Apple Music Family Plan lets up to six people share one subscription

Apple Music Family Plan costs $16.99 per month and covers up to six people in your household. Each person gets their own account, their own music library, and their own recommendations — Apple doesn't mix everyone's listening together. You set it up through the Family Sharing feature on any Apple device, and once someone is added, they can use Apple Music on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, or Android.

The person who pays for the subscription is the family organizer. You add family members one at a time, and they receive an invitation they must accept. The whole process takes about five minutes per person.

Key Takeaways

  • Family Plan costs $16.99 per month for up to six people, compared to $11.99 for an individual subscription.
  • Each family member needs their own Apple ID, and you set everything up through Family Sharing on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
  • Family members can use Apple Music on any device — iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, or Android — with their own account.
  • You can remove someone from the plan anytime, and they lose access to Apple Music when ready.

Setting up Family Sharing on iPhone or iPad

Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. If you haven't set up Family Sharing before, tap "Create a Family" and follow the prompts. Apple will ask you to confirm your payment method — this is where the $16.99 monthly charge will go.

Once Family Sharing is active, you'll see an "Add Family Member" button. Tap it, then choose "Invite Family Member." Enter the person's email address or phone number. They'll get an invitation on their device, and they need to accept it within seven days. After they accept, they're added to your Family Sharing group and automatically get access to Apple Music.

If the person you're inviting doesn't have an Apple ID yet, you can create one for them during the invitation process. They'll set their own password later when they first sign in.

Adding family members on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). Click Family Sharing in the sidebar. If Family Sharing isn't set up, click "Create a Family" and enter your Apple ID password.

Click the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the family members list. Enter the person's email address or phone number, then click Continue. Apple sends them an invitation, and once they accept, they're part of your Family Sharing group with full Apple Music access.

What happens after someone accepts the invitation

Once a family member accepts your invitation, they can open Apple Music on any of their devices and start listening when ready. Their library, playlists, and recommendations are separate from everyone else's — if you add a song to your library, it doesn't appear in their library.

They can use Siri to play music, add songs to their library, create playlists, and access all the same features as someone with an individual subscription. The only difference is that you're paying for all six accounts with one $16.99 monthly charge instead of six separate $11.99 charges.

Removing someone from the family plan

Open Family Sharing on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Find the person you want to remove and tap or click their name. Scroll down and tap "Remove from Family" or "Remove Family Member." Confirm the action. They lose access to Apple Music when ready, though any music they downloaded to their device stays on that device.

If you remove someone by mistake, you can add them back the same way you added them the first time. There's no penalty for removing and re-adding people.

Switching from individual to family plan

If you already have an individual Apple Music subscription, you don't need to cancel it. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > Apple Music and tap "Change Subscription." Choose the Family Plan option. Apple will adjust your billing — you'll pay the difference between what you've already paid and the Family Plan price for the current month.

Your individual subscription ends when ready and converts to the Family Plan. All your music, playlists, and preferences stay exactly as they are.

Using Apple Music on Android with a family plan

Family members with Android phones can read the Apple Music app from the Google Play Store. They sign in with their Apple ID (the same one you invited), and they get full access to Apple Music, including offline downloads and all the same features as iPhone users.

The only limitation is that Android users can't use Siri to control music — they use voice commands through Google Assistant instead. Everything else works the same way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone who doesn't live with me to my family plan?

Family Sharing is designed for people in the same household, but Apple doesn't verify addresses. Technically you can add anyone, but the terms of service require family members to live at the same address. If you're sharing with someone far away, you're responsible for following Apple's rules.

What if someone in my family already has an Apple Music subscription?

They can keep their individual subscription or switch to the family plan. If they switch, their library and playlists transfer over. There's no penalty for canceling an individual subscription early — Apple refunds the unused portion of the month.

Do all six family members have to use Apple Music?

No. You can add up to six people to Family Sharing, but only the ones who want Apple Music need to use it. The others can use other Apple services like iCloud storage or Apple TV+ if they're part of the family group.

Can I change who pays for the family plan?

Yes. The family organizer can transfer ownership to another family member through Family Sharing settings. The new organizer's payment method becomes the one charged each month. Only one person can be the organizer at a time.

What happens to downloaded music if someone leaves the family plan?

Music they downloaded stays on their device, but they can't play it after they're removed — Apple Music requires an active subscription to verify access. If they rejoin the family plan later, their downloaded music works again.