How to Set Up Family Sharing on iOS 11

If everyone in your household is in the ecosystem, it makes sense to set up Family Sharing. It lets your family members (up to six people) share iTunes, iBooks, and App Store purchases, as well as other amenities. Here’s how to get started.

Family Organizer

The person who sets up Family Sharing is known as the Organizer. This is the person whose credit card will be on file for everyone to use. The organizer also picks the features that the family will share, and can invite other family members.

Things You Can Share

• iTunes, iBooks, App Store purchases


• iCloud Drive storage – the 200GB and 2TB plans can be shared


• Apple Music Family Plan


• Family Photo album


• Family Calendar & Reminders


• Share locations


• Find family members’ lost devices with Find My iPhone

When you share iCloud storage, every family member has their own separate space. No one else can access your files unless you share them. You can see how much storage everyone is using, and upgrade to a bigger plan if you need it.

When it comes to sharing purchases, Apple content like apps, songs, books, etc., become available to everyone else. They show up int he Purchases tab in iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store for each member. You can hide individual purchases if you want to keep them private.

Keep in mind that you can only set up and delete two family sharing groups per year. If you start a group and then delete it, you’ll only be able to set up one more. It’s better to delete individual family members than delete the group, unless you really don’t need it anymore.

Getting Started

Assuming that you’re the organizer, here’s how to set up Family Sharing.

1. On your iOS device, open Settings.


2. At the top (on iOS 11) you’ll see your name and photo. Tap on that. In the middle menu, tap on Set Up Family Sharing.


3. You’ll be asked to choose which feature you want to set up first. Tap on the one you want and follow onscreen instructions like adding a photo and entering your credit card security code.


4. Tap on the person you want to assign as the parent/guardian.


5. Then, add family members from your contacts to send them invites.


6. Each member will get a notification on their device that they can tap on and accept. Family Sharing will be set up automatically for them.

Sharing Purchases

Family members can share purchases on up to 10 devices, 5 of which can be computers.

iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

1. Open the store app that you want to download content from, then go to the Purchased page:
   
   
   
   • iTunes Store: On your iPhone or iPod touch, tap More > Purchased.
   
   
   • iBooks: Tap Purchased.
   
   
   • App Store: Tap Updates > Purchased.
   
   
   
   


2. Tap the family member’s name to see their purchases. Tap on the cloud button to download an item.

Mac

1. Open the iTunes, iBooks, or the Mac App Store, then go to the Purchased page.
   
   
   
   • iTunes: Click Store, then Purchased under Quick Links on the right side of the iTunes window.
   
   
   • iBooks: Click iBooks Store, then Purchased under Quick Links on the right side of the iBooks window.
   
   
   • Mac App Store: Click Purchased.
   
   
   
   


2. To the right of Purchased, select a family member’s name to view their content. Download or play the items that you want.

Apple TV

1. On your Apple TV, select Movies, TV Shows, or App Store.


2. Select Purchased > Family Sharing, then select your family member to see their content. You can access shared movies, TV shows, and apps on Apple TV, but not music.

Hiding Purchases

You can hide apps, music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and books on iOS and macOS. You can unhide them at any time. Hiding an app won’t cancel the subscription. It also doesn’t hide the record of your purchase. It will still show up in your purchase history.

iOS Apps

1. Open the App Store, then tap the Today tab at the bottom.


2. Tap your photo in the upper-right corner.


3. Tap Purchased.


4. Find the app you want to hide, swipe left, and tap Hide.

macOS Apps

1. Open the Mac App Store, and click Purchased at the top.


2. Find the app you want to hide.


3. Right-click or control-click and click Hide Purchase.

Music, Movies, TV Shows, Audiobooks

1. On your Mac, open iTunes. In the menu bar at the top, click on Account > Family Purchases.


2. Click on the category you want.


3. Scroll to whatever you want to hide, and look for the X icon in the upper-left corner. Click on it, and the content will be hidden.

Books

1. On your Mac, open iBooks. Click iBooks Store at the upper left.


2. Under Quick Links on the right, click on Purchased.


3. Scroll to find the book you want to hide and click on the X icon in the upper-left of it.

Ask to Buy

Since all purchases will be billed to the organizer’s account, you can set up Ask to Buy for your children. This means that when they something they want to buy and tap on it, a request will be sent to the organizer’s device, or a parent/guardian. You can review the item and approve or decline the request.

iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

1. Go to Settings > Your Name and tap Family Sharing.


2. Tap your family member’s name.


3. Tap Ask to Buy.

Mac

1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud.


2. Click Manage Family and select your family member’s name.


3. Select Ask to Buy.

Other

The family photo album, reminders list, and calendar will be automatically created, so you don’t have to do anything there. When you first set up an Apple Music subscription, you’ll be asked to choose an individual, family, or student plan.

For location sharing, you can use the Find My Friends app to keep tabs on everyone. And in the Find My iPhone app, any family member can help find another member’s lost device.

The Mac Observer has a guide on how to create an Apple ID. If your kids are under 13, they can still use Family Sharing, you just have to set one up on their behalf. The ID will be automatically added to your family group.

1. Go to Settings > Your Name > Family Sharing > Add Family Member.


2. Then, tap Create an Apple ID for a child.


3. Enter your child’s birthday and tap Next.


4. Review the Parent Privacy Disclosure and tap Agree.


5. Enter your payment information and tap Next.


6. Enter your child’s name, tap Next, then create their Apple ID, and tap Next.


7. Follow the onscreen instructions to set a password, pick security questions, and set up the account.

If you have further questions on how to set up Family Sharing, leave a comment below and we’ll be happy to help.

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