Make sure each family member has a unique Apple Account
If you want to share purchases or subscriptions with your family, use Family Sharing. Each person should use their own Apple Account.
Avoid sharing an Apple Account
Apple recommends that you do not share your Apple Account. Instead, set up Family Sharing so that each person uses their own Apple Account. This way, your family can still share purchases, subscriptions and more without sharing personal information, such as emails, text messages or passwords.
If you’re sharing your Apple Account with a family member, certain services will treat you as the same person. You may experience these issues:
Apple Music family subscription: Instead of receiving your own membership with your own library, you’ll share a library and recommendations with the other family member.
App Store, Apple Books and iTunes purchases: If Family Sharing is ever stopped, the owner of the shared Apple Account will keep all of the purchases. You may lose access to everything in the account, including purchases you initiated.
Apple Podcasts, Apple Books: Podcast episodes and bookmarks may sync according to the other family member’s preferences or be accidentally deleted.
Messages and voicemails: You may receive text messages and voicemails that are intended for your family member.
Call history: Your recent call history will include any calls made and received by your family member.
Fitness: You may see Health details, Workouts and Fitness+ recommendations intended for your family member.
Help your family member create an Apple Account, then set up Family Sharing
To avoid issues caused by sharing an Apple Account, set up an Apple Account for each family member and set up Family Sharing.
On the family member’s device, sign out of iCloud.
Ask your family member to create an Apple Account. If the family member is under the age of 13, create an Apple Account for your child.
Ask your family member to sign in to iCloud using their new Apple Account on their device.
Set up Family Sharing and invite the family member to your group.
Set up purchase sharing. If you have children in your family, you can also set up Ask to Buy.
Now you can share purchases, subscriptions and more with your family.
