How to leave Family Sharing
To leave Family Sharing, open Settings on your device, go to your name at the top, select Family Sharing, then tap your own name and choose "Stop Using Family Sharing." On a Mac, the path is System Settings > [Your Name] > Family > your name > "Stop Using Family Sharing." The process takes about two minutes and removes you from the group when ready — you'll lose access to shared calendars, photos, and location data, but keep your own purchases and accounts.
Before you leave, understand what happens next. Your family members will no longer see your location. Any subscriptions you shared (like Apple Music or iCloud+ storage) revert to individual plans, which may cost more. If a family member manages your device through Screen Time or Find My, those controls end. You'll need your own Apple ID password to confirm the change, and you cannot rejoin the same Family Sharing group for three days.
If you're the organizer of the family group — the person who set it up — you cannot straightforward leave. You must transfer the organizer role to another adult first, or delete the entire group. That process is different and covered in the section below.
Key Takeaways
- Regular members can leave Family Sharing in Settings by tapping their name under Family Sharing and selecting "Stop Using Family Sharing."
- Leaving removes you from shared calendars, photos, and location tracking, but you keep your own Apple ID and purchases.
- If you are the family organizer, you must transfer the organizer role to another adult before you can leave the group.
- You cannot rejoin the same Family Sharing group for three days after leaving.
- Shared subscriptions like iCloud+ storage will need to be purchased individually after you leave.
Steps to leave if you are a regular family member
On iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap your name at the very top of the screen. Scroll down and tap "Family Sharing." You'll see a list of family members — tap your own name. At the bottom of that screen, tap "Stop Using Family Sharing" in red text. You'll be asked to confirm with your Apple ID password. Enter it and tap "Stop Using Family Sharing" again. The change takes effect when ready.
On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left corner, select "System Settings," then click your name in the sidebar. Click "Family" in the left panel. Find your own name in the family members list and click it. At the bottom, click "Stop Using Family Sharing." Enter your Apple ID password when prompted and click "Stop Using Family Sharing" to confirm.
After you leave, check that your personal data is where you expect it. Open Find My and confirm you're no longer sharing your location. Check your iCloud settings to see whether you need to purchase your own storage plan. If you had a shared Apple Music subscription, you'll need to set up your own subscription or family plan separately.
What to do if you are the family organizer
The organizer is the person who created the Family Sharing group. If that's you, you cannot leave without first transferring the organizer role to another adult in the group. To transfer it, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, then tap the name of the adult you want to make the new organizer. Tap "Make Organizer" and confirm. That person will receive a notification and must accept the role.
Once the new organizer accepts, you can follow the regular steps to leave. If there are no other adults in the group, you'll need to remove all children first before you can transfer the role. To remove a child, tap their name under Family Sharing, scroll down, and tap "Remove [Child's Name]." That child's account will be deleted from the group, though their data remains on their device.
If you want to delete the entire Family Sharing group instead of transferring it, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, tap your name, scroll to the bottom, and tap "Delete Family Group." This removes everyone from the group and cannot be undone. All family members will lose access to shared calendars, photos, and location data.
What changes when you leave
Your location will no longer be visible to family members in Find My. Any shared calendars you created will remain in your device, but family members will no longer see updates to them. Shared photo albums will still exist, but you won't be able to add new photos to them or see new photos added by others.
Subscriptions are the biggest practical change. If your family was sharing an iCloud+ plan with 200 GB or more of storage, you'll need to purchase your own plan — the cheapest option is 50 GB for a small monthly fee. If you were using a shared Apple Music Family plan, you'll need to either buy an individual subscription or create your own family plan and invite people to it. Screen Time controls set by the organizer will stop working on your device.
Your Apple ID remains yours and does not change. All apps and purchases tied to your account stay with you. You can rejoin a different Family Sharing group when ready, but you cannot rejoin the same group for three days.
Removing a family member instead of leaving yourself
If you are the organizer and want to remove someone else from the group, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, tap their name, and tap "Remove [Name]." For children, you'll see "Remove [Child's Name]" instead. Confirm the removal. That person will be notified and removed from the group when ready.
Removing someone is different from them leaving on their own — they do not have to accept or confirm it. They will lose access to shared content right away. If you remove an adult, they can rejoin a different Family Sharing group or create their own. If you remove a child, their account is deleted from the group, though their device keeps working with their Apple ID.
Troubleshooting common problems
If you see "You cannot stop using Family Sharing" when you try to leave, you are the organizer. Follow the steps in the section above to transfer the organizer role first. If the button is grayed out, make sure you're signed in with the correct Apple ID and that you have an internet connection.
If you left the group but still see family members' location in Find My, force-close the Find My app and reopen it. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and toggle "Find My" off and back on. If shared calendars are still appearing, open the Calendar app, find the shared calendar in the list, swipe left on it, and tap "Delete" to remove it from your device.
If you cannot rejoin the same Family Sharing group after three days, contact the organizer to confirm you were fully removed. Ask them to check Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing and verify your name is no longer listed. If it still appears, have them remove you manually, then wait another day before trying to rejoin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my photos and files when I leave Family Sharing?
Photos and files you uploaded to shared albums remain there, but you can no longer add new ones or see updates. Photos on your device stay on your device. If you had shared iCloud storage, you'll need to purchase your own plan to back up new photos. Existing backups on your device are not deleted.
Can I leave Family Sharing without losing my Apple ID?
Yes. Your Apple ID is separate from Family Sharing. Leaving the group does not change your Apple ID, password, or any of your personal accounts. You keep all your purchases and data tied to that ID.
Do my family members get notified when I leave?
Yes. The organizer and other family members will see that you've left the group. Your location will disappear from their Find My app, and they'll no longer see your calendar or shared albums.
What if I want to rejoin the same family group later?
You must wait three days after leaving before you can rejoin. After three days, the organizer can send you an invitation through the Family Sharing settings, and you can accept it to rejoin.
Can I leave Family Sharing on just one device?
No. Family Sharing is tied to your Apple ID, not to individual devices. When you leave, you leave on all devices signed in with that Apple ID. If you want to stay in the group on one device but leave on another, you'll need to use a different Apple ID on the second device.