Apple Music Family Sharing lets up to six people listen on their own accounts with one subscription
Family Sharing is Apple's way of letting multiple people use one Apple Music subscription without sharing a password. Each person gets their own account, their own music library, and their own recommendations — but you all pay one monthly fee instead of six separate ones. The subscription costs the same as a single account (currently $10.99 per month for students, $12.99 for individuals, or $16.99 for families), and the person who sets it up controls who joins and can remove people at any time.
The catch is that everyone in the family group has to use the same Apple ID family organizer account, and you all need to be in the same country. You cannot split a family plan with friends or roommates — Apple's terms require you to be actual family members or people living in the same household. That said, Apple does not verify this, so enforcement depends on whether someone reports the account.
Key Takeaways
- Family Sharing requires one person to set up a family group using their Apple ID, and up to five other people can join under that organizer's account.
- Each family member needs their own Apple ID and their own device (iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV), but they all share the same Apple Music subscription cost.
- The family organizer can see who is in the group, remove members, and change the payment method, but cannot see what individual people are listening to.
- If someone leaves the family group, they lose access to Apple Music when ready unless they pay for their own individual subscription.
- Family Sharing also covers other Apple services like iCloud storage, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade if those subscriptions are active on the organizer's account.
Who needs an Apple ID and what devices work
Everyone in the family group needs their own Apple ID — this is the account they use to sign into their device and access their own music library. If someone does not have an Apple ID yet, you can create one for free at appleid.apple.com or through their device settings. Children under 13 can have accounts created through Family Sharing, and the organizer can set parental controls on their accounts.
Each person also needs their own device: an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. You cannot have two people using the same device under different Apple IDs and both accessing Apple Music at the same time — one person's account will be signed out. If you have a shared iPad or Mac that multiple family members use, only one person can listen to Apple Music on it at a time, though they can switch who is signed in.
All devices need to be running a current version of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, or tvOS. If someone has an older device that cannot update, they may not be able to use Family Sharing. You can check Apple's support pages for your device to see the minimum version required.
How to set up a family group as the organizer
The person setting up Family Sharing becomes the organizer and controls the group. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Family Sharing. Tap "get your free guide" or "Create a Family Group." You will be asked to confirm your Apple ID and payment method — this is the account that will be charged for the subscription.
Next, you add family members. You can invite them by email or phone number, and they will get a notification asking them to join. If you are adding a child under 13, you can create an account for them directly without sending an invitation. Once someone accepts the invitation or you create their account, they appear in your Family Sharing settings, and they can start using Apple Music on their own device.
On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, then click Family Sharing. The process is the same: confirm your Apple ID and payment method, then add members by email or phone number. On Apple TV, go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, then Family Sharing, and sign in with the organizer's Apple ID.
How family members join and start listening
If you received an invitation to join a family group, you will see a notification on your device or an email with a link. Tap or click to accept, and you will be added to the group. Your own Apple ID stays the same — you are not signing into anyone else's account. Once you accept, open the Music app and you should see "Family Sharing" in your account settings, confirming you have access.
If the organizer created your account (usually for children), you will receive an email with your new Apple ID and a temporary password. Sign in with those credentials on your device, then change your password to something you choose. After that, open the Music app and you can start listening when ready.
Your music library, playlists, and recommendations are separate from everyone else's in the family group. If you follow an artist or save a song, only you see it in your library. Other family members cannot see what you are listening to, and you cannot see theirs.
What the organizer can and cannot control
As the organizer, you can see who is in the family group and remove anyone at any time. You also control the payment method and billing address for the subscription. If the payment method expires or is declined, you will be notified and can update it in Family Sharing settings.
You cannot see what individual family members are listening to, and you cannot control what music they can access — Apple Music does not have parental controls that limit song content for adults. If you want to set restrictions for a child's account, you can use Screen Time on their device to limit app usage or set downtime, but that is a device-level setting, not something specific to Apple Music.
You can also manage other shared subscriptions through Family Sharing, such as iCloud+ storage, Apple TV+, or Apple Arcade. If you have those subscriptions active on your organizer account, family members can use them too. However, each person still has their own iCloud storage limit and their own Apple TV+ watchlist.
What happens when someone leaves the family group
If a family member leaves the group or you remove them, they lose access to Apple Music when ready. Their playlists and library history stay on their device, but they cannot stream new songs or read music unless they pay for their own individual subscription. If they want to keep using Apple Music, they will need to sign up for a separate account.
If the organizer leaves the family group, the group dissolves and everyone loses access to the shared subscription. A new organizer can be assigned before this happens, but it requires the current organizer to make that change in Family Sharing settings. If you are planning to step down as organizer, do this before you leave so the group can continue.
If someone is removed from the family group, they have a grace period of a few days to read any music they want to keep before access is fully cut off. After that, they can only listen if they have their own subscription.
Privacy and what data is shared within the family group
Apple does not share listening history between family members. Even though you all use the same subscription, your music library, playlists, and recommendations are private to your own account. The organizer cannot see what you listen to, and you cannot see what other family members listen to.
However, the organizer can see the names and Apple IDs of everyone in the group, and they can see which devices are signed into the family account. If you are concerned about privacy within your household, keep in mind that the organizer has the power to remove you from the group at any time, which would cut off your access to Apple Music.
Apple also collects data about listening habits to improve recommendations and for analytics purposes, but this is the same whether you are on a family plan or an individual subscription. You can review Apple's privacy policy to see what data they collect and how it is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Family Sharing if I live with roommates or friends?
Apple's terms require family members or people in the same household, but the company does not verify this. If you share with roommates, you are technically violating the terms of service, though enforcement is rare. The risk is that Apple could remove the account if someone reports it or if the company detects unusual activity.
What if someone in the family group lives in a different country?
Family Sharing requires everyone to be in the same country. If a family member moves abroad, they will need to be removed from the group and set up their own subscription in their new country. You cannot have a mixed-country family group.
Can two people listen to Apple Music at the same time on a family plan?
Yes. Each person on their own device can listen simultaneously. If two people try to listen on the same device under different Apple IDs, one account will be signed out. On a shared device, only one person can listen at a time.
What if I want to switch from individual to family, or family to individual?
You can cancel your current subscription and start a new one at any time. If you are switching from individual to family, set up the family group first, then cancel your individual subscription. If you are leaving a family group to get your own subscription, you can sign up for an individual plan when ready after being removed.
Does Family Sharing include other Apple services besides Apple Music?
Yes. If the organizer has active subscriptions to iCloud+, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, or Apple News+, family members can use those too. However, each person has their own account within those services — shared storage does not mean shared watchlists or game progress.