What Family Sharing Does
Family Sharing lets you share apps, subscriptions, and purchases with people in your household without giving them your password. On Apple devices, one person sets up a family group and adds up to five other family members. Each person keeps their own account and their own device, but they can read apps that someone else bought without paying again.
Google has a similar system called Family Library that works on Android phones and tablets. The setup is different from Apple's, and what you can share varies slightly, but the basic idea is the same: buy once, let family members use it.
This is different from straightforward letting someone use your device or signing into your account on their phone. With Family Sharing, they stay logged into their own account while still accessing the apps you paid for.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Family Sharing requires one organizer to create a group and invite up to five other people; Google Family Library works similarly but with slightly different sharing rules for apps.
- Apps purchased by any family member become available to all members on their own devices, but subscriptions and in-app purchases may have restrictions.
- You control what each family member can see and read through parental controls, which is useful if children are in the group.
- Family Sharing requires a valid payment method on file, and purchases made by family members will charge to the organizer's account unless you set spending limits.
Setting Up Apple Family Sharing
On an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open Settings and tap your name at the top. Select "Family Sharing" and tap "get your free guide" or "Create a Family Group." You become the organizer. Add family members by tapping "Add Family Member" — they can accept the invitation on their own device, or you can invite them in person by holding their device near yours.
Family members need their own Apple ID. They do not need to use the same iCloud account or payment method as you. Once they join, they can read any app that any family member has purchased, directly from the App Store on their own device.
The organizer controls the family group's shared payment method. By default, all purchases by family members charge to the organizer's card. You can set spending limits for individual family members or require approval before they make a purchase.
Setting Up Google Family Library
On an Android phone, open Google Play and tap your profile icon. Select "Manage family" and follow the prompts to create a family group. You can add up to five family members using their Google accounts. Unlike Apple, family members do not need to be in the same household, though Google's terms ask that you only add people you live with.
Apps purchased through Google Play become available to all family members, but Google's rules are stricter than Apple's in one way: you cannot share apps purchased before you set up Family Library. Only new purchases and apps already in the Play Store can be shared going forward.
Like Apple, all purchases charge to the organizer's payment method unless you set up a separate payment method for individual family members. You can also require approval for purchases or set spending limits.
What You Can and Cannot Share
Apps are the main thing Family Sharing covers. Once someone in your family buys an app, everyone in the group can read it on their own device. This includes paid apps, free apps with in-app purchases, and subscription apps like Spotify or Netflix — though subscription access works differently.
Subscriptions bought through the App Store or Google Play can be shared, but the person who bought the subscription is the one who controls it. If you buy a subscription, family members can use it, but they cannot change the plan or cancel it. Some subscriptions, like Apple Music or YouTube Premium, work across the whole family group automatically.
In-app purchases are usually not shared. If someone buys gems, coins, or extra levels inside a game, only their account gets them. Books, movies, and music purchased from Apple Books or Google Play Books are tied to the person who bought them and cannot be shared with the family group.
Controlling What Family Members Can read
The organizer can set up parental controls so children cannot read certain apps without permission. On Apple, go to Settings, tap your name, select "Family Sharing," choose the family member, and turn on "Ask to Buy." Any app they try to read will send a notification to you, and you can approve or decline it.
On Google, open Google Play, tap your profile, select "Manage family," choose the family member, and set content restrictions. You can block apps by age rating, so a child account cannot read anything rated above, say, 12+. You can also require a PIN before any purchase.
These controls only affect what they can read — they do not prevent them from using apps that are already on their device or that you have already approved.
Removing Someone From Family Sharing
If a family member moves out or you want to stop sharing with them, the organizer can remove them from the group. On Apple, go to Settings, tap your name, select "Family Sharing," tap their name, and choose "Remove from Family." On Google, open Google Play, tap your profile, select "Manage family," tap their name, and select "Remove from family."
When you remove someone, they keep the apps they downloaded while in the group, but they cannot read new ones or access shared subscriptions. If they want to keep using a paid app after removal, they will need to buy it themselves or you will need to add them back to the group.
The organizer can also leave the family group, but this dissolves the entire group. All family members are removed, and you will need to create a new group if you want to set up Family Sharing again.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If a family member cannot see an app that someone else bought, check that they are signed into their own Apple ID or Google account on their device. They should not be signed into the organizer's account. If they are, sign them out and sign back in with their own account.
If purchases are not showing up, make sure the person who bought the app is still in the family group. Removing someone removes access to apps they purchased. Also check that the family member trying to read the app is in the same country as the organizer — apps purchased in one country may not be available in another.
If parental controls are blocking an app, the family member can request approval through the notification they receive, or the organizer can change the content restrictions. On Apple, you can also temporarily allow a specific app by approving it once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share apps if I am not related to the people in my family group?
Yes. Apple and Google both call it a "family" group, but they do not verify that members are actually related. You can add roommates, close friends, or anyone else you want to share apps with. Both companies ask that you only add people you live with, though they do not enforce this.
What happens to shared apps if the person who bought them cancels their account?
Family members keep the apps they downloaded while the person was in the group. They cannot read new copies or update the app if it is removed from the store, but the version they have continues to work. If the app requires an active account to use (like a banking app), it may stop working if the original buyer's account is deleted.
Can I use Family Sharing on both Apple and Android devices?
No. Apple Family Sharing only works on Apple devices, and Google Family Library only works on Android devices and Google services. If your family uses both, you will need to set up both systems separately. Apps purchased in one system do not transfer to the other.
Do I have to use the same payment method for everyone in the family group?
By default, yes — all purchases charge to the organizer's card. However, you can add a separate payment method for individual family members so their purchases charge to their own card instead. This is useful if you want to give someone a budget or prevent their purchases from affecting your bill.
Can family members see what apps I read?
On Apple, family members can see what apps you have purchased and downloaded. On Google, they can see apps you have added to the family library. If you want privacy, you can purchase apps on a separate personal account that is not part of the family group.