Apple Family Sharing Functions and Benefits

Family Sharing from Apple lets you enjoy all the things you like with the ones you love.

Family Sharing is available for up to five family members to share access across Apple services such as Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple News+ and the Apple Arcade.

Your group can share content like App Store purchases, Apple Books and iTunes. Even create a shared family album for photos. You can store them together under the same iCloud storage plan. If you lose a device, don’t worry, your family members can help you find it. Set up is easy and you can create your own family-specific digital ecosystem. You can do all this without scarifying safety, privacy and allowing for parental control.

Functions and benefits

Organiser

• One adult organiser sets up the group
• Invite new members or set up an account for any under 13s
• Family Sharing is automatically set up on everyone’s devices, ready to go
• Select which features and services you want to share

Benefits

• Create a family of up to five members including kids
• Select which services and features you want to share and enjoy together
• Set up accounts for under 13s

Entertainment

• Share your favourite TV and films, music, games or even news
• Enjoy shared subscriptions
• Members of the family have access to the selected services from their Apple devices
• Total privacy – Individual members see only their own preferences, recommendations and content

Benefits

• Share the content you love – Films, TV, music, games and news
• Share subscriptions with members – save doubling up
• You only see your own activity – content history isn’t shared between members

Shared iCloud Storage

• The whole family’s combined content, packed into one storage plan

Benefits

• Convenient storage – See exactly what you’re using
• Easy to upgrade if you need more space
• Total privacy of your own photos, videos, documents and files

Purchase Sharing

• Purchase sharing allows your family members to have access to films, TV shows, songs, books and apps (with permission)
• Find them in the Purchases section
• Browse by family member
• Share your purchases with other members 
• Keep purchases private by hiding individual items

Benefits

• Stop multiple purchases of the same content
• Share the content you love
• Privacy when you want it

Set Limits

• Convenient limit setting for purchases 
• The Organiser’s account is billed when using Family Sharing, but they have control
• Limit purchases made by children by utilising notifications
• Review the purchase and approve or decline it
• Free downloads can also be reviewed

Benefits

• Kids need permission before spending on your account
• Review content to ensure it’s age-appropriate
• Reply from your Apple device, from anywhere
• Quick process for approval or decline

Screen Time

• Learn how your kids are using their time on websites and apps
• Learn how many hours they’re using their devices
• See activity reports
• Set limits on certain apps from your Apple device
• Name other members as a parent or guardian

Benefits

• Gain useful insight into what your children are using their devices for and how long
• Maintain control and balance, stay happy

Find My

• Keep track of family members
• Convenient for meeting up or ensuring the kids are home safe from school
• Send an invite to the family member to share their location 
• Use this feature to find any lost devices, even when offline

Benefits

• Peace of mind knowing your children are safe
• Useful for elderly relatives 
• Never lose a device, even if it’s offline
• Keep track of family members you’re meeting with if they’re lost or late

Photos

• Enjoy a shared family photo album
• Automatically created for you in your Photos app on all family devices
• All members can add videos or photos
• Comment on content
• Get notified of new items being added

Benefits

• Share and keep beautiful memories with family members 
• Share in real-time with notifications for family members
• Make the most of comments and enjoy videos and photos together

Calendar 

• Utilise a shared family calendar 
• All members can add, view or edit events
• Get notifications about changes
• Set reminders using the Reminders app to share time and location

Benefits

• Never miss an important event
• Stay on top of the kids’ clubs, activities and parties
• Let your device do the remembering
• Let others amend and event when needed

Hope you found this article useful. To share or download a visual presentation of the family sharing benefits – click here.

Related Articles:

• Apple Watch 6 – Everything you need to know
• Apple Watches for Kids
• The new Apple Watch SE – Review
• Apple Family Sharing Functions and Benefits
• The Control and Safety Benefits of Apple Family Set Up
• Apple Watch Comparison

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Last Updated on December 13, 2020