Set up Family Sharing to let household members use your Apple Music account
Apple Music works through Family Sharing, which is Apple's system for letting up to six people use services like Apple Music, iCloud storage, and app purchases on a single subscription. You create a family group, add members, and each person gets their own Apple Music account that draws from your subscription. No separate payment needed — everyone listens under one plan.
The person who pays for Apple Music (the organizer) controls the family group and can remove members or change settings. Family members keep their own music libraries, playlists, and listening history separate from each other, so your recommendations won't mix with your teenager's.
Family Sharing requires that members live at the same address, though Apple doesn't verify this strictly. You'll need an Apple ID for each person, and everyone must be on a device that runs a recent version of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, or have an Apple Music account on Android.
Key Takeaways
- Family Sharing lets up to six people use one Apple Music subscription, with each person keeping separate listening history and playlists.
- The person paying for Apple Music becomes the organizer and can add or remove family members from the group.
- Each family member needs their own Apple ID, and the organizer sets up the group through Settings on an Apple device.
- Once added to Family Sharing, members can use Apple Music on any of their devices without needing the subscription password.
- Family members can turn off sharing for specific services like Apple Music while keeping other shared benefits like shared photo libraries.
Create a Family Sharing group on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Start on the device where you have your Apple Music subscription active. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. If you don't see Family Sharing, you're on an older iOS version — update to iOS 16 or later. On Mac, open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, then click Family Sharing.
Tap or click get your free guide (or Create Family Group if you see that button instead). You'll see a screen showing your Apple ID as the organizer. This is the account that pays for Apple Music. Confirm your payment method is correct, then proceed. Apple will ask you to verify your identity with your Apple ID password.
Once the group exists, you'll see a screen listing family members. Right now it's just you. The system is ready for you to add people.
Add family members to your group
In the Family Sharing screen, tap or click Add Family Member (or the plus icon, depending on your device). You'll see two options: Invite a Family Member or Create a Child Account. Choose Invite a Family Member for adults or teenagers who already have an Apple ID.
Enter the person's email address or phone number associated with their Apple ID. Apple sends them an invitation through iMessage, email, or both. They'll see a notification asking them to join your family group. They tap Accept, and they're added — no action needed from you after that.
The person you invited can now open Apple Music on their device and see your subscription active. They don't need to enter a password or payment information. Their own Apple ID stays separate, so their music library and playlists are theirs alone.
If you're inviting someone who doesn't have an Apple ID yet, choose Create a Child Account instead. You'll set up their account, and they can use Apple Music when ready on their device.
What family members can and cannot do
Family members can stream unlimited music, create playlists, read songs for offline listening, and use all Apple Music features. They see their own recommendations based on what they listen to, not what you listen to. Each person's library is private to them.
Family members cannot change subscription settings, add or remove other family members, or see what others are listening to in real time. If you want to remove someone, you do that from the organizer account — the removed person loses access when ready.
If a family member wants to use Apple Music on a device where they're not signed in with their Apple ID, they can use Family Library on that device. This is less common but works on shared household devices like a HomePod or Apple TV.
Turn off Apple Music sharing while keeping other family benefits
Family Sharing includes other services beyond Apple Music — shared photo libraries, shared calendars, shared reminders, and shared app purchases. You can turn off Apple Music sharing specifically while keeping the rest active.
On your device, go to Settings > your name > Family Sharing, then tap the family member's name. Scroll down and look for Apple Music. Toggle it off. That person can no longer use your Apple Music subscription, but they stay in your family group and keep access to shared photos and other services.
This is useful if someone leaves the household or if you want to manage who has music access separately from other shared services. The person you turned it off for won't be removed from the family group — they just lose Apple Music specifically.
Manage your family group and remove members
As the organizer, you can see all family members in Settings > your name > Family Sharing. Tap any member's name to see what services they're using and adjust their access. You can turn services on or off for individual people without removing them from the group.
To remove someone entirely, tap their name, scroll to the bottom, and tap Remove from Family. They lose access to Apple Music and all other shared services when ready. They can still use their own Apple ID and any subscriptions they pay for themselves.
If you're the organizer and you want to transfer that role to someone else, you can do that in Family Sharing settings. Choose Change Family Organizer, select the new organizer, and confirm. The new organizer becomes responsible for the Apple Music subscription and family group settings.
Troubleshoot common sharing problems
If a family member can't see Apple Music on their device, first check that they're signed in with the Apple ID you invited. Go to Settings > [their name] and confirm the account is correct. Then open the App Store, tap their profile icon, and make sure Family Library is toggled on. If it's off, turn it on.
If Apple Music says "subscription required" when they try to play music, the most common cause is that they're signed in with a different Apple ID than the one you invited. Have them sign out of that account and sign in with the correct one. On iPhone, this is Settings > [their name] > Sign Out, then Sign In with the right account.
If you removed someone from the family group but they can still play music, they may have downloaded songs for offline listening before removal. Those downloads stay on their device, but they can't stream new music or refresh their library. This is normal behavior.
If Family Sharing itself won't open or shows an error, restart your device and try again. If the problem persists, sign out of your Apple ID completely, restart, and sign back in. This usually clears temporary glitches with Family Sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share Apple Music with someone who doesn't live with me?
Family Sharing is designed for people at the same address. Apple doesn't actively verify location, but the terms of service require it. If someone moves away, you should remove them from the family group and they can get their own subscription instead.
What happens to a family member's playlists if I remove them from the group?
Their playlists stay on their device and in their Apple Music account, but they can't add new songs or sync changes across devices. If they later get their own Apple Music subscription, their playlists will work again with that subscription.
Can two people in the family group use Apple Music at the exact same time?
Yes. Apple Music allows simultaneous streaming across all family members. You can listen on your phone while someone else listens on their iPad at the same time without any conflict.
Do family members see my listening history or recommendations?
No. Each person's listening history, playlists, and recommendations are completely separate. Apple Music keeps them private even within a family group.
What if I cancel my Apple Music subscription?
All family members lose access when ready. If they want to keep using Apple Music, they each need to get their own subscription or you need to restart yours.