The quickest way to stop sharing

To turn off Family Sharing on an Apple device, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select Family Sharing, then tap your own name and choose "Stop Using Family Sharing." On a Google account, go to myaccount.google.com, select "Family" in the left menu, find the family group, and click "Leave group." The person who set up the family group cannot leave — they must delete the entire group from the organizer settings, which removes everyone.

Which service you use matters because the steps are different. Apple's Family Sharing links up to five people for purchases, iCloud storage, location tracking, and screen time controls. Google Family Link does similar things but works across Android phones, Chromebooks, and Google accounts. Both let you leave as an individual member, but only the organizer can shut down the whole group.

Leaving a family group does not delete your account or erase your data. Your photos, emails, and files stay with you. What changes is that you lose shared storage space, can no longer see other family members' locations, and stop receiving their shared purchases.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple users go to Settings > Your Name > Family Sharing > Your Name > Stop Using Family Sharing, while Google users visit myaccount.google.com and select Family to leave the group.
  • The person who created the family group cannot leave without deleting the entire group, which removes all members.
  • Leaving a family group keeps your account and data intact but removes shared storage, location visibility, and access to other members' purchases.
  • If you are a child account managed by a parent, you may not have the option to leave without your parent's permission.

Leaving as a regular family member on Apple

Open Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap or click your name at the very top of the Settings menu — this is your Apple ID profile. Select "Family Sharing" from the list. You will see the names of everyone in your family group. Tap your own name, then scroll down and tap "Stop Using Family Sharing." Confirm by tapping again when prompted.

After you stop, you will no longer share an iCloud storage plan with the family — if you were using family storage, you lose access to that space when ready. Any purchases you made while in the family group stay on your devices, but future purchases will be charged to your own payment method instead of the family organizer's card.

Leaving as a regular family member on Google

Go to myaccount.google.com in a web browser on any device. On the left side menu, click "Family." You will see your family group listed. Click on the group name or the "Manage" button next to it. Look for an option that says "Leave group" or "Remove yourself" — the exact wording varies depending on your account type. Click it and confirm.

Once you leave, you lose access to any shared Google One storage the family was using. If a parent set up parental controls through Family Link, those controls stop explore to your account. You keep your own Google account, email, and personal files.

If you are the organizer and need to delete the whole group

The person who created the family group has different options. On Apple, go to Settings > Your Name > Family Sharing, then tap your name at the top. Scroll to the bottom and look for "Delete Family Group" or a similar option. On Google, go to myaccount.google.com > Family, click the group, and select "Delete family group." Both services will warn you that this removes all members and cannot be undone.

Before you delete, understand that all family members lose access to shared storage, shared purchases, and location sharing when ready. If you are the only person paying for a family plan — whether that is iCloud+ on Apple or Google One on Google — the subscription ends for everyone. Members keep their own accounts and personal data, but they will need to set up their own storage plans if they want cloud backup.

What happens to shared purchases and subscriptions

On Apple, any apps or media that the family organizer bought and shared with you stay on your device after you leave. You can keep using them, but you cannot re-read them if you delete them. New purchases go to your own account. On Google, shared apps and subscriptions work similarly — you keep what you have, but the family organizer can revoke access to shared content at any time.

Subscriptions like Apple Music or Google Play Pass that were part of the family plan stop working for you once you leave. If you want to keep a service, you will need to buy your own individual subscription.

Removing a child account from family sharing

If you are managing a child's account, you can remove them from the family group through your own organizer settings. On Apple, go to Family Sharing, tap the child's name, scroll down, and select "Remove [Child] from Family." On Google, go to Family > select the child > Settings > Remove from family. The child's account stays active, but parental controls and location sharing stop.

If you are a child account and your parent set up Family Link or Screen Time controls, you cannot leave the group yourself. Your parent or guardian must remove you or delete the family group. If you are a teenager with your own Apple ID, you may have the option to leave, but this depends on what your parent configured.

Troubleshooting when you cannot leave

If the "Stop Using Family Sharing" or "Leave group" button does not appear, you are likely the organizer. Only the person who created the family group can delete it. If you are a child account, your parent must remove you — you do not have permission to leave on your own.

If you are the organizer and the delete option is grayed out, check that you have a valid payment method on file. Some services require this before you can delete a family group. On Apple, make sure you are signed in with the same Apple ID that created the group. On Google, confirm you are logged into the account that set up the family.

What to do after you leave

After leaving, set up your own cloud storage if you need backup for photos and files. Apple offers iCloud+ starting at 50 GB per month. Google offers Google One with similar tiers. Both are optional — you can use your device without a paid plan, though you will have limited free storage.

If you were relying on the family organizer's payment method for app purchases, add your own payment method to your account now. On Apple, go to Settings > Your Name > Payment & Shipping. On Google, go to myaccount.google.com > Payments & Subscriptions > Payment methods. This way, any future purchases charge to you instead of someone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rejoin a family group after I leave?

Yes. The organizer can invite you back, and you can accept the invitation through Settings on Apple or through your Google account. There is no waiting period, but the organizer has to send the invitation again.

Does leaving a family group delete my account?

No. Your Apple ID or Google account stays active with all your personal data, emails, and files. Only the shared features — storage, location visibility, and family purchases — are removed.

What if the organizer deletes the family group without warning?

You will lose access to shared storage and location sharing when ready, but your account and personal data remain. You can still use your device normally and set up your own storage plan if needed.

Can a child leave a family group without their parent knowing?

No. Child accounts managed through Family Link or Screen Time cannot leave without the parent's permission. The parent controls whether the child can make changes to account settings.

Do I lose my photos if I leave a family group?

Only if your photos were stored in the shared family storage plan and you had no backup of your own. If you took photos on your device, they stay there. If you used iCloud Photos or Google Photos as part of the family plan, move your photos to your own account or read them before you leave.