What the Apple Music Family Plan covers
The Apple Music Family Plan lets up to six people in your household stream music from one subscription. Each person gets their own account, their own music library, and their own recommendations — they do not share a single login or see each other's listening history. One person pays a single monthly fee (currently $16.99 per month, though this varies by country) instead of each person paying the individual rate ($11.99 per month).
Everyone on the plan accesses the full Apple Music catalog on any device: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, Apple TV, or Android phone. Offline downloads, spatial audio, and lossless audio quality are included for all members. The plan does not include Apple TV+, Apple News+, or other Apple services — those require separate subscriptions or a different bundle.
The person who sets up the plan becomes the organizer and handles billing. The other five people are invited as family members and can accept or decline the invitation. Once they accept, they appear in the family group but can manage their own music choices independently.
Key Takeaways
- Six people can share one Apple Music subscription for $16.99 per month, with each person maintaining separate accounts and music libraries.
- The organizer sets up the plan and pays the monthly bill, while other family members are invited to join and can decline without affecting the subscription.
- Family members must be added through Apple's Family Sharing feature, which requires them to have their own Apple ID and to be in the same country as the organizer.
- Each person's music preferences, playlists, and listening history stay private — family members cannot see what others are listening to.
- If someone leaves the family group, they lose access to Apple Music when ready unless they have their own individual subscription.
How to set up a Family Plan and add members
The organizer starts by opening the Apple Music app or going to Settings on an Apple device. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select Family Sharing, then tap Set Up Family Sharing. On Mac, open System Settings, click your name, then Family, then Set Up Family Sharing. The organizer confirms their payment method — this is the card that will be charged each month.
Once Family Sharing is active, the organizer invites family members by their Apple ID email address or phone number. The invited person receives a notification on their device and can accept the invitation. They do not need to live with you or be related to you, though Apple's terms state the plan is intended for people in the same household. After they accept, they automatically gain access to Apple Music.
If someone does not have an Apple ID yet, the organizer can create one for them during the invitation process. Children under 13 can be added, but their accounts are managed by the organizer until they turn 18. The organizer can also remove family members at any time, which when ready revokes their access to the subscription.
What happens to music libraries when people join or leave
When someone joins the family group, they bring their existing Apple Music library with them if they already had an individual subscription. Their playlists, saved songs, and downloaded music remain theirs. If they switch from a different streaming service, they start with an empty library and build it up as they add songs and create playlists.
If someone leaves the family group, they lose access to Apple Music when ready. Any playlists they created stay in their account, but they cannot play songs unless they have their own individual subscription. Downloaded songs remain on their device but cannot be played once the subscription ends. If they rejoin the family group later, their old playlists and library are still there.
How to manage who sees what on a Family Plan
By default, family members cannot see each other's music libraries, playlists, or listening history. Each person's account is completely separate in that sense. However, the organizer can see a list of who is in the family group and can manage parental controls for children under 18.
If a family member wants to share a specific playlist or song with others, they can do that manually by sending a link through Messages, email, or social media. Sharing is opt-in — it does not happen automatically. The organizer can also turn on Ask to Buy for children, which requires the organizer to approve any purchases or subscriptions the child tries to make.
Costs and what changes if someone leaves
The organizer pays $16.99 per month for the entire family group, regardless of how many people are using it (up to six). If the organizer cancels the subscription, everyone loses access when ready. If the organizer's payment method fails, Apple typically sends a notice and gives a few days to update the payment information before suspending the service.
If one family member leaves, the subscription continues for the remaining members at the same $16.99 price. The organizer does not get a refund or a reduced rate. If the organizer wants to downgrade to an individual plan, they can do that at any time, but anyone still in the family group loses access unless they have their own subscription.
Switching from individual to family, or family to individual
If you currently have an individual Apple Music subscription and want to switch to a family plan, you can upgrade directly in the Apple Music app or Settings. Go to your subscription settings, select Change Plan, and choose Family Plan. Your billing date and any remaining time on your current plan carry over — you pay the difference if you are mid-cycle.
If you are on a family plan and want to switch to an individual subscription, you can downgrade in the same place. You lose access to the family group when ready, but your music library and playlists stay with your account. If you were the organizer, you must first transfer the organizer role to another family member or remove everyone from the group before you can downgrade.
Troubleshooting common family plan problems
If someone is invited to a family group but does not receive the notification, ask them to check their Apple ID email address and make sure they are signed in to their device. Sometimes the notification takes a few minutes to arrive. They can also accept the invitation by going to Settings, tapping their name, selecting Family, and looking for a pending invitation.
If someone is on the family plan but cannot play music, check that the subscription is active by going to Settings, tapping your name, selecting Subscriptions, and looking at Apple Music. If it shows Expired or Canceled, the organizer's payment method may have failed. If the subscription is active but the person still cannot play music, try signing out and back in to their Apple ID on their device.
If the organizer wants to remove someone from the family group but cannot find the option, make sure you are in Family Sharing settings, not just the Apple Music app. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, select Family, then tap the person's name and choose Remove from Family. On Mac, go to System Settings, click your name, select Family, then click the person's name and choose Remove.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Apple Music Family Plan if I do not have an Apple device?
Yes. While you need an Apple ID to join a family group, you can use Apple Music on Android phones, Windows PCs, and web browsers. read the Apple Music app from the Google Play Store or visit music.apple.com in a web browser. Your family membership works the same way across all platforms.
What if someone in my family already has their own Apple Music subscription?
They can keep their individual subscription or switch to the family plan. If they switch, their music library and playlists transfer with them. They cannot be on both an individual subscription and a family plan at the same time — they have to choose one.
Do all six people have to be in the same country?
Yes. Everyone in the family group must be in the same country as the organizer. If someone moves to a different country, they need to be removed from the family group and set up their own subscription in their new country. Apple's licensing agreements require this.
Can I change who the organizer is without canceling the plan?
Yes. The organizer can transfer the organizer role to another family member in Family Sharing settings. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, select Family, tap your name, then choose Change Family Organizer. Choose another adult in the group to take over. The new organizer becomes responsible for billing and managing the family group.
What happens to my music if I am removed from the family group?
Your playlists and library stay in your account, but you cannot play any songs unless you have your own individual subscription. Downloaded songs remain on your device but are locked and unplayable. If you rejoin the family group later, everything is restored and playable again.