Adding a family member takes three steps in Settings

To add someone to your Apple Music Family Plan, open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name at the top, select Family, then tap Add Family Member. You'll choose whether to invite them by email or phone number, and they'll receive an invitation to accept. Once they accept, they get their own Apple Music account under the family plan at no extra cost.

The person you're adding needs their own Apple ID — they can't share yours. If they don't have one yet, you can create it for them during the invitation process, or they can set one up beforehand at appleid.apple.com. The whole process usually takes a few minutes, though it may take up to 24 hours for their access to fully set up.

You can add up to five other people to your family plan, for a total of six accounts. Each person gets their own music library, playlists, and recommendations — their listening doesn't affect yours.

Key Takeaways

  • You add family members through Settings > Your Name > Family > Add Family Member on any Apple device.
  • Each person needs their own Apple ID, which you can create for them if they don't have one.
  • Family members receive an invitation by email or phone and must accept it before their account activates.
  • A family plan supports up to six people total, and each person keeps separate music libraries and listening history.
  • If someone leaves the family plan, they lose access to Apple Music unless they buy their own individual subscription.

What happens when you send an invitation

When you tap Add Family Member and enter someone's email or phone number, Apple sends them an invitation. They'll see it in their email inbox or as a notification on their Apple device. They need to open the invitation and tap Accept to join your family group.

If the person doesn't have an Apple ID yet, the invitation will include a link to create one. They'll set a password, answer security questions, and verify their email or phone number. This step is required — you can't add someone without an Apple ID, even if you're paying for their subscription.

Once they accept, their account becomes part of your family group. They can start using Apple Music when ready, though it may take a few hours for their account to fully sync across all their devices.

Managing who's on your family plan

You can see everyone in your family group by going to Settings > Your Name > Family. From there, you can remove someone by tapping their name and selecting Remove from Family. When you remove someone, they lose access to Apple Music that same day, though they keep any playlists or downloads they made while they were on the plan.

If someone in your family group wants to leave on their own, they can go to Settings > Their Name > Family and tap Leave Family. This removes them when ready.

You can also control parental restrictions for family members under 18. Go to Settings > Family > Parental Controls and choose which person to manage. You can restrict explicit content, control purchases, and set screen time limits for their Apple Music use.

What each family member can and cannot do

Everyone on your family plan gets full access to Apple Music's catalog — they can stream any song, create playlists, and read music to listen offline. They also get access to Apple Music Classical if you have that subscription, and they can use Spatial Audio and lossless audio if their device supports it.

Each person's music library stays separate. If you add a song to your library, it doesn't appear in someone else's library. Their playlists, recommendations, and listening history are private to them. This means you won't see what they're listening to, and their taste won't change your recommendations.

Family members cannot change the payment method or cancel the family plan — only the person who started the plan can do that. They also cannot add or remove other family members. If someone wants to invite a friend, they'd need to ask you to do it.

Switching from individual to family plan

If you already have an individual Apple Music subscription, you can upgrade to a family plan without losing anything. Go to Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions > Apple Music, tap the current plan, and select Change Plan. Choose the family plan option and confirm the upgrade.

Your subscription will switch when ready, and you'll be charged the family plan price instead of the individual price. The cost difference is prorated based on how much time is left on your current subscription. You won't lose any of your music, playlists, or listening history — everything transfers to the family plan.

Once you upgrade, you can start adding family members right away. They don't have to wait for a billing cycle or renewal.

Troubleshooting common problems

If someone doesn't receive an invitation, check that you entered their email or phone number correctly. Ask them to check their spam or junk folder — sometimes invitations end up there. You can also resend an invitation by going to Settings > Family, tapping their name, and selecting Resend Invitation.

If someone's account isn't activating after they accept the invitation, have them sign out of Apple Music and sign back in. Go to Settings > Music > Apple ID, tap Sign Out, then sign back in with their Apple ID. This usually fixes sync problems within a few minutes.

If you're trying to add someone and you get an error saying the family group is full, you've reached the six-person limit. You'll need to remove someone before adding anyone new. If you get an error about the person's Apple ID, make sure they've verified their email address or phone number in their Apple ID settings.

What to know about family group location and payment

Everyone in your family group must be in the same country. If someone moves to a different country, they'll need to leave your family group and start their own, or join a family group in their new country. Apple Music pricing varies by country, so the family plan cost depends on where the organizer is located.

Only one person — the organizer — pays for the family plan. That person's payment method is charged monthly or yearly, depending on the plan they chose. Family members don't pay anything and can't change the payment method.

If the organizer's payment method fails, the entire family group loses access to Apple Music until the payment goes through. This affects everyone, not just the person whose card was declined.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone who doesn't have an iPhone or iPad?

Yes. They can use Apple Music on Android phones, computers, or the web at music.apple.com. They just need an Apple ID. You can still add them to your family plan through your iPhone or iPad settings, and they'll receive the invitation on whatever device they use.

What happens to someone's music if they leave the family plan?

They keep any playlists and downloaded songs they made while on the plan, but they can't stream new music or access the full catalog. If they want to keep using Apple Music, they'll need to buy their own individual subscription.

Can I add someone to the family plan if they already have their own Apple Music subscription?

Yes, but their individual subscription will be cancelled when they join your family plan. They won't get a refund for the unused portion. Make sure they're ready to switch before you send the invitation.

How do I know if someone accepted my invitation?

Go to Settings > Your Name > Family and look at the list. If their name appears with a checkmark or "Active" status, they've accepted. If it says "Pending" or "Invitation Sent", they haven't accepted yet.

Can family members see what I'm listening to?

No. Each person's listening history and recommendations are private. Family members can see that you're in the family group, but they can't see your playlists or what songs you've played.