Family Sharing on iOS: A Complete Setup and Usage Guide

Family sharing is a feature that allows you and up to five family members to share a single subscription or purchases made on the App Store, iTunes, or iBooks. It’s an excellent way to cut down the cost of subscriptions and purchases, but many users don't know how to set it up. In this guide, we will show you how to set up and use family sharing on your iOS device.

Setting up Family Sharing

To set up family sharing, go to Settings, tap on your Apple ID, and select Family Sharing. You can then choose to invite family members by sending them an invitation through iMessage or by inviting them manually. To invite family members manually, select Add Family Member, and then enter their name and Apple ID. Once the invitation is accepted, each family member needs to sign in to their device with their Apple ID and turn on Family Sharing in their settings.

Sharing Purchases with Family Members

You and your family members can share content purchased on the App Store, iTunes or iBook without having to buy them again. To share a purchase, go to the purchased item in the relevant app, select the ‘share’ button, and select the family members with whom you want to share the item. They can then download the content on their devices without paying for it again.

Family Sharing and Apple Music

Apple Music is an excellent example of how to use family sharing. The subscription can be shared with family members if the family organiser has purchased an Apple Music family subscription. To share Apple Music with family members, go to Settings, then Music, and select ‘Join Apple Music.’ Once joined, you can then invite up to five family members to join your Apple Music Family Subscription. Once a request is accepted, you and your family members can enjoy unlimited access to Apple’s entire music library.

Managing Family Sharing

Family Sharing can be managed by the family organiser under Settings > [Apple ID] > Family Sharing. Here you can add or remove family members, manage family member accounts, and approve purchases made by children under the age of 18.