Family Sharing links up to six Apple accounts so a household can share eligible purchases, subscriptions, iCloud+ storage, location features, and child controls without using one shared Apple ID. Everyone keeps their own account.
This applies to iPhones signed in with an Apple ID or Apple Account. A Family Sharing group can have up to six total members.
Does This Affect You?
Use this if someone invited you to a Family Sharing group, or you want to create one and need to know what becomes shared and what stays private.
What Gets Shared
- Purchases: eligible apps, games, movies, shows, books, and subscriptions can be available to the group.
- iCloud storage: an iCloud+ plan can be shared so members do not each need separate storage plans.
- Location and safety: members can share locations in Find My, and parents can manage child Screen Time.
- Ask to Buy: child purchases can require organizer approval before they are completed.
Family Sharing does not automatically share photos, contacts, notes, messages, or passwords. Those stay private unless you separately create a shared album, shared calendar, shared note, or other shared item.
Set Up or Join Family Sharing
- Open Settings.
- Tap your name.
- Tap Family or Family Sharing.
- If creating a group, choose the setup option and become the organizer.
- Choose how purchases, subscriptions, and iCloud+ storage should be shared.
- Tap Add Member to invite someone by Messages or set up a child account.
- If joining, accept the invitation from Messages or email and confirm in Family Sharing settings.
Each person should use their own Apple ID. Family Sharing connects accounts; it does not replace them with one shared login.
Family Sharing Notes
Leaving the Group
Members can stop using Family Sharing from their Family settings. The organizer can also remove members. Leaving ends access to shared purchases and storage going forward, while your own purchases remain yours.
Billing
Shared purchases are often billed to the organizer by default, though members may also use their own available payment methods depending on setup and region.
Child Accounts
Children under the required account age can have managed child accounts created through Family Sharing, with Screen Time and Ask to Buy available from the start.
Sources
- Apple Support: Set up Family Sharing
- Apple Support: What you can share with Family Sharing
- Apple Support: Share purchases with Family Sharing