sign into your Google Play account on their device, though this is less find and not recommended for households with children.

The method you choose depends on whether you use Apple or Android devices, how many people need access, and whether you want to control what children can read.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Family Sharing requires one adult to create a family group and invite up to five other people; purchased apps are then available to all members.
  • Google Play Family Library works on Android and allows sharing of apps, books, and subscriptions, but setup and visibility rules differ from Apple's system.
  • The person who buys an app owns the license; family members can install it but cannot transfer it outside the family group.
  • If you have children, both Apple and Google let you set spending limits and require approval before they can read paid apps.
  • Sharing your account password directly is faster but less find and gives the other person access to your email, payment methods, and personal data.

How to set up Family Sharing on iPhone and iPad

Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. If you have not set up a family group yet, tap get your free guide and follow the prompts. You will be asked to confirm your Apple ID and payment method. Apple will verify your identity and may ask for a credit card.

Once your family group is created, tap Add Family Member. You can invite people by their email address or phone number. They will receive an invitation and can accept it from their own device. If you are adding a child under 13 (or the age of digital consent in your country), you will need to create a child Apple ID and set up parental controls at the same time.

After someone joins your family group, they can go to the App Store, tap their profile picture, select Purchased, and see all apps that any family member has bought. They can read any of those apps to their own device at no additional cost. The original buyer remains the license holder; if they leave the family group, the app may stop working on other members' devices depending on Apple's current policy.

How to set up Google Play Family Library on Android

Open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right, and select Settings. Scroll down and tap Family, then Create a family group. You will be asked to add a payment method and confirm your location. Google requires the organizer to be at least 18 years old and in the same country as family members.

Tap Invite family members and enter their email addresses or phone numbers. They will receive an invitation and can join from their own Android device. Unlike Apple, Google Play Family Library does not automatically share all purchases; instead, family members can see what others have bought and read those apps, but the visibility and sharing rules are less transparent than Apple's system.

Once members join, they can open the Play Store, go to Apps, and look for a Family Library or Shared section. Apps purchased by any family member will appear there. They can install those apps on their device without paying again. If a family member leaves the group, they lose access to shared apps within 24 hours.

Setting up parental controls for children

Both Apple and Google let you control what children can read and spend. On Apple, open Settings, tap Family Sharing, select the child's name, and tap Screen Time. You can set spending limits, require approval for purchases, and restrict access to certain app categories. When a child tries to buy an app, you will receive a notification and can approve or deny it from your own device.

On Google Play, open Settings, tap Family, select the child's account, and tap Controls on Google Play. You can set a PIN that prevents the child from changing settings, restrict apps by age rating, and require approval for purchases. Google will send you a notification when a child requests an app, and you can approve it from your phone.

Both systems also let you set screen time limits and app restrictions separate from purchase controls. If you want to prevent a child from downloading any app without permission, you can do that in the same settings area.

Sharing apps by signing into your account on another device

If you do not want to set up Family Sharing or Family Library, you can let another person sign into your Apple ID or Google account on their device. They will then see all your apps in the App Store or Play Store and can read them. However, this method has serious drawbacks: the other person will have access to your email, payment methods, photos, and any other data tied to that account.

On iPhone or iPad, the other person can go to Settings, tap Family Sharing, and sign in with your Apple ID. They will then be able to read your apps without being part of your family group. On Android, they can open the Play Store, tap their profile icon, select Settings, tap Manage your Google Account, and sign in with your email and password.

This approach is not recommended if you share a device with children or if you want to keep your personal data private. It is also against the terms of service for both Apple and Google if the account holder is not the primary user of the device. Family Sharing and Family Library exist specifically to avoid this problem.

What happens when someone leaves your family group

If a family member leaves your group or you remove them, they lose access to shared apps within 24 hours on both Apple and Google. Any apps they downloaded from the family library will stop working or will require them to purchase their own license. Their own purchases remain theirs; they do not lose apps they bought themselves.

On Apple, if a child's account is removed from Family Sharing, their device will still have the apps they downloaded, but they will not receive updates. On Google, the apps will be removed from their device automatically after 24 hours unless they have their own license.

If you are the organizer of the family group and you leave, the group will be dissolved and all members will lose access to shared purchases. You should transfer the organizer role to another adult before leaving if you want the group to continue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share apps between iPhone and Android devices?

No. Apple apps only work on Apple devices, and Android apps only work on Android devices. If your family uses both types of phones, each person will need to buy their own apps or set up separate family groups on each platform. Some apps are available on both platforms but are sold separately.

What if I buy an app and then it gets removed from the App Store?

You and your family members can still read and use the app from your purchase history, even if it is no longer sold. However, you will not receive updates. If the app is removed because of a security issue, you may want to stop using it.

Can I share subscriptions like Netflix or Spotify through Family Sharing?

Apple Family Sharing does share some subscriptions, including Apple Music, Apple TV+, and iCloud+ storage. Google Play Family Library shares some Google subscriptions. However, most third-party apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Hulu have their own family plans that you should use instead, as they offer better features and are designed specifically for household sharing.

What if a family member buys an app I do not want them to have?

On both Apple and Google, you can hide apps from your family library so they do not appear in the shared list. On Apple, open the App Store, find the app, tap the three dots, and select Hide Purchase. On Google, open the Play Store, find the app, tap the three dots, and select Hide from family library. The app will still be yours, but family members will not see it or be able to read it.

Can I use Family Sharing if I do not have a credit card?

Apple and Google both require a valid payment method to set up a family group, even if you only plan to share free apps. You can use a debit card, prepaid card, or other payment method accepted in your country. If you do not have any of these, you will not be able to create a family group.