How to set up Apple Family Sharing on your iPhone (And why you should try it out)

iPhone 16 is here. And if you’re planning to buy one (or the older iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 for that matter), the next step of course, would be to set up your Apple ID. Your Apple ID is how you access Apple’s entire suite of apps and services including the iCloud, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Arcade, and more. Now, if those in your family happen to be Apple users as well, you may want to consider setting up Apple Family Sharing. And if you’re wondering just why, and how to go about it, read on.

Apple Family Sharing: Why should you give it a whirl?

Apple’s Family Sharing feature allows you and up to five other members of your family to share access to iCloud+, Apple Music, Apple TV+. Apple Fitness+, Apple News+ and Apple Arcade. Additionally, it also allows you to share iTunes, Apple Books, and other App Store purchases.

Now, what’s cool about Family Sharing? Well, despite being a shared subscription, even on iCloud+, family members can’t see each other’s personal photos, documents or other files. What’s more, even with shared access to Apple Music, or Apple TV+, each member gets personalised recommendations based on their usage history.

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Now, should you want to create a Family Sharing plan that includes children aged 13 years and under, you can do so as well. Within this subscription, you can set up integrated parental control features that restrict certain kinds of content on Apple TV+, Apple Music, and even Apple Music. That’s not all. You can even set up screen time restrictions for them, and more.

Lastly and most importantly, to ensure your family’s safety when they step out, they can share their locations with you and the others at all times. Oh, and if at all they happen to lose their devices, whether their new iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or MacBook, one can track them easily through the Find My app.

How to set up Apple Family Sharing?

On an iPhone or iPad

1. Head to the Settings app.

2. Tap on your name.

3. Tap on the ‘Family Sharing’ option, and then on the ‘Set up Your Family’ option.

4. On the next screen, tap on the Contact icon on an iPhone, or the Add Member link on an iPad.

5. You will see a couple of suggestions for members to invite. If you see those that you want to add to your plan, tap on their icon.

6. Otherwise, select alternative options, such as Messages or Mail. Enter your family members’ phone numbers or email addresses, and then send them a message.

7. You can also AirDrop an invite to your family members, should their devices happen to be nearby. They will receive an invite prompting them to join the plan.

8. Lastly, members you’d like to invite in person can also sign in with their Apple account and password on your device, and enter a two-factor authentication code sent to them to join the plan.

ALSO READ: Here’s why you need an Apple ID along with your Apple device

The method to add children to the plan is pretty much the same, should they already have an Apple account. If not, you can also create one right there by entering their name and date of birth. You’re then asked to give consent for the same by verifying you’re an adult, via Face ID.

After agreeing to the terms and conditions, and following the on-screen prompts, you’re all set. You can now set up individual parental controls for their accounts, as mentioned earlier.

On a MacBook or iPhone

To set up an Apple Family Sharing plan on a MacBook or iMac running on macOS Ventura or later, do the following.

1. Click on the Apple Menu, and from there, on ‘System Settings.’

2. Tap on your name, and click on ‘Family Sharing.’

From thereon, just follow steps four through eight, and those to add children to your plan, to go about it. And that’s it! Your Apple Family Sharing plan is all set up and ready to use!