How to share apps and purchases with Family Sharing
With Family Sharing, the family organiser can turn on purchase sharing so everyone in the Family Sharing group can share apps, music, books and more.
How purchase sharing works
The Family Sharing organiser is the only member that can turn on purchase sharing for the entire family group. Other members within the group can choose to enable purchase sharing on their device or decline to participate. When the family organiser turns on purchase sharing and other family members in the group also turn on purchase sharing, they get access to each other's shared content, such as apps, music, films and more. The family organiser pays for everyone's purchases unless they turn off purchase sharing.
Family members can find shared content on the Purchased page in the App Store, iTunes Store, Apple Books or Apple TV app. In-app purchases aren't visible on the Purchased page, even if they're shareable and some items can't be shared.
Learn what kinds of content you can and can’t share
Turn on purchase sharing on your iPhone or iPad
You need to set up Family Sharing in order to use purchase sharing.
Open the Settings app, then tap Family.
Tap Purchase Sharing.
Tap your name, then turn on Share My Purchases and follow the onscreen instructions.
To confirm the payment method, tap Purchase Sharing again and check the Shared Payment Method information. This becomes the family organiser's default payment method.
Turn on purchase sharing on your Mac
You need to set up Family Sharing in order to use purchase sharing.
Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Family.
Click Purchase Sharing.
Click your name, then turn on Share My Purchases.
To confirm the payment method, check under Shared Payment Methods. This becomes the family organiser's default payment method.
When you turn on purchase sharing, everyone's purchases bill to the family organiser's payment method.* The family organiser can:
Update their payment method or add a new one if there's an issue.
Check their purchase history to see purchases made by family members.
Find out which payment methods are available in your country or region.
When a family member first makes a purchase on their device, the family organiser may need to verify the payment method by entering the CVV.
* If you’re in a Family Sharing group, the purchases you make will be charged to your personal Apple Account balance. If you don't have enough balance in your Apple Account to pay for the purchase, the remainder is charged to the Family Sharing organiser if purchase sharing is turned on.
Turn off purchase sharing
If you're the Family Sharing organiser and you want family members to pay for their own purchases, turn off purchase sharing.
On your iPhone or iPad
Open the Settings app, then tap Family.
Tap Purchase Sharing.
Tap Stop Purchase Sharing, then tap Stop Sharing to confirm.
On your Mac
Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
Click Family, then click Purchase Sharing.
Click Stop Purchase Sharing, then click Stop Purchase Sharing again to confirm.
When purchase sharing is turned off, you stop sharing your purchases and lose access to the purchases made by your other family members in the Family Sharing group. However, you can continue to share subscriptions like iCloud+, Apple TV+ and more – but everyone must use their own payment method for purchases.
Approve a child's purchases
If you want to see and approve what kids purchase and download, set up Ask to Buy. When a child asks to buy apps, films or other content, the Family Sharing organiser receives a notification and can approve or decline the request right from their device.