How does Apple family subscription work?

Answered by Robert Flynn

The Apple family subscription is a convenient way for families to share subscriptions and content among their members. It is designed to make it easy for the family organizer to invite and manage family members, while also ensuring that each family member gets their own personalized and private experience.

To get started, one adult in the household takes on the role of the family organizer. This person is responsible for setting up the family subscription and inviting other family members to join. The family organizer can be anyone in the household, such as a parent or guardian.

Once the family organizer has set up the family subscription, they can send invitations to family members to join. These invitations can be sent via email or through the Family Sharing feature on iOS devices. Family members can then accept the invitation and join the family subscription.

When a family member joins the family subscription, they get instant access to the group’s subscriptions and content that are eligible for sharing. This means that if the family organizer has subscribed to services like Apple Music, Apple Arcade, or Apple TV+, all family members can enjoy these subscriptions without having to pay for them individually.

It’s important to note that each family member uses their own individual account. This means that everyone’s experience remains personalized and private. Each family member can have their own playlists, preferences, and recommendations within shared services like Apple Music. This ensures that each person can enjoy their favorite content without interfering with others’ preferences.

In addition to sharing subscriptions, the family organizer can also set up other features and controls for family members. For example, they can enable Ask to Buy, which requires parental approval for purchases made by children in the family. They can also control shared photo albums, calendar events, and location sharing through the Family Sharing feature.

The Apple family subscription is a convenient and cost-effective way for families to share subscriptions and content. It allows each family member to have their own personalized experience while enjoying the benefits of shared subscriptions. Whether it’s streaming music, playing games, or watching movies, the family subscription brings the family together by providing access to a wide range of content.