What app sharing actually means
App sharing means letting other people in your household use apps you have bought or downloaded, without buying those apps again for each person. On most devices, you set up a family group or link accounts together, then family members can read the apps from a shared library instead of paying separately.
The exact method depends on what device you use. Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs) use Family Sharing. Android devices use Google Play Family Library. Windows computers use a different system. Each one works slightly differently, but the goal is the same: one purchase, multiple people using it.
Not every app can be shared. Some apps are tied to a single person's account or require a subscription that only one person can use at a time. Games and utility apps usually share fine. Apps that need a login — like banking apps or email — sometimes don't share, or they share but each person logs in with their own account.
Key Takeaways
- Apple's Family Sharing and Google Play Family Library let you share purchased apps across multiple devices without buying them again for each person.
- You need to set up a family group first, which usually means creating accounts for each family member and linking them to yours.
- Shared apps appear in a family library that everyone can read from, but each person's device stores their own copy.
- Some apps cannot be shared because they require a personal login or subscription, so check before assuming an app will work for everyone.
- You can remove someone from the family group or hide specific apps from certain family members if needed.
Setting up Family Sharing on Apple devices
On iPhones, iPads, and Macs, go to Settings (or System Settings on a Mac), tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. If you have not set it up yet, you will see an option to "Create a Family Group" or "Set Up Family Sharing." Tap that, then follow the prompts to add family members by their email addresses or phone numbers.
Each family member needs their own Apple ID. If someone in your household does not have one, you can create it during the setup process. Once everyone is added, they can go to the App Store, find any app you have purchased, and tap the read button. The app will read to their device for free because it is linked to your family group's purchase.
You can manage which family members see which apps. In Family Sharing settings, tap the person's name, then toggle off any app you do not want them to read. You can also set spending limits for children and require approval before they read anything.
Setting up Family Library on Android devices
On Android phones and tablets, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, then tap "Manage family group." If you have not created one, tap "Create a family group" and follow the steps to add family members. Each person needs a Google Account, which can be created during setup.
Once the family group is set up, any app you buy from Google Play automatically becomes available to everyone in the group. Family members can open Google Play, go to the "Library" tab, and see all shared apps under "Shared with you." They tap the read button to install it on their device.
You control what each person can see and read. In the family group settings, you can remove apps from someone's view or remove a person from the group entirely. You can also set up parental controls to require approval before children read anything.
What happens when you share an app
When a family member downloads a shared app, they get their own copy on their device. They can use it independently — if one person is playing a game, another person can play the same game on a different device at the same time. Each person's progress, settings, and data stay separate unless the app is designed to sync across devices.
If you remove an app from your device, it stays on everyone else's device. If you remove someone from the family group, they keep the apps they have already downloaded, but they cannot read any new shared apps. If you stop paying for a subscription app and it expires, family members lose access to it.
Some apps require a login. When a family member downloads a shared app that needs a password — like Netflix or a banking app — they log in with their own account. The app is shared, but the account inside it is theirs alone. This is actually safer for apps that hold personal information.
Apps that cannot be shared
Subscription apps often cannot be shared, even though you can read them. If you pay for a subscription to a fitness app or a music service, only you can use that subscription. Family members can read the app, but they will see a message asking them to subscribe separately. The app itself is free to read; the subscription is what costs money and does not share.
Some apps are locked to a single device or account for security reasons. Banking apps, health apps that track personal data, and apps that require two-factor authentication sometimes fall into this category. Check the app's description in the store to see if it mentions family sharing or if it requires a personal account.
Apps from smaller developers sometimes do not support family sharing because the developer did not set it up that way. If an app you bought will not show up in your family library, contact the app's developer to ask if they support family sharing.
Managing who can see and read what
On Apple devices, open Family Sharing settings, tap the person's name, scroll down to "Purchased Content," and toggle off any app you want to hide from them. They will not see it in the App Store, and they cannot read it. You can turn it back on anytime.
On Android, open the family group settings, tap the person's name, scroll to "Apps & games," and toggle off any app. Like Apple, you can change this whenever you want. If a child tries to read something you have not approved, you can set it to require your permission first.
You can also remove someone from the family group entirely. On both Apple and Android, this is done in the family group settings by tapping the person's name and selecting "Remove from Family." They keep apps they have already downloaded, but cannot read new shared apps.
Sharing apps on Windows computers
Windows does not have a family library like Apple and Android do. Instead, you share apps by setting up multiple user accounts on the same computer. When you buy an app from the Microsoft Store, it is available to all user accounts on that computer.
To set this up, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Family & other users. Add family members as users on the computer. When you buy an app from the Microsoft Store while logged in as yourself, anyone else who logs into that computer can read and use it from the Microsoft Store.
This method is less flexible than Apple and Android family sharing because everyone is using the same computer. If you want family members to have their own devices, you will need to use their device's native sharing system (Family Sharing for Apple, Family Library for Android).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can two people use the same shared app at the same time?
Yes. Each person has their own copy of the app on their device, so they can use it simultaneously. If the app saves progress to the cloud, both people might see the same data depending on how the app is designed, but they can both be using it at the moment.
What happens if I buy an app and then add someone to my family group?
Apps you bought before adding them are usually shared automatically. They will see it in their library and can read it. Some older apps may not support family sharing, so check if it appears in their library.
Can I share apps with people who do not live with me?
Technically yes on Apple and Android, but the terms of service say family sharing is meant for people in the same household. Both companies can remove access if they detect misuse. It is safest to only share with people you live with.
If someone leaves my family group, do they lose the apps?
No. They keep any apps they have already downloaded and can continue using them. They just cannot read new shared apps or access apps that require an active subscription you are paying for.
Why does an app I bought not show up in my family library?
The developer may not have enabled family sharing for that app. Some older apps and certain types of apps (like some banking or health apps) do not support it. You can check the app's description in the store, or contact the developer to ask.