What can a family share, and what not?
Apple calls the feature Family Sharing; Google calls it a family group. Either way, everyone keeps their own account. One adult creates the group, invites the others and adds the payment method used for shared purchases.
| Question | Apple: Family Sharing | Google: family group |
|---|---|---|
| How many people? | You and up to five family members | Up to six people, including you |
| Who is in charge? | An adult organiser, plus parents/guardians | A family manager above the age of majority |
| Switching groups? | One group at a time, switch once a year | One group at a time, switch every 12 months |
| Sharing purchases | Purchase Sharing: apps, music, books and more | Family Library: apps, games, films, TV shows, books; no in-app purchases |
| Storage | One iCloud+ plan, up to 12 TB | One Google One membership |
| Children's purchases | Ask to Buy | Purchase approvals |
Shared storage does not mean shared files: with both Apple and Google, each person's photos and documents stay private.
How do you set up Family Sharing on iPhone and iPad?
You create the group on your own device. The organiser must be an adult.
iPhone/iPad: set up Family Sharing
- Open the Settings app, then tap your name.
- Tap Family › Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.
- To add people: Settings › Family › Add Member › Invite Others, or Create Child Account for a child without an account.
- To add a second adult: Family › the member's name › Set as Parent/Guardian.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.apple.com
Turn on Purchase Sharing
With Purchase Sharing, purchases become available to everyone, and the organiser's default payment method becomes the family's payment method.
Organiser's iPhone/iPad: Purchase Sharing
- Open the Settings app and tap Family › Purchase Sharing.
- Tap Turn On.
- To confirm the payment method, tap Purchase Sharing again and check the information listed under Payment Methods.
- To stop: Family › Purchase Sharing › Stop Purchase Sharing › Stop Sharing.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.apple.com
While Purchase Sharing is on, the organiser pays for everyone's purchases; other adults can use their own payment method. A member's Apple Account balance is used first, and the organiser pays the rest.
How do you create a Google family group?
With Google, you can create the group in a web browser. The family manager must be an adult, and everyone needs the same Google Play country.
Browser: create a family group
- Sign in to your Google Account and go to g.co/yourfamily.
- Select Create a family group › Get started.
- Under ‘Ready to be a family manager?’, select Confirm.
- Enter the names of the family members you want to invite, then select Send.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.google.com
Purchases are shared through Family Library. The family manager needs a valid credit or debit card as the family payment method. In-app purchases and free apps cannot be shared.
Google Play app: Family Library
- At the top right, tap the profile icon.
- Tap Settings › Family › Sign up for Family Library and follow the onscreen steps.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.google.com
With the family payment method, members can buy apps, books, films, games and TV shows, but not subscriptions or Google Play balance. The family manager is responsible for these purchases and gets an email receipt each time.
How do you turn on purchase approval for children?
When a child wants to download or buy something, the request comes to you and you decide.
iPhone/iPad: Ask to Buy
- Open the Settings app, then tap Family.
- Tap your child's name.
- Tap Apps and Websites › Restrictions.
- Tap Ask to Buy, then turn on Require Purchase Approval.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.apple.com
Depending on the region, Ask to Buy is on by default and cannot be turned off for under-18s. Requests not approved within 24 hours must be sent again. Redownloads, updates and redemption codes trigger no request.
Google Play app: purchase approvals
- At the top right, tap your profile picture.
- Tap Settings › Family › Manage family members.
- Select a family member and tap Purchase approvals.
- Choose All content, All purchases that use the family payment method, Only in-app purchases or No approval required.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.google.com
Purchase approvals only apply to purchases made through Google Play's billing system, not to Play Books, Google TV or non-prepaid subscriptions. Screen time and age ratings are covered in The first smartphone for your child: age, agreements, settings.
Sharing storage and subscriptions: what stays private?
Members on the free 5 GB iCloud plan join a shared iCloud+ plan automatically. Anyone already paying for a plan can switch and get a refund for the rest, or keep their own.
iPhone/iPad: share iCloud+
- Open the Settings app, then tap Family.
- Tap Subscriptions › iCloud+ and follow the steps to share your existing plan.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.apple.com
Android: share Google One
- Open the Google One app and at the top tap Menu › Settings › Manage family settings.
- Tap Start sharing membership › Invite family › Confirm.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.google.com
With Apple, subscriptions such as iCloud+ and Apple TV can be shared even without Purchase Sharing. Keep a list of your household's subscriptions, as described in Keep track of digital subscriptions without collecting account data.
Tip: If someone leaves the group and uses more than 5 GB of iCloud storage, they need their own plan; otherwise new photos stop uploading and the iPhone stops backing up.
Unwanted purchase: how do you get your money back?
