How to Share Purchased Apps and Subscriptions with Family on iPhone, iPad & Mac

Family Sharing is one of Apple’s most useful features for households. It allows you to connect up to six people to share purchased apps, subscriptions, movies, music, books, and more—without needing to share the same Apple ID. Whatever one person buys, others can directly download or access for free.

And the best part? All the purchases are billed to the organizer’s payment method. Let’s walk through exactly what Purchase Sharing is, how to turn it on, and how to manage it effectively.

What Is Purchase Sharing?

Purchase Sharing is a built-in feature of Apple’s Family Sharing that allows family members to share their purchased content from the App Store, Apple TV app, Apple Books, and other Apple services.

Instead of buying the same app or movie multiple times, everyone in the family can download and enjoy what others have already purchased. It’s designed to help families collaborate on digital content while keeping individual Apple IDs private.

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Key benefits of Purchase Sharing:

• Shared Access to Apps and Games: Family members can download apps and games purchased by others, including certain in-app purchases (if the developer supports sharing).
• Subscriptions for the Whole Family: Share family plans for services like Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, and iCloud+ storage, so everyone benefits from one subscription.
• Media Sharing: Movies, TV shows, music, and books purchased by any family member become available to all, making family entertainment easier.
• Parental Controls Integration: Parents can approve or decline purchases for kids using the Ask to Buy feature.
• Privacy Options: Hide specific purchases if you don’t want them shared with the family, keeping personal items private. 
• Save Money: Family subscription plans cost less than paying for multiple individual accounts.

Tip: This feature works best when everyone updates to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS.

How to Turn On Purchase Sharing

To start sharing purchases, you first need to set up Apple Family Sharing. One adult becomes the “family organizer,” who manages the group, invites members, and handles payments.

The organizer must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Apple ID with a payment method like a credit card.

On iPhone or iPad 

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap Family under your name.
3. Select Purchase Sharing.
   
4. It will show a new screen showing how the feature works. Tap Continue to proceed. 
5. If you don’t have a valid payment method, it will prompt you to add one. Select Add Payment Method and fill out the details.  
6. Tap Turn On.
   

This will enable sharing of purchases and set the organizer’s payment method as the shared one for the family. You can exit from here or message group members to let them know about Purchase Sharing and invite them to do the same. Here’s how: 

1. Tap the Send a Message button. 
2. The iOS will automatically draft the invite message for you, and all you need to do is hit the Send button. 
3. Tap the Done button on the subsequent screen.
   

After members accept your invite, you’ll find shared apps, movies, and books under the Purchased tab in the App Store, Apple Books, and iTunes Store.

On Your Mac 

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. 
2. Click Family in the sidebar. 
3. Select Purchase Sharing and click your name. 
4. Turn on Share My Purchases and confirm your payment method. This activates purchase sharing for the group.
   

If you have children under 13, you’ll need to create a Child Apple ID during setup for age-appropriate restrictions.

Enable Ask to Buy for Children

If you have children under 18 in your Family Sharing group, you can enable Ask to Buy to approve or decline their purchases before they’re charged.

• Automatically enabled for kids under 13.
• Can also be turned on for teens (13–17).

To enable or manage Ask to Buy on iPhone or iPad: 

1. Go to Settings > Family. 
2. Tap the child’s name in the family members list. 
3. Tap Ask to Buy and select Turn On Ask to Buy on the prompt to confirm.
   

On Mac:

1. Go to System Settings > Family.
2. Select your child’s name.
3. Enable Ask to Buy.

Now that Ask to Buy is turned on for your child’s account, you can stop or prevent your kid from buying apps from the App Store. You will be notified each time the child tries to download any app, and you can approve or deny any download or purchase on your child’s iPhone. 

If a request is denied, the child gets a notification explaining why. This feature works for apps, in-app purchases, music, and more, giving you peace of mind while still allowing kids to explore. 

Additional tip: You can designate another adult in the family as a parent or guardian to help approve Ask to Buy requests, sharing the responsibility. 

What Happens After You Turn On Purchase Sharing?

Once enabled:

• All purchases are charged to the organizer’s payment method.
• Purchases are still owned by the buyer but instantly available to everyone.
• Past purchases remain shareable if still listed in the App Store.
• Some items (like certain in-app purchases, older content, or individual-only subscriptions) may not be shareable.
• Family members can hide purchases if they don’t want them visible.

If someone leaves Family Sharing, they keep their own purchases but lose access to shared ones.

Tip: Look for the Supports Family Sharing badge in the App Store description before purchasing, ensuring everyone gets access. 

How to Download Apps and Content from Family Sharing

With purchase sharing on, accessing shared content is easy across Apple’s apps. Make sure you’re signed in with the same Apple ID used for Family Sharing. 

App Store 

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad. 
2. Tap your profile icon in the top corner and select Apps.
   
3. Select a family member’s name from the list. 
4. Browse their purchases and tap the download icon next to the app or game you want.
   

Apple TV App 

1. Open the Apple TV app on your device. 
2. Go to the Library tab and tap Family Sharing. 
3. Select a family member’s name. 
4. Download or stream their movies, TV shows, or other content. 

Apple Books 

1. Open the Apple Books app. 
2. Tap your profile icon at the top of the screen. 
3. Pick a family member’s name and download their books or audiobooks. 

These steps work similarly on all devices. If something doesn’t appear, it might be hidden or not shareable (like certain in-app items). Redownloading is free and unlimited within the family. 

You can also access shared content on your PC via iTunes. Go to Account > Family Purchases and select a family member. 

How to Turn Off Purchase Sharing

Only the family organizer can disable Purchase Sharing.

1. Go to Settings > Family > Purchase Sharing. 
2. Tap Stop Purchase Sharing and confirm by selecting Stop Sharing. This will remove the shared payment method and stop new purchases from being shared. 

Turning this off removes the shared payment method and stops new purchases from being shared. However, previously downloaded content stays on your device.

If you turn off purchase sharing but keep Family Sharing active, you can still share locations or photos without shared payments. To leave the family group entirely, go to Family settings and select Leave Family. 

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, shared content doesn’t show up as expected. Here are simple fixes for the most common problems: 

Shared Purchases Not Showing	Double-check that Purchase Sharing is enabled and you’re signed into the Apple ID included in Family Sharing.
Hidden or Non-shareable Content	Family members might have hidden items. Certain apps and in-app purchases may be marked as non-shareable by developers.
Payment Method Restrictions	Verify that the Family Organizer’s payment method is up to date and has sufficient funds for the purchase.
Ask to Buy Not Working	Requests may fail if the content is unavailable for children
Compatibility Problems	Ensure your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is on the latest software version, as older ones might not support all features.
Can’t Find App	Go to Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases > Sign Out. Then sign in again.
Subscriptions Not Working	Make sure you buy the Family plan of that subscription like Apple Music Family so members can access it.

Restarting your device often fixes syncing issues. If problems persist, contact Apple Support.

Final Thoughts

Apple’s Purchase Sharing is one of the best ways to save money while keeping apps, subscriptions, and media accessible to the whole family. With simple setup steps and tools like Ask to Buy, families can enjoy convenience, privacy, and control without paying for the same content multiple times.

If you run into any issues, drop a comment below, and we’ll help you troubleshoot!

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