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

Family Sharing is a feature built into Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) and Android devices that lets you purchase an app once and let other people in your household use it without buying it again. One adult sets up the family group and pays for purchases. Everyone else in the group can read and use those apps on their own devices, but they cannot modify the purchase or delete it from the family account.

The person who sets up Family Sharing (called the organizer) controls which apps are shared and can see what everyone else is downloading. Family members can use shared apps on their own devices without needing their own copy of the app or their own payment method.

Key Takeaways

  • One adult organizer sets up Family Sharing and pays for all app purchases that get shared with the group.
  • Up to five other family members can read and use shared apps on their own devices without buying them separately.
  • The organizer can see what apps each family member has downloaded and can remove access to specific apps if needed.
  • Family members can still buy their own apps with their own payment method if they want something the organizer has not purchased.
  • Family Sharing works across Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) or Android devices, but you cannot mix the two systems in one family group.

How to set up Family Sharing on Apple devices

On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. Tap Create a Family Group and follow the prompts. You will be asked to confirm your Apple ID and payment method. Then you can invite family members by entering their email addresses or phone numbers. They will receive an invitation and can accept it on their own device.

On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, then click Family Sharing. Click Set Up Family Sharing and enter your Apple ID. You can then invite family members the same way — they get an invitation and accept it on their own device.

Once the family group is set up, any app you buy from the App Store is automatically available to all family members unless you turn off sharing for that specific app. Family members can read it to their own device without paying.

How to set up Family Sharing on Android devices

On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, then tap Manage your Google Account. Go to the Family tab and tap Create a family group. You will be asked to confirm your payment method and location. Then you can invite family members by email address.

Family members will receive an invitation and need to accept it on their own Android device. Once they accept, any app you purchase from Google Play is automatically shared with them. They can read it without paying.

Android Family Sharing also includes shared family storage for Google Drive, shared family calendars, and the ability to set up parental controls for younger family members.

What happens when you buy an app in a Family Sharing group

When you (the organizer) buy an app, it is added to your family library automatically. All other family members can see it in the App Store under the Purchased tab and read it to their own device. They do not need to pay anything, and they do not need to ask permission first.

If a family member wants to buy an app that is not in the family library, they can use their own payment method to buy it. That app will be theirs alone and will not be shared with the rest of the family.

How to control which apps are shared and which are not

On Apple devices, you can prevent an app from being shared. Open the App Store, find the app you bought, tap the three dots next to it, and select Family Sharing. Toggle off the switch next to "Share with Family." That app will no longer be available to other family members, though they can still see it in their purchase history.

On Android, open Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, go to Manage apps and device, find the app, tap the three dots, and select Family Library. You can toggle sharing off for that app.

As the organizer, you can also see what each family member has downloaded. On Apple, go to Family Sharing settings and tap each person's name to see their library. On Android, go to Family settings and tap each person's account.

What Family Sharing does not cover

Family Sharing shares apps, but not subscriptions. If you pay for a subscription (like a fitness app that charges monthly), only you have access to that subscription. Family members would need their own subscription to use it.

In-app purchases are also not shared. If an app is free but has paid features inside it, each family member would need to buy those features separately. Books, music, movies, and TV shows purchased from Apple or Google are also not shared — only apps are.

Family Sharing requires everyone to be on the same type of device system. You cannot have an Apple family group that includes Android devices, or vice versa.

What to do if a family member leaves the group

If someone leaves the family group, they lose access to all shared apps when ready. Any apps they downloaded will stop working unless they buy their own copy. On Apple, you can remove someone from Family Sharing by going to Family Sharing settings, tapping their name, and selecting Remove from Family. On Android, go to Family settings, tap the person, and select Remove from family.

If you are the organizer and you leave, the family group dissolves and everyone loses access to shared apps. You can transfer the organizer role to another adult family member before you leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can family members see what apps I have downloaded?

Yes. As the organizer, you can see what apps each family member has downloaded by going to Family Sharing settings and tapping their name. Family members can also see what you have downloaded. If you want to keep an app private, you can turn off sharing for that specific app.

What if two people in the family want to buy the same app?

If one person buys it, it is automatically shared with everyone. The second person does not need to buy it — they can just read it from their Purchased tab. If you want separate copies for some reason, you would need to turn off sharing for that app, but there is no practical reason to do this.

Can a family member delete a shared app from the family library?

No. Only the person who bought the app (the organizer) can remove it from the family library. Family members can delete it from their own device, but it will still be available in their Purchased tab and they can read it again anytime.

Do I need to be on the same Wi-Fi network for Family Sharing to work?

No. Family Sharing works over any internet connection. Family members can read shared apps from anywhere — home, work, or anywhere else with internet access.

What happens to shared apps if I cancel my payment method?

Shared apps will continue to work on everyone's devices. However, you will not be able to buy new apps or update your payment method until you add a valid payment method back to your account.