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Learn how to Share Purchases with Family on iPhone, iPad and Mac in this guide. Prior to the introduction of Family Sharing in iOS, if one of the parents was driving and the children became irritable, they were unable to listen to the other parent’s preferred playlist. It is now possible to share purchases made in iTunes, the App Store, and iBooks with a maximum of six other individuals concurrently. Additionally, you are able to share photo libraries, calendars, and other items with your family.
If you can avoid a few issues, the process of setting up is simple. Everything that you need to know is included here. Everyone in the group can share the content they bought with their own accounts, but as an Organiser, each person still has control over their own account. By making someone a Parent or Guardian, an Organiser can give them a role similar to second-in-command in the account. An account for a child is at the bottom of the hierarchy because it can’t be linked directly to a credit card.
This means that all purchases are made through the account for the organiser. If the Ask to Buy feature is turned on for a child’s account, the group’s organiser and anyone designated as a parent or guardian will get a notification on their own devices when the child tries to buy something. This way, the adults in charge can decide whether to allow the purchase or not before it goes through. Here are the steps how to Share Purchases with Family on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
What Is Family Sharing?
It is possible to connect up to six different Apple ID accounts together through the use of Family Sharing. These accounts come together to form your Family Sharing group, which allows you to save money by sharing a variety of Apple products and services with other members of your family. Given that each individual has their own account, it is not necessary for you to disclose your password to any other individuals.
In addition, you can use your Apple ID to access the content that is stored in your Family Sharing group from any device. All of the members of the group are able to use the shared photo album, shared calendar, and shared reminders list that are automatically created by Family Sharing. In addition, Family Sharing allows for the sharing of services and purchases. It is even possible to use Family Sharing to view the location of everyone in your group, provided that you have permission to do so, thanks to all of their Apple devices.
How to Share Purchases with Family on iPhone, iPad and Mac
Turn on Purchase Sharing
On iPhone/iPad
- Open Settings.
- Tap your name at the top.
- Select Family Sharing.
- Tap Purchase Sharing.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and choose the payment method to be billed.
On Mac (macOS Ventura or later)
- Open System Settings.
- Click Family.
- Click Purchase Sharing.
- Turn on Share My Purchases.
- Choose the payment method to be billed.
On Mac (macOS Monterey or earlier)
- Open System Preferences.
- Click Apple ID.
- Select Family Sharing.
- Click Manage Family.
- Choose the organizer’s Apple ID.
- Turn on Share My Purchases.
Download Shared Purchases
On iPhone/iPad
- Open the App Store, Music, TV, Books, or iCloud storage app.
- Tap your profile picture.
- Select Purchased.
- Swipe to Not in This [Device] tab.
- Download the desired item with the cloud download icon.
On Mac
- Open the App Store, Music, TV, Books, or iCloud storage app.
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Select Purchased.
- Find the desired item and click the download button.
Understanding Family Sharing Features
- Access: Family Sharing lets everyone in the same household share access to apps, games, music, movies, and other digital content and services.
- Setup: The family group’s leader starts the setup process by making a family sharing group and inviting family members to join.
- Members: Up to six family members, including the organiser, can usually use Family Sharing. But they can share purchases and use some features. Each member has their own Apple ID or Google account.
- Shared Content: Once set up, family members can access the apps, games, films, music, eBooks, and other things that each other has bought or subscribed to.
- Payment: The organiser controls how the family pays for things and can approve purchases made by family members, making sure that spending stays within reasonable limits.
- Family Sharing Settings: People who organise families can change many settings, such as parental controls, screen time limits, location sharing, and more, to make sure that everyone in the family has a safe and controlled digital space.
- Compatibility: Apple (iOS, macOS, and tvOS) and Google (Android and Google Play) all have Family Sharing apps. But the features and services may be different depending on the platform and the country.
Privacy and Security Considerations in Family Sharing
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Account Information | Family Sharing requires sharing of certain account information among family members, such as Apple ID. |
| Shared Content | Members can access and share purchases like apps, music, movies, and books bought from the App Store. |
| Location Sharing | Optional feature allowing family members to share their location with each other, enhancing connectivity. |
| Parental Controls | Guardians can set up parental controls to restrict access to certain content or impose screen time limits. |
| Payment Method | The family organizer sets up a shared payment method, potentially exposing financial information. |
| Data Sharing | Data about purchases and usage may be shared with Apple for Family Sharing functionality and analytics. |
| Privacy Settings | Each member can control their privacy settings, like sharing location or purchases, to their preference. |
| Device Access | Family Sharing enables sharing of digital content and certain device access permissions among family members. |
| Security of Accounts | Shared accounts must maintain strong security practices to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches. |
Conclusion
Making your apps, movies, subscriptions, and other content accessible to members of your family is possible through the use of Apple’s Family Sharing feature on Apple devices. You can also use it to restrict the amount of time your children spend in front of screens or to restrict the content they can access on their electronic devices.
Additionally, it enables you to monitor the whereabouts of all of your loved ones, which is a very useful feature. We have compiled this guide in order to provide you with all of the information that you require in order to successfully configure and utilise the Family Sharing feature on Apple devices. How does it function? Let’s take a look at it.
Questions and Answers
Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Card are just some of the incredible Apple services that can be shared. Family Sharing allows you and up to five other members of your family to share access to these services. You and your group can also share purchases made through iTunes, Apple Books, and the App Store, as well as an iCloud storage plan and a photo album for the family.
Is it possible for each of us to have our own credit card loaded onto our respective phones so that we can make purchases? There are two options available to those who are in charge of organising Family Sharing groups: either the payment method is set to be associated with their Apple iD account, which is typically a credit card, or the payment method is set to be for individual members to pay for their own purchases.