Apple: request a refund
- Sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com.
- If you're the organiser and the receipt is for a family member: tap or click the Apple Account button, then choose All.
- Tap or click I'd like to, then choose Request a refund.
- Choose the reason, then Next; choose the item, then Submit.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: support.apple.com
On Google Play, request a refund through the Google Play Help Centre, including for a purchase a family member made by accident with your account. Report unrecognised charges within 120 days. If you gave someone your account details, Google usually can't refund.
The right of withdrawal rarely helps. In the EU you can cancel online contracts within 14 days, but according to Your Europe not for digital content you started downloading or streaming after expressly agreeing to lose that right.
What applies when a child buys without permission?
| Country | Basic rule | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | From 7 to 17, limited capacity (§ 106 BGB): purchases need parental consent | Pocket-money rule (§ 110 BGB) only for purchases paid in full, not subscriptions |
| Austria | 7 to 14: online purchases usually need a parent's consent (§§ 168, 170 ABGB) | From 14, young people may manage their own pocket money or income |
| Switzerland | EU law does not apply automatically; Swiss law applies | In a dispute, ask a consumer protection organisation or legal adviser |
| France | Minors cannot contract, within limits set by law (Article 1146 Civil Code) | Can be challenged if nature or price do not suit the child's age and means |
| Italy, Spain | National rules on minors' contracts apply; EU withdrawal rules as above | Ask a consumer association or legal adviser |
The European Consumer Centre Germany notes that letting a child use a phone is not consent to in-app purchases. If a child repeatedly uses the parents' account, though, a contract may have been formed. So act quickly. This overview does not replace individual advice.
An example: Aoife sorts out her family's purchases
Fictional example: Aoife from Cork has an iPhone, her daughter Saoirse (9) an iPad and her son Cian (14) an Android phone. Aoife sets up Family Sharing, creates a Child Account for Saoirse and checks that Ask to Buy is on. Her partner Liam becomes a parent/guardian so he can answer requests too.
For Cian, she creates a Google family group requiring approval for all content. When Cian wants in-game currency, the request goes to Aoife. They agree on a monthly amount and check receipts together each month, along with the monthly family digital check.
Common mistakes
- Turning on Purchase Sharing without checking Ask to Buy for every child.
- Telling your child your password. A better way to help is described in Helping digitally without collecting other people's passwords.
- Expecting in-app purchases to be shared through Google's Family Library.
- Treating shared storage as a shared photo archive.
- Leaving unwanted charges unreported for weeks.
Your checklist
The checkboxes are for your own reference. No entries are sent to us. To keep a copy, print the page or save it as a PDF using your browser menu.
Common questions
Does it work if we use a mix of iPhone and Android?
Yes, but separately. Family Sharing belongs to Apple Accounts, a family group to Google Accounts. In a mixed household you set up both, and purchases, storage and approvals work separately in each. Check in both groups that purchase approval is on for every child.
Can the others see my photos if we share storage?
No. Apple says that with a shared iCloud+ plan your photos and documents stay private. With Google One, nobody can access your files without your permission; others only see how much storage each person uses. Shared albums or folders are shared separately.
Who pays when my child buys something?
With Apple, the organiser pays while Purchase Sharing is on; the child's account balance is used first. With Google, the family manager is responsible for purchases made with the family payment method and gets an email receipt each time. Subscriptions can't be paid for this way.
Can I switch to a different family group?
Only with limits. With Apple and Google you belong to one group at a time. Apple lets you switch once a year, Google once every 12 months. So agree beforehand who manages the group. Depending on region, a child's Apple Account may have to stay in a group until 18.
My child bought something without permission. What now?
Act quickly and request a refund from Apple or Google Play. Then talk to your child and turn on purchase approval. If the store refuses, a consumer organisation can help. Whether you have to pay depends on the individual case and on the law of your country.
Sources and further information
Primary sources from public authorities, consumer organisations and providers. A source may be in another language; follow the guidance that applies to your service and where you live.
- Apple Support: How to set up Family Sharing on your iPhone or iPadSource review date:
- Apple Support: Share apps and purchases with Family SharingSource review date:
- Apple Support: Request a refund for apps or content that you bought from AppleSource review date:
- Google For Families Help: Create a family on GoogleSource review date:
- Google Play Help: Set up a family payment method on Google PlaySource review date:
- Google Play Help: Learn about Google Play's refund policiesSource review date:
- Your Europe (EU): Returns and the right of withdrawalSource review date:
- European Consumer Centre Germany: Contracts with minors (in German)Source review date:
- oesterreich.gv.at: Minors and online shopping (in German)Source review date:
- INC (France): Cancelling a contract made by your minor child (in French)Source review date:
