You can remove people from Family Sharing, but the process differs between Apple and Google, and some data may stay shared depending on your settings
Family Sharing lets multiple people use the same subscription services, photo libraries, and purchase accounts under one roof. When you want to stop sharing — because someone moves out, a relationship ends, or you straightforward want separate accounts — you need to remove them from the group. On Apple devices, you go through your iCloud settings. On Google, you manage it through your Google Account. The person being removed loses access to shared purchases and subscriptions, but they keep their own photos and documents.
The steps take about five minutes, and you do not need the other person's permission to remove them. However, what happens to shared content depends on what you set up in the first place. A shared photo library, for example, stays on their device after removal — it just stops updating. Shared subscriptions like Apple Music or Google Play Pass stop working when ready.
Key Takeaways
- On Apple, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing and tap the person's name, then choose "Remove from Family Sharing."
- On Google, visit myaccount.google.com, select "Family" from the left menu, find the person, and click "Remove from family group."
- Removing someone stops their access to shared subscriptions and purchases, but shared photos and files remain on their device.
- The person you remove will see a notification that they have been removed, and any shared apps will stop working on their devices.
- If you are the family organizer, you must transfer that role to someone else before you can leave the group yourself.
How to remove someone from Apple Family Sharing
Open Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap or click your name at the top, then select "Family Sharing." You will see a list of everyone in your family group. Tap the person you want to remove, then scroll down and tap "Remove from Family Sharing." Confirm by tapping "Remove" again. That person will get a notification that they have been removed.
If you are using a Mac, the path is System Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing, then click the person's name and click the minus button. The result is the same: they lose access to shared purchases, subscriptions, and the family photo library, though any photos they downloaded to their device stay there.
If you are the family organizer (the person who set up Family Sharing), you cannot straightforward remove yourself. You must first transfer the organizer role to another adult in the group. Go to Family Sharing settings, tap the person you want to make organizer, tap "Change Role," and select "Organizer." Once someone else is the organizer, you can remove yourself.
How to remove someone from Google Family Link or Family Group
Google has two different systems depending on what you are sharing. If you set up Family Link (parental controls for children), open the Family Link app on your phone, tap the child's account, go to Settings, scroll to the bottom, and tap "Remove account." If you set up a Family Group (for sharing subscriptions and storage), go to myaccount.google.com on a computer or phone, select "Family" from the left menu, find the person, and click the three-dot menu next to their name, then "Remove from family group."
After removal, that person loses access to any shared Google One storage (the paid storage plan), shared YouTube Premium, and shared Google Play Pass. However, they keep any files or photos they uploaded to their own Google Drive or Google Photos account. If they were using a shared family calendar, they will no longer see it, but any events they created stay in the family calendar.
What happens to shared content after someone is removed
The behavior depends on what you shared. Subscriptions and purchases stop working when ready — if someone was using a shared Netflix account through your Google Play Pass, they lose access right away. Apps you purchased and shared with them will show as unavailable on their device, though they can still use any app they purchased themselves.
Shared photo libraries and files are trickier. On Apple, if you set up a shared photo library, the photos stay on that person's device after removal, but the library stops syncing. They cannot add new photos to it, and any photos you add will not appear on their device. On Google, shared files in Google Drive remain accessible to them if they were given direct access to the folder — removing them from the family group does not automatically revoke that access. You would need to remove them from the folder separately if you want to cut off access entirely.
Why someone might not be able to remove themselves
If you are the family organizer on Apple or the family manager on Google, you cannot leave the group without transferring your role first. This is a safety feature to prevent the group from being left without an administrator. On Apple, you must make another adult the organizer before you can remove yourself. On Google, you must transfer the family manager role to another adult.
If you are not the organizer or manager, you can remove yourself anytime. On Apple, go to Family Sharing settings, tap your own name, and tap "Leave Family Sharing." On Google, go to myaccount.google.com, select Family, and click "Leave family group." You will lose access to shared subscriptions and storage, but your own account and files remain intact.
What to do if someone refuses to give you their device to remove them
You do not need their device or their permission to remove them from Family Sharing. On Apple, you can remove anyone from your own device's Family Sharing settings — you do not need access to their phone. On Google, you can remove them from myaccount.google.com using any device. The person will be notified of the removal, but you do not need their cooperation.
However, they will still have access to any content on their device that was already downloaded or synced before removal. A shared photo library on their iPhone will still be there; a shared app will still work until they update their device or try to open it again. If you want to may support they cannot access something specific, you may need to change the password on the shared account itself, though this affects everyone in the group.
How to prevent accidental removal or changes to Family Sharing
Neither Apple nor Google offers a way to lock Family Sharing settings with a PIN or password. Any adult in the group can remove other people or change roles. If you want to prevent accidental changes, the only real option is to use a strong, unique password on the account that runs Family Sharing and not share that password with anyone else.
On Apple, only the organizer can remove people or change roles, so if you are worried about someone else making changes, make sure you are the organizer. On Google, the family manager has the most control, so again, keep that role with someone you trust. If you are concerned about a specific person having too much access, you can remove them and re-add them with a more limited role if your system allows it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove someone from Family Sharing without them knowing?
You can remove them without their permission, but they will receive a notification that they have been removed. On Apple, they will see a message in their Family Sharing settings. On Google, they will get an email notification. They will also notice when shared subscriptions or apps stop working on their device.
If I remove someone, do they lose all their photos and files?
No. They keep any photos or files they uploaded to their own account. Shared libraries and folders may stay on their device, but they will not sync or update anymore. If you want to completely remove their access to a shared folder on Google Drive, you need to remove them from that folder separately.
What if I remove someone and then want to add them back?
You can add them back anytime by sending them a Family Sharing invitation. On Apple, go to Family Sharing settings and tap "Add Family Member." On Google, go to myaccount.google.com, select Family, and click "Invite family member." They will need to accept the invitation, and they will regain access to shared subscriptions and storage.
Can I remove the family organizer?
Only if you are the organizer yourself. If someone else is the organizer and you want them removed, you cannot do it — you would need to ask them to leave or transfer the organizer role to you first. If the organizer is unreachable, contact Apple or Google support for help.
Do I need a password to remove someone from Family Sharing?
No. You only need access to your own device or account settings. You do not need the other person's password or permission. However, you may need to authenticate with your own password or biometric (fingerprint or face) to make changes to Family Sharing settings.