How to Set Up and Use Family Sharing on Apple and Google

These days, most families have multiple devices but don't want to pay repeatedly for the same apps and digital content. Family Sharing solves this common problem by allowing households to share purchases across devices without multiple payments.

Both Apple and Google offer family-sharing programs, but they work quite differently. Understanding these key differences helps you choose the right option for your family's needs.

How Apple and Google Handle Family Sharing

Apple's Family Sharing lets you share non-consumable in-app purchases (like premium features or full unlocks) with up to five additional family members. This means when one person buys a premium upgrade in an app, everyone in the family group gets to use it too.

Google takes a different approach. While it doesn't support sharing in-app purchases, Google's Family Library allows sharing of the paid apps themselves. Once purchased, up to five family members can download and use the app without paying again.

We wrote another article to guide you on how to set up in-app purchases, you can read it here.

Setting Up Family Sharing on Apple

Here's how you can turn on Family Sharing for in-app purchases

1. Log in to App Store Connect
2. From My Apps, select your app
3. In the sidebar under In-App Purchases, click Manage
4. Select your in-app purchase from the list
5. Scroll down to the Family Sharing section
6. Click Turn On

Important note: This decision is permanent. Once you enable Family Sharing for in-app purchases in App Store Connect, you cannot turn it off later. Make sure this aligns with your app's business model before proceeding.

For users looking to set up Family Sharing, you'll need to:

1. Go to Settings on your iOS device
2. Tap your name at the top
3. Select "Family Sharing"
4. Follow the prompts to add family members via email invitations.

Managing and Removing Apple Family Sharing Access

Family dynamics change, and sometimes you need to adjust your sharing settings. As the family organizer, you might want family members to handle their own purchases. Here's how to modify these settings:

1. Navigate to Purchase Sharing settings in your device Settings (iPhone/iPad) or System Settings (Mac)
2. To discontinue purchase sharing:

• On iPhone/iPad: Tap "Stop Purchase Sharing"
• In Mac: Click "Turn Off" followed by "Stop Purchase Sharing"

Remember that ending purchase sharing means two things: you'll no longer share your purchases with family members, and you'll lose access to their purchases as well. However, subscriptions like Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade can still be shared, though each member will need their own payment method for future purchases.

This approach gives everyone more financial independence while maintaining the convenience of shared subscription services – perfect for families with older teens or adult children who should manage their own digital spending.

Setting Up Family Library on Google

Google's approach is more straightforward for both developers and users. Once end-users sign up for the Family Library program on Google Play, they can immediately share any paid apps with up to five family members.

To activate Family Library as a user:

1. Open the Google Play Store app
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right
3. Select "Settings" then "Family"
4. Tap "Sign up for Family Library"
5. Follow the instructions to invite family members

When purchasing new apps, you'll see an option that says "Add to Family Library" at checkout. Toggle this on to make the app available to everyone in your family group.

Managing Google Family Library Content Access

Google's Family Library gives you granular control over what content remains shared with your family. Unlike Apple's all-or-nothing approach, Google lets you curate exactly which purchases remain accessible to family members.

You can manage which items are shared in a few ways:

• During purchase – toggle "Add to Family Library" on or off
• After purchase – select individual items to add or remove from sharing
• By content type – choose to share only specific categories (apps, movies, books)

Keep in mind that content eligibility varies by region and type. For smoother sharing experiences with movies and TV shows, use the designated family payment method rather than personal cards. For books, apps, and games, any payment method works as long as:

• A valid family credit card remains on file
• Family sharing is activated in your account settings

This flexibility is particularly valuable for families with diverse interests, allowing the family organizer to share educational apps with children while keeping work-related apps private.

If you decide to leave your family group entirely, any content you've shared will become inaccessible to other members – something to consider before making major changes to your sharing setup.